The 2004 season came to an end Saturday night for the
Hollister-San Benito High football team after a 24-20 loss to the
Oak Grove Eagles in the Central Coast Section Large Schools
division championship game.
The 2004 season came to an end Saturday night for the Hollister-San Benito High football team after a 24-20 loss to the Oak Grove Eagles in the Central Coast Section Large Schools division championship game.
The Haybalers had to settle for second place, but there was no shame in the way they played against an extremely talented Oak Grove team.
“They made me work for every inch I got tonight,” said Eagles running back Burton Iosefa, who rushed for 231 tough yards in the championship game, including a 56-yard carry for the game-winning touchdown late in the game. “To come out on top is a tremendous feeling because Hollister is a great football team. I couldn’t have asked for a more worthy adversary.”
The Balers were in this contest the whole way with great plays on both sides of the ball. Hollister-SB’s first score of the game came off a beautifully designed halfback pass that saw quarterback Karson Klauer hand the ball off to Charles Thompson before breaking for the left side of the field. Thompson pulled up from his running stance and lofted a perfect pass to an open Klauer, who made his way into the end zone after delivering a crushing hit on the defensive back who was standing in his way.
Klauer would return the favor later in the game by hitting Thompson with a pass as the Balers were pinned down deep in their own territory. Thompson reeled in the Klauer toss, shrugged his man, and took it all the way down the field for a 97-yard score. The long TD gave the Balers a shortlived 20-17 lead.
Baler linebacker Anthony Vasquez once again came up with a huge defensive play in this game after teammate Anthony Francis hit the Oak Grove quarterback behind the line of scrimmage, forcing the ball loose. Vasquez scooped up the live ball and returned it for a Hollister-SB touchdown to bring the Balers to within three points at 17-14 early in the second half.
“Our guys gave every ounce of energy they had tonight,” said Baler head coach Chris Cameron. “I couldn’t be any more proud of them than I am right now. They worked so hard this season to get here. We came a long, long way this season and we gave them a good game.”
Hollister-SB finished the season 9-2-1 overall. The Balers, seeded No. 2 in the CCS playoffs, shared a Tri-County Athletic League co-championship with Palma, then beat Milpitas and Wilcox en route to the CCS title game.
Top seed Oak Grove (10-2 overall) also shared a league championship, the Blossom Valley Athletic League title with Leigh. The Eagles advanced to the CCS finale by beating Live Oak and Gilroy, making it a clean sweep for the San Jose high school against its neighbors to the south.
