It was a game only fitting of the VFW Prune Bowl rivalry.
It was a game only fitting of the VFW Prune Bowl rivalry.
San Benito and Gilroy battled each other down to the wire. The Haybalers wound up winning their third consecutive Prune Bowl victory in a 7-6 contest. However, the score was a little closer than it was in the last two games.
The difference in the game came down to which team could hit the PAT.
Gilroy (5-1, 0-1 TCAL) scored on a 87-yard run sweep by Louie Gutierrez with 7:51 left in the third quarter.
But a player trailing the play raised his hand in celebration, and Gilroy was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The 15 yards was attached on the PAT attempt, which turned out to be from 35 yards out.
The kick fell just short.
“We played one of the best teams in CCS,” said Gilroy coach Darren Yafai. “We don’t have anything to hang our heads about. It came down to the final seconds. It was a very well officiated game.”
In a game where emotions ran high, San Benito (4-1-1, 1-0 TCAL) jumped into the driver’s in the league with the win.
“The kids executed very well,” said Baler coach Chris Cameron. “It was all about believing ourselves.”
Dru Blake kicked the game-winning PAT for the Balers with 7:52 left in the fourth quarter.
The play was set up after Alex Gonzalez caught a 19-yard pass as he curled through the middle.
With under a minute left, Gilroy had its chances on the final drive after a hook-and-ladder play from Peter Mickartz to Jordan Newton, but a Hail Mary pass was picked off by Breyon Canez to end the game.
The teams went into the halftime tied at 0-0 although both teams had chances to score.
Gilroy moved down the field on the game’s opening drive but missed a 34-yard field goal. A sack by Vinny Sardam on the next Gilroy drive also stopped some momentum.
In the second quarter on the first play of a drive, Klauer connected with Chuck Thompson for what would have been an 87-yard connection. But the play was called back.
San Benito had another chance on a field goal, but the Gilroy defense broke through the line, and Blake couldn’t even get a kick off.
“We are proud of the kids,” Yafai said. “They battled from toe to toe and they never gave up.”
San Benito plays at North Salinas, who lost to Live Oak 35-19, while Gilroy goes against Palma, who the Mustangs have never defeated in the brief history of the two teams.
