If there was a game on the schedule where the Gilroy Mustangs could be seen as vulnerable, it's this one.
And with the stretch of games the Mustangs have played over the last two seasons, how often can you say that?
San Benito and Gilroy will enter the 52nd annual Prune Bowl tonight at the Garcia-Elder Sports Complex, where the Haybalers will look to take back what many feel is rightfully theirs - the VFW Memorial Trophy - considering the unpolished piece of hardware made its home in Hollister for the five years previous.
The Mustangs, though, are fresh off a 42-12 drubbing at the hands of the North Salinas Vikings, a team San Benito nearly defeated if it weren't for a broken-play-turned-hook-and-ladder at the end of the first half.
"It was a good thing," 'Baler running back Mitchell Cook said in regards to Gilroy's loss. "Gilroy has been knocking the crap out of every other team. And for a team like us that hasn't been winning, it was nice to see a team we pushed around the field in North Salinas come back and beat Gilroy. It inspired our guys and you could definitely see that at practice this week.
"We're going in with a lot more courage and a lot more belief that we can actually win this game and play hard. I think that's the biggest thing it did for our players."
How Gilroy rebounds has yet to be seen, of course, but the way the Vikings beat the Mustangs last week not only provided a primer for San Benito, but also a renewed sense of hope for a team that has fallen to a 3-6 overall record this season.
"That's got to be a good feeling for us," San Benito head coach Chris Cameron said. "We're not playing North Salinas ... But it gives us a chance and hope."
Gilroy will be without the services of wide receiver Sean Hale - the third leading wideout in the league - as well as starting cornerback Jeff Smith, each of whom were disciplined for separate on-field incidents during the North Salinas loss last week.
Those losses could factor in, and they could allow the 'Balers to focus their attention on Dante Fullard, the leading wide receiver in the TCAL.
Any little bit will help, of course, and for a San Benito team that will not advance to the playoffs, the Prune Bowl is the be-all, end-all for the 'Balers.
It's perhaps hard to swallow for the longtime 'Baler fan, but this, San Benito, is your championship.
Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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Video: Highlights from Tuesday's basketball game
