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Three first-half touchdowns led Hollister football over Alisal from Salinas in a 27-7 win on Sept. 20. It was the second home win in as many games this season.
The Balers’ first touchdown was set up with an interception by defensive end Jayden Hunter, who rushed the passer and tipped the ball before catching it and running it to Alisal’s 11-yard line. Three plays later, running back Cole Seymour scored for Hollister on a 12 yard-run.
Hollister added to its lead during the following possession on a 80-yard drive that was extended by an Alisal penalty on the Balers’ punt attempt. Fullback Jakob Ortiz capped the drive that started in the first quarter with a six-yard touchdown run halfway through the second quarter.
“I think we are a momentum team, and when we get things rolling I don’t think we can be stopped,” quarterback Cruz Raquet said.
Ortiz finished the night with 59 yards on nine carries. Seymor added 31 yards on seven carries.
In the following possession, Raquet showed he can make big plays with his feet, outracing defenders in a 43-yard touchdown run. He finished with 146 total yards, including 76 rushing yards, and one interception.
The Balers capped off the scoring in the last play of the third quarter on a 16-yard run by fullback Matthew Stoner.
“We have a lot of versatility,” Raquet said. “Every time we get someone in it’s always a fresh player so we’re always having guys who aren’t tired.”
Eight ball carriers combined for 247 rushing yards and five receivers for 73 passing yards.
Win comes despite five turnovers
Despite having the game well under control, thanks largely to the defense, the Balers dealt with turning the ball over five times, including four fumbles.
“Our offense did some good things at times but we can’t turn over the ball,” head coach Bryan Smith said. “We just shoot ourselves in the foot and we won’t be able to win many games doing that.”
Smith said turnovers have been an ongoing issue the team is working to resolve, as well as maintaining some offensive consistency.
Ortiz, who had one of the fumbles, said he plans on working hard on and off the field on ball security.
“I like to just give it all I got and try my best,” he said.
The Balers were coming off a Sept. 13 game where the defense kept Oak Grove from San Jose scoreless and allowed only one big play, a touchdown to the Trojans in the third quarter on a 37-yard pass. The defense also forced five turnovers, including three interceptions, a fumble and a turnover on downs, limiting Alisal to 55 rushing yards and 63 passing yards.
“Our defense has grown a lot over the course of the first four games,” Smith said.
The Balers are now 3-1 and are scheduled to open league play Sept. 27 at Aptos, which is also 3-1.
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