King City puts up battle in loss to ’Balers
The Mission Trail Athletic League football reunion tour didn’t recreate the past for King City.
Playing Palma and San Benito in back-to-back weeks for the first time in nearly 35 years, the Mustangs got a reminder of why both programs are perennial powers in a different division, falling 4520 Friday to the Haybalers.
Once upon a time, King City, San Benito and Palma were all in the MTAL until the mid-1980s.
“Pride,” King City coach Mac Villanueva said. “Our boys didn’t bat an eye when I told them what was in front of us. We didn’t have the roster size. But we fought and did some good stuff. I’m proud of how we played tonight.”
The upset-minded Mustangs took an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter at Hollister when Sabastian Garcia punched one in from 1-yard out, capping a lengthy drive that chewed up the clock.
What followed, however, was a turnover that ignited the ’Balers. Touchdown passes from Tyler Pacheco and Michael McShane helped them run off 38 unanswered points.
Yet, King City had a lifeline when quarterback Jonah Mendez called his own number for a touchdown.
And when Ryland Hindershied picked off a pass, Mendez answered by hitting Devin Morales with a touchdown, getting the Mustangs to within 18 points with 8:05 left in the game.
The hope is that King City will play one more game next week at an opponent yet to be determined.
NORTH SALINAS 57, RANCHO SAN JUAN 0 >> The Vikings snapped a 12-game losing streak that dated back to 2019 by erupting for their most points since 2013.
North Salinas (1-2) scored often and early against a Trail Blazer squad that has no seniors and is in its first year of varsity football.
Jesus Organista scored a pair of touchdowns for the Vikings, who close the shortened spring season Friday against Alvarez.
Marius Castro, Alec Bravo, Christian Ruiz, Nathan Rodriguez and Allan Birruete also accounted for touchdowns for North Salinas.
Jesse Bernal, Jacob Ceja and Michael Langford were standouts for North Salinas, which produced its first shutout since blanking Mountain View in 2018.