Late turnovers sink Hollister football team in season opener

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Unable to overcome four consecutive turnovers in the fourth quarter, Hollister High’s football team dropped its season opener 42-28 to Branham High from San Jose at Andy Hardin Stadium on Aug. 29.

“Ultimately, the turnovers affected our outcome,” Balers coach Thomas Sullivan said. “Nothing against Branham, they played a very hard game and they took advantage of those opportunities that were given to them.”

The Balers turned over the ball six times, including on four consecutive possessions to end the game that led to the Bruins pulling away on the scoreboard.

With the game tied at 28 and 9:42 left in the fourth quarter, Hollister began a drive looking to retake the lead. But on the eighth play near the 50-yard line, senior quarterback Cruz Raquet threw a 15-yard pass looking for senior wide receiver Jordan Quezada, only to see the ball get intercepted by the Bruin’s cornerback, who returned it to Hollister’s 25-yard line. 

Branham took advantage of the short field and scored four plays later on a 12-yard run by its quarterback. 

“I think if we didn’t have any turnovers, this game would have been ours,” Raquet said. “This week stings but I think it’s going to propel us to be better.”

In its next offensive possession with just under five minutes remaining, Hollister looked to answer with a score of its own, as the Balers had done throughout the game. 

After gaining 12 yards in two running plays, the Balers called another run but this time sophomore running back Braiden Hernandez got hit immediately after the handoff and fumbled the ball. 

It was the second time Hernandez fumbled the ball. The first time came in the third quarter during the handoff with Raquet on Branham’s 27-yard line. 

“It’s a game that we lost,” Hernandez said. “We beat ourselves.”

The Balers turned the ball over again with 2:39 left on the clock on their own 10-yard-line, setting up Branham’s last score. Hollister would fumble yet again on its next offensive possession to essentially end the game.

“It’s definitely going to get better for us,” Sullivan said. “It’s a lot of learning opportunities for us.”

It wasn’t the best start to the game for the Balers who started with two three-and-out possessions. But they answered after the Bruins took a lead with 10:52 left in the second quarter. 

Initially, the Balers put themselves in a hole, facing a 2nd-and-25 on their own 14-yard line because of two penalties. However, a 34-yard connection between Raquet and senior wide receiver Jacob Jackson extended the drive. Quezada capped it with a 20-yard catch in the end zone.

The Balers again answered a Bruins score on their next drive on a five-yard run by Hernandez with 23 seconds left in the half. 

Hernandez finished the game with 117 rushing yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns.

“We were moving the ball,” Hernandez said. “We were just running it down their throat and that worked.”

The Balers had 154 rushing yards in the game and 103 through the air. 

Quezada also contributed with special teams. Starting the fourth quarter, he returned a kickoff 85 yards to put the Balers in the lead 28-21 with 11:43 to play. 

Defensively, Nate Candelaria contributed with two interceptions, including one to end the first half and another in the second half to set up short yardage that led to the Balers’ third touchdown.

Hollister’s next game is at Wilcox High in San Jose on Sept. 12 to wrap up preseason. The Balers next home game will be against North Salinas on Sept. 26.

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