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Friday, November 5, 1999
Unheralded Bulldogs complete undefeated season as Santa Maria forfeits
By George Vondracek
Caller-Times
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| George Tuley/Caller-Times |
| Running back Jason Busch (left front) and quarterback Charlie Otahal (front right) show off their team's win total, as a Santa Maria forfeit made the Bulldogs a perfect 10-0. |
BANQUETE - Banquete High School's football team upset some folks this year.
And the players have kind of liked it.
Picked fourth in the District 32-2A preseason coaches poll, the Bulldogs have clinched their first 10-0 regular season since 1974, the last year they won a district championship. Win No. 10 was sealed when Santa Maria forfeited earlier this week because of a lack of players.
"A lot of people are surprised because no one expected us to do it," Banquete senior running back Jason Busch said. "We love disappointing people, love surprising 'em."
"I think that's what moved us to win district, to be 10-0 and try for state," junior quarterback Charlie Otahal said. "That kind of drove us to work harder and disprove everybody."
The players, of course, said they weren't surprised at their success. Banquete has made the playoffs as the 32-2A runner-up the last three years, bowing in 1996-97 to Refugio in bi-district and reaching the Division II Region IV-2A semifinals last season.
But the man charged with directing the program had his early doubts. Coach Butch Porter likened the learning process of the youthful squad with trying to train puppies to retrieve a stick, knowing well that they may bring back the wrong twig.
"You never really know going into a season how a team's going to do," said Porter, in his second year at Banquete. "But they're such great kids and they work hard. They've become one big ol' family. They don't want to let their teammates down. You can't help but hug their necks.
"I really thought if we worked hard and continued to improve, we could get into the playoffs. At what level, I don't know," said Porter, who guided Three Rivers to four playoff trips in his tenure from 1989-95. "But as we got into the season, it became evident they were going to do very well."
No homecoming game
While the Santa Maria forfeit ensured the perfect regular season, it also robbed the Bulldogs from playing their homecoming game, and prevented the seniors from playing perhaps one last time in front of the home crowd.
"The forfeit did upset the whole team," said Busch, whose season rushing total of 1,096 yards will stay that way until bi-district. "No one wants to get a win from a forfeit. We have no control over it. We just have to take it."
There was no alternative, first-year Santa Maria coach Alex Hernandez said.
"We're out of players. Injuries. We're down to 10 guys," said Hernandez, whose Cougars have won once this season. "Every week we seem to lose a player."
Thirty-three Cougars were on the roster at the start of the season. Two more players were sidelined in the 37-0 loss to La Villa last week.
"They're pretty banged up," Hernandez said. "I was hoping to get some kids released this week, but no."
The Bulldogs' homecoming festivities will take place starting at 7:30 p.m. today with a players' parade, followed by a pep rally and the coronation before the dance at 9 p.m.
The forfeit also keeps Banquete from winning the district title on the field. Some may suggest the Bulldogs backed into the title, even though Santa Maria has won only three times in its last 36 games.
"That doesn't bother me," Otahal said. "I think we made our point in the first nine games."
'74 vs. '99
Banquete has limited opponents to 9.2 points per game while scoring a tad more than 24. The victory margin is similar to the one posted by the District 32-A champs in '74. That club had only 29 points scored on it during the regular season, posted six shutouts and only two teams scored offensive touchdowns.
Both teams had close calls, as well. The '74 team had five games decided by 12 points or less. This year, the Bulldogs sweated out victories over Woodsboro (8-6), Skidmore-Tynan (22-19), Ben Bolt (6-0) and the wild 31-30 win over Freer.
Claude Otahal, an all-state nose guard on the '74 team and Charlie's father, said there is no doubt as to what Banquete team gets the edge.
"Our offense was so-so," Claude Otahal said. "I think this year's team at Banquete is a better team because they're more balanced. They have a better offense. We probably had a better defense but I'd have to say they're a better overall team."
In addition to Busch's numbers - he also has scored 14 touchdowns - senior running back Jesse Resendez has scored six times and Charlie Otahal has completed half of his 28 passes for 295 yards and three scores.
Alex Leza has seven of Otahal's completions for 137 yards. None was bigger than the 45-yarder with 1:56 remaining to cap the win over Freer. That helped halt the Buckaroos' run of nine straight district titles.
"We knew during the regular season that if we could be undefeated going into Freer, and win that," senior two-way tackle Raul Serna said, "we could finish undefeated."
The future
Porter and the players all say the team is a close-knit group, one that has set a lofty goal.
"It's just the desire of these kids, that they want to do well," Porter said. "That has to be one of the redeeming values of this football team. It's not just words. There's lots of heart. It's corny, but true."
For now, the Bulldogs await the results from 31-2A. A win by Woodsboro over Karnes City would set up a rematch of the Sept. 10 game with the Eagles in the Division II (small-school) bi-district round. Should the Badgers win, Banquete would draw Kenedy.
Then begins the Bulldogs' tough task, following through on the assertion that they can win a state championship.
"Being undefeated, I guess, is the bonus from what we really want," Otahal said. "You don't have to be undefeated to win state. I'd rather be undefeated than have a couple of losses, though."
Said Busch: "Our motto is 'Refuse to lose and believe in yourself.' We all have that attitude. Realistically, I believe we can take it to the top."
Staff writer George Vondracek can be reached at 886-3731 or by e-mail at vondracekg @caller.com
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