WATSONVILLE — It ain’t over until it’s over.
But when San Benito High Haybalers senior defensive back Elisha Reyes intercepted Monte Vista Christian Mustangs senior quarterback Sean White Friday night with less than two minutes left in a home game that ended 36-29, it finally was.
The Mustangs (3-2, 1-1) made it a nailbiter late for the Haybalers (4-1, 2-0), recovering two onside kicks and driving toward what may have been the tying score.
It was not meant to be.
With less than two minutes left, in what would have capped one of the most memorable and unlikely comeback victories in M.V.C. history, Reyes jumped a route, picking off White, sealing the Mustangs’ fate and dropping them to 1-1 in the conference.
“It was beautiful; I just wish we could have pulled it off at the end,” Mustangs’ Defensive Coordinator Jeremiah Williams said, who was filling in for Head Coach Bruce Dini. “You got to control what’s controllable but the kids played their hearts out and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Early on in the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division meeting, the game appeared to be a rout in the making. Haybalers’ senior running back Jonny Gonzalez routinely blasted holes through the Mustangs’ defense, biting off chunks on the ground, controlling the clock and setting the tone offensively.
“It was a really physical game,” Gonzalez said. “I love how our offense is moving the ball. We got a little adversity, but we are trained to play Hollister football. We don’t care about adversity; we just fight through it.”
It was a battle of differing offensive game plans. The Haybalers were the ground and pound team, relying on the legs of Gonzalez, senior Matt Ramon and junior quarterback Slade Wilson. Wilson, who rushed for one touchdown and connected with senior tight end Giovanni Giannotta for a passing score, capitalized on the few times he threw the ball.
For the Mustangs it was the White to Nicholas Bautista air show. Bautista, a junior wide receiver, capitalized on his height and speed to score two receiving touchdowns and hauled in several other long gains to help keep his squad in the game.
“I thought he played an excellent game today,” Williams said of White. “He really stepped it up in the second half. It was really special how he was able to move the ball.”
It was a banner day for the Mustangs special teams, but gifts received, on the one hand, are often returned by the other.
Following the recovery of the first of two kickoffs, White completed a beautiful pass with senior wide receiver Colton Conway, who made an equally beautiful touchdown reception on the left side of the end zone.
After a successful two-point conversion, M.V.C. sat poised to receive a Haybalers’ punt around their 25-yard line.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs, senior punt returner Nick Arroyo, who was harried by Haybalers defenders, saw the ball pass through his hands and fall into San Benito’s mitts.
“I want to shout out to our Special Teams Coordinator Wes Olney,” Williams said. “To be able to get two onside kids and two 2-point conversions is really special.”
San Benito upped its advantage to 36-22 on Wilson’s quarterback keeper.
But, M.V.C. still had some fight left in it.
After two long catch and runs by Bautista, White rushed in for a touchdown and completed the 2-point conversion to tight end, Ian Johnson, to narrow the lead 36-29.
The ensuing onside kick was bobbled by a Haybaler defender and recovered by M.V.C.
But that’s as far as the Mustangs came.
“I feel like we got away with one there,” San Benito Head Coach Bryan Smith said. “We’re going to watch a lot of film because we got a lot of things to work on.”
Faced with a challenge to finish off the Mustangs, San Benito relied on its bell-cow back Gonzalez. All 175 pounds of him.
“I feel like I’m a little skinny, but I put everything I got in it,” Gonzalez said. “We just keep driving it and hitting people. Just like Marshawn Lynch said, ‘if you keep hitting guys, over and over, they don’t want to get in your way.'”
The Mustangs will seek to keep in contention in the MBL next Friday when they host the 2-3 Everett High Eagles, who are 0-2 in the division.
