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AREA TEAMS KICK OFF SEASON |
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9/7/2001 |
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By Staff |
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Monterey Bay Prep Report |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location: |
Salinas Sports
Complex |
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Last
Year |
| San
Lorenzo Valley jumped out in front of the Vikings with
two touchdown passes and a safety in the first quarter
and never looked back in a 23-0 season opening victory
in Felton. |
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Notes |
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| North
Salinas must minimize the turnovers. The Vikings coughed
the ball up five times via 3 fumbles and 2 interceptions in last year's game. Give North Salinas
credit for scheduling this game: San Lorenzo Valley
finished last season ranked #1 in the state in Division
3 by Cal-Hi Sports, and the Cougars are the two-time
defending CCS D4 champions. Only two starters
return for SLV, who look to win their sixth straight
Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title. Returnee Loren
Jenson (6-0, 180) was the leading rusher for SLV in last
season's match-up. Viking defensive linemen Steven
Guerrero (5-10, 245) and Alfonso Jimenez (6-3, 285) will
have to clog up the Cougar running game if the Viking
hope for an upset. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location: |
The
"PIT" |
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Last
Year |
| Salinas
was held off of the scoreboard until 49 seconds remained
in the fourth quarter, while Pacific Grove scored in
every quarter but the fourth to come out on top with a
28-6 victory. Big plays were a huge part in the game,
with Pacific Grove scoring on a blocked punt, a 50 yard
pass play, and a 40 yard run. |
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Notes |
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| Although
only a preseason game, this is a statement game for both
Pacific Grove and Salinas High. The Breakers are early
favorites for the MTAL title, returning quarterback John
Grant, All-County linebacker/running back Trevor Howell
and All-County receiver/defensive back Phil Shin. The
feeling at Salinas High is that the Cowboys are primed
to challenge in the MBL and make a CCS playoff run, and
rightly so: Salinas has skilled athletes returning at
just about every position. All-County lineman Peter
Medina leads the Cowboy defensive charge, with dangerous
All-County running back and return man Christian Taylor
looking to wreak havoc on the Breakers. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location: |
Soledad High |
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Last
Year |
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First meeting
between the two schools. |
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Notes |
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| History
seems to point to the fact that this may be Alisal's
only chance this season to break their state-high 31
game losing streak. This is Alisal's only preseason
game, and they have not won a single game in the tough
Monterey Bay League since re-entering with realignment 3
years ago. A victory will not come easy down in Soledad,
where the Aztecs look to challenge Pacific Grove for the
MTAL title. Alisal returns versatile running back Miguel
Salas, who caught 11 balls last year for 111 yards, and
also had 43 carries. Soledad counters with its own
multi-talented All-County back, Eric Salto. Salto
had 271 yards rushing last year to go along with 15
receptions for 220 yards, returning two kickoffs for
touchdowns. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:00 |
Location: |
Dick Force
Stadium |
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Last
Year |
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Teams did not
play. |
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Notes |
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| Gonzales
may be catching San Jose at a very good time - San
Jose's first game of the year after losing 21 seniors to
graduation. San Jose posted a 5-1 record in the West
Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League in
2000, and return quarterback Raul Sandoval to throw to
dangerous All-BVAL receiver Stephen Contreras. Gonzales
will depend upon Robert Cazares to carry the
Spartan load at running back. Cazares saw limited action
last season, but managed two touchdowns on just 18
carries for the year. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:00 |
Location: |
Wilcox High |
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Last
Year |
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Hollister ground
out a 24-14 victory over Wilcox only to later in the
season have it declared a forfeit due to the use of an ineligible
player. The Haybaylors racked up 350 yard of total
offense with 249 yards rushing and 103 yards passing.
Quarterback Nick Buzzetta was the difference in the
game, rushing for a game high 89 yards and also throwing
for two touchdowns. |
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Notes |
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| Hollister
looks to justify its current NorCal #10 ranking with a
convincing victory over Wilcox. Hollister returnees Nick
Buzzetta, Steve Salcedo, and Cameron Shutts combined for
260 rushing and passing yards in last year's game.
Wilcox ended last season with a loss to Los Gatos in the
CCS D3 finals. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:00 |
Location: |
Santa Cruz High |
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Last
Year |
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Stevenson humbled
Santa Cruz 42-15 in last year's season opener.
Stevenson's Chris Bonifas rumbled for 136 yards and two
touchdowns in the rout. Two fumbles and an interception
did not help Santa Cruz's cause. The Cardinals spiraled
to a 3-7 record, while the Stevenson Pirates went on to
an undefeated MTAL title and only losing to CCS D4
finalist Riordan in the playoffs. |
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Notes |
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| Talk
about change - Stevenson lost virtually their entire
championship team to graduation, hired a first-time head
coach, and have implemented a new air-attack offensive
scheme. Stevenson excelled at the ball control offense
last season - too many three and outs this week could
make for a long bus-ride home for the Pirates.
Defensively, Santa Cruz returns many starters, including
hard hitting safety Jim Anderson (6-2, 205), who is also
the starting quarterback. Depth will be a problem for
both teams: Stevenson carries 35 players, while Santa
Cruz suites up only 27. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location: |
Monterey High |
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Last
Year |
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Seaside broke a
nine year rivalry drought by beating up on Monterey
42-28. Seaside quarterback Anthony Garnett threw for 194
yards and 4 touchdowns. Monterey actually topped Seaside
in total yardage, but three costly turnovers and 80
yards in penalties doomed the Toreadors. |
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Notes |
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| This
game will go a long way in determining if the about-face
each of these two programs took last season is here for
the long run. Perennial power Monterey missed the
playoffs for the first time in nine years, and saw it's
record drop to a shocking 3-7. What was more surprising
were the loss margins - losing games to the top tier
teams by 30 and 40 points. On the other hand, Seaside
broke through with 9-2 campaign which saw them go
undefeated until the last two games of the year, and
obtain a CCS playoff berth. And it all started for
Seaside with last year's big win over Monterey. Both
teams return few players, but Seaside running back
Donnie Brooks brings 412 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns
worth of experience from last year into Saturday's game. |
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| Game
Time: |
6:30 |
Location: |
Salinas Sports
Complex |
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Last
Year |
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First meeting
between the two schools. |
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Notes |
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| In
one of the rare intersectional games of the season for
area teams, Palma takes on North Coast Section perennial
playoff contender Alhambra of Martinez, a member of the
Diablo Foothill Athletic League. Four of the seven seeds
in the 2000 NCS 2A playoffs were members of this league,
including Alhambra and eventual NCS 2A champ Miramonte.
Inter-sectional games are one of the few ways to gauge
the strength of local teams in relation to the rest of the
state, and this will be a good challenge for the
defending CCS D1 champion Chieftains. Alhambra is a team
that historically has tried to outscore its opponents
with strong offensive teams, so a match- up with
defense-oriented Palma should make for very interesting
football. Look for Palma to gear up its high-octane
running game, with quarterback Luis Amaral and running
back Nick Norioan having break-out games. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location: |
Harbor High |
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Last
Year |
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Harbor's Calvin
Keyser-Allen brutalized Carmel for 248 yards rushing and
two touchdowns in a 35-7 blowout in Carmel.
Pass-oriented Carmel did throw for 259 yards, but the
Harbor ground game was just too much for the Padres
offense, which historically has taken little time off
the clock for its defense. |
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Notes |
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| The
good news for the Padres is that most of the Harbor team
that treated them so rudely in last year's opener and
went on the the CCS D3 semifinals have graduated, and
Carmel's top running back Toby McCleod (532 rushing
yards, 4 TD's last season) returns to try and avenge
last season's thumping. The bad news is that only 25
players will take the field Saturday for Carmel, which
typically has a low turnout for football. That being the
case, it may be difficult for Carmel to snap their
current 14 game losing streak this week. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location: |
NMC High |
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Last
Year |
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North Monterey
County lost a 21-20 thriller to Soquel, failing on a
late 4th quarter two point conversion that would have
given the Condors the win. Penalties were a factor in
the Condor loss - North County was flagged 11 times for
80 yards in the game. |
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Notes |
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| It
will be baptism by fire for the inexperienced Condors
against a Senior-laden Soquel team. Both schools have a
rich football tradition, but in recent years Soquel and
NMC have been eclipsed in their respective leagues by area
powers San Lorenzo Valley (SCCAL), and Palma/Hollister
(MBL). North County is just two years removed from its
tri-championship season, but historically the Condor's
have not fared well in the powerful MBL. Condor senior
quarterback Rob Stefani will take his first varsity
snaps. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location: |
Greenfield High |
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Last
Year |
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Teams did not
play. |
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Notes |
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| Watsonville
looks much improved over last year's 3-6 team. The
Wildcatz return most of their offensive linemen,
and a strong corps of linebackers and defensive
linemen. Greenfield will counter with returning running
back Daniel Vargas, who tallied a very respectable 418
yards rushing and 7 touchdowns on 94 carries last
season. Converted running back Jake Fudge will take over
at quarterback for the Bruins. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location: |
Fremont |
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Last
Year |
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Teams did not
play. |
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Notes |
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| Gilroy
goes inter-sectional against North Coast Section and
Mission Valley Athletic League member Mission San Jose
High. The MVAL also contains league member James Logan,
one of the top football programs in the Bay Area and
annual streak victim of DeLasalle of
Concord. Look for Gilroy signal caller Jesus Gaona
to go to the air early and often to big play receiver
tandem Chris Thomas (453 yards receiving, 3 TD's last
season) and Will Lawrence (277 receiving yards, 3
TD's last season).. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location: |
M.V.C. |
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Last
Year |
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Teams did not
play. |
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Notes |
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| King
City will have to contain dangerous MVC running back
Marcus Hightower. Although MVC went 1-9 on the field
last year, they return 16 seniors and a strong set of
juniors that went 9-1 at the JV level last season. Look
for King City to utilize their big tight end Isaac
Valadarez (6-3, 220) , who hauled in 10 passes for 187
yards and two touchdowns last season, as well as Delphin
Antonio, who rushed for 489 yards and four touchdowns.
King City quarterback Cole Hudson make his first
varsity start. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location: |
Alvarez High |
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Last
Year |
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Teams did not
play. |
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Notes |
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| It
has been several years since the Aptos Mariners have
taken on an MBL school in the preseason, the most recent
in memory being a 40 point thumping by Palma to open the
1995 season. It may be a long season for Aptos, who
return only 8 starters from a team that went 5-5 in
2000. On offense, Alvarez must contain All-Santa Cruz
County defensive lineman Juan Becerra (6-5, 275 pounds).
Look for Alvarez to assert itself early with its
trademark smash-mouth defense, and run the ball behind
its entire returning offensive line. Anchoring that line
will be All-County offensive lineman Anthony Berlanga. |
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