ROLLAND VAN BLARICOM (pronounced “Raw-land”)

Junior season

The 1955 team was a Co-Champion of the Solano County Athletic League and had a record of 6-2-1. Rolland Van Blaricom only scored 13 points as a junior. Big things were ahead for him as a senior.

Senior season

In the second game of the season, the 1956 team lost 21-14 to Pacifica High of West Pittsburg. However they finished the season 7-1 and Champions of the Solano County Athletic League. In the third game of the season, Van Blaricom was named “Back of the Week” by the San Francisco Examiner for his exploits in the Lick-Wilmerding game. Benicia won 31-6 as the 5′-8,” 145 pound quarterback scored two touchdowns and passed for three more.
“The razor sharp Benicia High Panthers led by speedster Rolland Van Blaricom completely pulverized the St. Vincent’s Saints 40-7 in their SCAL inaugural last Friday at Sanborn Field. An amazed and thrilled throng of 1200 fans saw Van Blaricom who was celebrating his 17th birthday turn in one of the greatest one man shows ever exhibited on the local greensward. Virtually unstoppable, the lithe 135 pounder ran through, over, under and around the baffled Saints all night registering all six Benicia touchdowns.” (Source, Benicia Herald, Page 5, October 25, 1956)
In the St. Vincent’s game, Charlie Martinez recovered a fumble and then Van Blaricom scored on a 34 yard run over right tackle. His second touchdown was set up by a John Galvan interception which he returned to the St. Vincent’s 40 yard line. Then Van Blaricom ran for 6 yards and then 34 around left end for the score. His third touchdown was scored after another fumble recovery by Martinez, this time on the St. Vincent’s 19 yard line. Van Blaricom ran for 17 yards on the first play following the recovery and then two over right tackle for the touchdown. In the early part of the third period Van Blaricom returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown. Four plays after the kickoff St. Vincent’s had to punt again, and Van Blaricom returned it 59 yards for the touchdown. For his sixth touchdown, Van Blaricom scored on a 16 yard reverse screen pass from John Galvan. Van Blaricom had been running to his right and then reversed the ball to Galvan who was running to his left. Then Galvan stopped and threw a left-handed pass to Van Blaricom who stood behind a screen of blockers on the right sideline. In the St. Vincent’s game, Van Blaricom only ran from scrimmage 12 times but gained 146 yards for an 11.3 average.
“It started on the Rio Vista 45 yard line. Van Blaricom was on an attempted sweep around right end, when suddenly, he was surrounded by the red shirted Rams. He was hit, and the football squirted out of his hands. Van Blaricom, twisting sharply to find the ball, found the pigskin bounding crazily to his left, where he picked it up in full stride and raced for the opposite sideline. The bewildered Rams gave the flash Panther back a chase, but ‘Beanie’ was off to the races and went into the end zone standing up after one of the real freak plays of the season . . . anywhere.” (Source, excerpts from an article in the Benicia Herald, November 1, 1956)
Benicia defeated Rio Vista in that game by a score of 20-13
In the 1956 championship game against Armijo, Van Blaricom carried the ball 18 times for 159 yards and a 7.5 average. He scored on a run of over 50 yards and one of six yards.
Benicia was only penalized five yards which I believe is a reflection of coaching and team discipline.
For his senior season, Van Blaricom scored 97 points, rushed for 832 yards (7.5 Ave.), passed for 737 yards and 8 TD’s, and caught 3 passes for 42 yards for a total offensive production of 1611 yards.
Rolland Van Blaricom was obviously named the Most Valuable Player of the 1956 Benicia High School varsity football team. He was a unanimous All-League selection by the Solano County Athletic league coaches.
From Bob Silva’s picks for the ALL SCAL team for the 1956 season:
“QUARTERBACK: Rolland Van Blaricom, Benicia. We saved the best for last. We think making the choices for backfield picks for the ALL SCAL team is a difficult task for anyone this year, but we’re positive one boy, at least, will be a unanimous choice for all league honors. That boy is Van Blaricom
“‘Beanie,’ as he is affectionately called by his mates was easily the sensation of the Panthers and of the league. He ripped off runs against everyone. And no Benicia fan will quickly forget his brilliant performance against St. Vincent’s when he scored six touchdowns.
“He’s a rugged 145 pounder, who received more than his share of lumps during the year, yet played every game as if he was the largest fellow on the field. He’s the league’s leading scorer and passer and most valuable player.” (Source, Benicia Herald, November 15, 1956)
Van Blaricom was named to the Vallejo Times Herald All League team. He was also named to first team of the San Francisco Examiner’s All Golden Empire football team following a poll of coaches and sports writers from all over Northern California, and to the Examiner’s third team for All-Northern California honors.

WILLIE CASTILLO

Sophomore season

The 1957 team had a record of 4-2-1. There was a flu epidemic that season which affected many teams in the area, including Benicia. Willie Castillo was listed as being 5′-5″ tall and weighing 148. Before the second game he was switched to guard, but played some in the backfield through the season. He was initially listed as a fullback, but only carried the ball 7 times for 33 yards and one touchdown. Castillo caught one pass for 3 yards that season. He wasn’t a starter as a sophomore.

Junior season

The 1958 season was the first losing season with Phil Goettel as the head coach. The team went 4-5, but they won three of their last four games. One reason for the slow beginning on the season was the fact that from five to six sophomores were starters each game and had to learn how to play on the varsity level.
Castillo was 5′-9″ tall and weighed167 as the starting fullback in the first game of the season. He kicked the Point After Touchdown following the only Benicia touchdown in the team’s 19-7 loss.
In the Amador game, third contest of the season, Castillo passed to Charles Kimble for Benicia’s only PAT of the evening. In the fourth quarter Castillo returned an Amador punt to their 21 yard line. Two plays after that he caught a pass from Lyle Holland for a touchdown. Later he had a 67 yard run but was stopped short of the goal line.
Castillo was replaced by Gordon McGuirk at the fullback spot to start the Davis game in which Benicia was defeated 26-6. In the third quarter Castillo scored Benicia’s only touchdown on a one yard plunge. Castillo gained most of the 61 yards on the drive. His attempted kick for the PAT was blocked.
In the 45-13 victory over Lincoln, Castillo kicked for one PAT and passed for another.
Against Folsom, a 27-13 Benicia victory, in the seventh game of the season, Castillo scored three touchdowns, kicked one PAT after faking a placekick, and passed for another. His touchdowns were on 4 and 1 yard runs and a 36 yard pass from Hal Washington.
In the 25-7 victory over St. Vincent’s in the last game of the season, Castillo scored on a one yard run. He later caught a pass for 48 yards, but did not reach the endzone.
Castillo scored 6 touchdowns and 3 PATs as a junior and was the team’s leading scorer. I have not located a listing of any statistics other than team scoring. There were six backs named to the All-League team, but none were from Benicia.

Senior season

The record for the 1959 team was 8-1, and they were Mid Valley Conference Champions. The only game they lost was by 7 points to a team which became the champions of their own league. Castillo was 5′-6″ tall, weighed 169 pounds and played halfback. Charles Kimble had been moved from the end position he played the last season to play halfback. Prior to the first game of the season he hurt a wrist and missed the first three games. When he was finally able to play, he and Castillo became a very good “combination punch” which is reflected in the statistics shown below.
In the first game of the season, against Courtland on their field, Castillo scored 13 points and rushed for 93 yards. He also caught a pass from Dean Croney for 22 yards. The game was played on a Monday afternoon because of a field problem for the previous Friday. That meant Benicia played two games, the second an 18-12 victory over Amador on the following Friday at Sanborn Field, in the same week. I do not think any Benicia team since at least 1948 has ever done that. One thing demonstrated was that the team was in shape and had some good football players.
Against Amador, Castillo scored on runs of 2 and 22 yards. Fullback Gordon McGuirk received a twisted knee in the first half. Castillo took over his spot and Jim Rose and Ed Henson alternated at the halfback position.
Longtime rival Rio Vista was the next opponent and gave Benicia their only loss, 19-12. Castillo continued to play the halfback position. Benicia had a 60 yard drive following the first kickoff of the game. Castillo scored on a 48 yard run. A pass try for the PAT failed. The next Benicia score came in the third quarter when Fred Haderman passed 25 yards to Castillo and then, three plays later, had the same combination go 45 yards for the touchdown. Castillo’s run attempt for the conversion failed and Rio Vista led 13-12.
The next game was against Galt, a 21-19 win. Charles Kimble was once more able to play and played left halfback with Willie Castillo remaining at fullback. Gordon McGuirk was still injured, but, used only for kicking conversions, was well enough to be able to kick the three extra points which made the difference in the score. Castillo scored the last touchdown for Benicia on a one yard run.
Against Vacaville, a 19-6 Benicia victory, Castillo had a fine game running the ball 9 times for 38 yards and returning punts. One punt return was for 50 yards off of a handoff from Sonny Barrett. Most of the league coaches had picked Vacaville to not only defeat Benicia but to win the championship. At the end of the first half Benicia was on the Vacaville five yard line and barely missed on a pass for a touchdown. Towards the end of the game Benicia was on the Vacaville 18 when they ran out of downs. Benicia rushed for over 300 yards and held Vacaville to only 15 in the second half. Coach Phil Goettel said, following the 1960 season that he did not expect to win the championship in the 1959 season, but did expect it for the 1960 season.
Gordon McGuirk was back at fullback for the next game, a 52-7 win over Lincoln. Willie Castillo moved to right halfback and Charles Kimble played left halfback. Fred Haderman was again the starting quarterback. Willie Castillo ran 70 yards for one touchdown and caught a 48 yard pass from Fred Haderman for another. Everyone played in the game. The first team played together less than a quarter.
Following the Lincoln game was the contest against Davis High School at Davis, on the Cal-Aggie Field, which Benicia won 35-0.
“It was Kimble, teamed with Willie Castillo, who helped one-two the Davis eleven into quick submission.
Castillo contributed a 25-yard run to Benicia’s opening drive following the kickoff, the sprint putting the ball on the Davis 35. Kimble carried it from there on the next play. Gordon McGuirk, who booted two conversions and passed for a third, kicked true for the extra point.
CASTILLO SPARKLES
“Castillo set up TD No.2 with a 62 yard punt return to the Davis 19. Two plays later, Kimble went in from the 19. McGuirk booted the PAT.” (Source, Vallejo Times Herald, Saturday, October 31, 1959)
In the second quarter Castillo scored on an 8 yard run.
Castillo caught a pass from Fred Haderman for 45 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The game for the championship was played against Folsom on their field. Benicia won 12-6. Folsom had obviously set their defense to stop Charles Kimble’s power running, and often used seven and eight man lines. They must have forgotten about Castillo because, among other plays, he broke off a 58 yard run which took the ball to the Folsom 20 yard line. Benicia gained 252 net yards on the ground. Willie Castillo gained 140 yards and Charles Kimble ran for 85 more.

Prep Honor Roll

Northern California high school football players cited by coaches and correspondents for outstanding performances in last week’s game were (in alphabetical order, by schools):
Backs
B– Tom Gallagher, Bellarmine; Willie Castillo and Charlie Kimble, Benicia; Norris Williams, Berkeley; Larry Laudorbaugh, Bret Harte; Jim McGuire, Buchser. (Source, San Francisco Examiner)
Benicia defeated St. Vincent’s 14-13 in the last game. It was a non-league contest. Castillo played with a limp after the sixth play of the second half. Neither Castillo nor Kimble scored.
Willie Castillo was given Honorable Mention on offense on the All-League Team. Charles Kimble was named to both the Offensive and Defensive All-League Teams. I think some coaches missed by not voting for Willie Castillo to be an All-League selection. He had better games against the teams of other coaches than the backs that were selected to the team had against Benicia.
To demonstrate how effective Willie Castillo and Charles Kimble were as a tandem, Castillo scored 67 points and Kimble 60 for the season. Kimble scored in three less games because of missing the first three games of the season with a wrist injury. Also, entering that last game, Castillo and Kimble had each carried the ball 95 times with each gaining a net of 708 yards. Castillo also caught 11 passes for 243 yards (4 TD’s). Kimble caught 2 passes for 17 yards.

To be continued with the one, the only Charles Kimble

James M. Garrett has lived in Benicia his entire life, having graduated from Benicia High School in 1961. He retired after a 27-year career of teaching at BHS in 2000. He is the author of “One Great Season 9-0!,” “Benicia and Letters of Love,” “The Mansion Stories,” and the compiler of “The Golden Era,” a history of Benicia High School football from the 1948 through 1960 seasons. Contact him at Jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

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