10/13/2016

San Bentio-Salinas football

Friday's game
San Benito (7-0) at Salinas (4-3), 7:30 p.m.
 The Balers haven't started a season 7-0 since opening the 2009 campaign with eight straight wins, a fall that included two wins against Salinas, but no league or CCS title.
 Salinas has won the last four regular season meetings between these two perennial playoff powers, but has seen San Benito end its season in the playoffs twice, including the 2014 CCS title game.
 An argument can be made that the Balers are the most complete team in the area, having produced 276 points while allowing just 110. Five of those wins have come against teams that went to the playoffs last year.
 The Cowboys find themselves in a similar situation against the Balers, having come off a loss the week before the previous two seasons.
 It is the hope that tailback Ritchie Cerda will be back for Salinas. His absence last week hurt the ground game in a loss to Palma. His presence helps fuel the passing attack and makes quarterback Brett Reade more dangerous as a runner.
 The Balers offense is centered around a running game that has produced nearly 2,000 yards, 1,138 from Hunter Nye, who has rushed for 20 touchdowns.
 Quarterback Hunter Raquet has been efficient in throwing the ball with six touchdown passes and no picks in 68 attempts.
 Salinas has to be careful throwing the ball in the direction of Isaac Regalado, who has five picks this fall, returning two for touchdowns.
 Cooper Smith continues to have a strong season on both sides of the ball for Salinas, with 11 sacks and 23 catches for over 300 yards a receiver.








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