With its defense setting the stage with another hard-hitting effort, San Benito dominated visiting Oak Grove on Friday night in a 24-6 victory.
The Haybalers improved to 4-0 and have given up only 20 points all year.
Led by senior middle linebacker and captain Michael Murphy, the Haybalers set the tone early. They held the Eagles to 20 yards rushing on 22 carries and 112 yards of total offense.
“We were able to get ahead of the chains,” San Benito defensive coordinator Tod Thatcher said. “Our run defense has been so good it allows us to load up on the pass. It sure is nice to have second- and third-down-and-long every series. We have a lot of respect for Oak Grove, but we have a bunch of kids who grew up in the neighborhood together. They’re hungry for this (season).”
The Haybalers also were famished for this game after losing to Oak Grove 43-0 last season and missing the playoffs the past two years.
San Benito opened the scoring shortly after Jordan Ashford returned a punt 30 yards to Oak Grove’s 17-yard line. One play later, Cody Hendricks took the ball off the left side and bounced off two tacklers for a 13-yard touchdown run.
Oak Grove countered on its next possession when Richie Castillo found Timi Niweigha on a deep out pattern, throwing the ball just out of the reach of a defender for a 36-yard touchdown.
But Ashford gave the Haybalers good field position again, returning the ensuing kickoff to midfield. Helped by an Oak Grove penalty, San Benito started its drive on the Eagles’ 39. Quarterback Trevor Fabing made an excellent ball fake to Nick Acosta and sprinted untouched to the left sideline, scoring on a 34-yard run.
“The strong safety bit on the fake, and all I saw was open field,” said Fabing, who ran for 45 yards in 12 carries. “The last two years we didn’t play as a team, but this year we have come together. Our defense is getting us great field position and the offense is taking advantage.”
Oak Grove (1-2) muffed a punt near the end of the half, and Murphy recovered for the Haybalers. San Benito capitalized with Celestino Granados drilling a low line drive for a 40-yard field goal with 22 seconds left to make it 17-6.
“San Benito played unselfish team ball,” Oak Grove coach Jay Braun said. “They seem to be on a mission this year.”
Oak Grove          0          6          0          0—”‚6
San Benito          0          17          0          7—24
SB — Cody Hendricks 13 run (Granados kick)
OG — Niweigha 36 pass from Castillo (kick blocked)
SB — Fabing 34 run (Granados kick)
SB — Granados 40 FG
SB — Hendricks 5 run (Granados kick)
Records — San Benito 4-0; Oak Grove 1-2
For more on high school sports, see Dennis Knight’s After School blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/highschools. Contact him at 408-920-5899.
