Monterey Bay Prep Report Article

11/09/01
Palma At Hollister	07:30pm
Salinas At North Salinas	07:30pm
Alvarez At Alisal	07:30pm
Gilroy At Live Oak	07:30pm
Carmel At Pacific Grove	07:00pm
King City At Gonzales	07:00pm

11/10/01
North County At Monterey	02:00pm
Seaside At Stevenson	02:00pm
Soledad At Greenfield	02:00pm

Friday's Games

Palma (9-0) At Hollister (7-2)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Hollister High
Last Year
Hollister edged Palma 16-10 in a battle of attrition between two of the best defenses in the section. The game turned on a bad Palma punt snap in the 2nd quarter that resulted in a safety. The ensuing Palma free kick went out of bounds, setting Hollister up for a short 40 yard scoring drive. The 9 point swing was the difference in an otherwise evenly played defensive struggle. Both teams went on to section titles; Palma claimed the CCS D1 title, and Hollister claimed the CCS D2 title.
Notes

Palma comes into the game ranked #20 overall in the state by Cal-Hi sports, #8 overall in Northern California, and #2 in the CCS by the San Jose Mercury. Hollister comes into play ranked #8 in the CCS. Palma may have wrapped up the MBL title last week, but don't expect a letdown in this game, which has become one of the most intense rivalries in the CCS. Both teams have locked up playoff bids, but there is a tremendous amount at stake for both teams in this game. A loss by Hollister would likely drop the Balers out of the D1 playoffs, forcing them to play at the smaller-school D2 level. A loss by Palma would likely drop the Chieftains from a guaranteed #1 or #2 seed to a possible #3 or #4 seed in the D1 playoffs, making their road to the championship game much more difficult. Then there is the history: including the playoffs, Palma has lost only 8 games since 1988. Hollister has administered 3 of those 8 losses, taking 3 of the last 4 meetings between these teams over the last 4 years. Make no mistake, this game is as much about pride and bragging rights as it is about playoff ramifications. Add in the fact that this is Hollister's homecoming, and you have the makings of another Baler-Chieftain classic.

Salinas (6-2-1) At North Salinas (4-5)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Salinas Sports Complex
Last Year
Needing a victory in their final game to make the CCS playoffs, Salinas High was stunned 7-6 by cross-town rival North Salinas, whose record was 3-6 entering the game. The inspired Viking defense limited Salinas to just 97 yards of total offense, forcing 6 punts and 3 turnovers as well. In front of a partisan Cowboy crowd at the "PIT", North Salinas running back Justin Pascone had a big night, rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries
Notes

Unlike last year, Salinas (currently ranked #12 in the CCS by the San Jose Mercury) comes into this game having already secured a playoff spot. That is probably a good thing, because you can throw the standings out the window in any rivalry game. Of interest will be Salinas' top ranked rushing offense (2337 yards) pitted against a tough North Salinas run defense. Taking care of the ball on offense will be a priority for North Salinas, as the Viking offense has turned the ball over 26 times via 18 fumbles and 8 interceptions.

Alvarez (7-1-1) At Alisal (2-7)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Alisal High
Last Year
MBL Co-Most Valuable Defensive Player David Gibson returned an interception 98 yards, and Ricky Gebin returned one 30 yards on the next Alisal drive en route to a 48-0 Alvarez victory over the Trojans. The Alvarez defense limited Alisal to just 66 total yards of offense.
Notes

Ranked #6 in the CCS, Alvarez bounced back from its 42-7 loss to Palma with a 50-14 blowout of Monterey. After breaking their state-longest 34 game losing streak with an early-season win over Monterey, the Alisal football program has taken great strides towards respectability. The Trojans put two wins on the board in the rugged MBL (something they had not achieved since re-entering the league 3 years ago) and were competitive in just about every game. A win by Alvarez will wrap up 2nd place in the MBL, and an automatic berth into the CCS playoffs.

Gilroy (6-3) At Live Oak (2-7)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Live Oak High
Last Year
In a game that featured three running backs breaking the 100 yard mark, MBL Offensive MVP Danny Gallo rushed for 177 yards and a touchdown in a 21-13 Gilroy victory over Live Oak. All-MBL running back Donnie Murphy chipped in 105 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort for the Acorns. Both teams combined for 525 rushing yards from scrimmage.
Notes

Simply put, Gilroy must stop the bleeding. After winning their first 5 games buy no less than a margin of 16 points, the Mustangs have dropped 3 of their last 4 games, falling to 5th place in the MBL. Despite this late-season collapse, the Mustangs have locked up a likely at-large CCS playoff berth, and still remain ranked at #15 in the CCS by the San Jose Mercury. Losing top running back J.L. Mangono last week to an off-field injury did not help the Mustang cause. Live Oak has played excellent defensive football, having surrendered the fewest yards of any team in the area. But the Acorn offense has struggled all season. Live Oak ranks second to last in the area for points scored (89), and the Acorns have turned the ball over 22 times.

Carmel (7-1) At Pacific Grove (8-1)

Game Time:	7:00	Location:	Breaker Stadium
Last Year
Pacific Grove running back Trevor Howell bulled his way for 4 short touchdown runs in a 35-22 win over longtime rival Carmel. Pacific Grove jumped ahead 35-0 on an Eric Consiglio interception return to end the 3rd quarter, only to see Carmel rally for 22 unanswered 4th quarter points and make the score respectable.
Notes

With a league title on the line, this may be the most significant PG/Carmel "shoe" game played since the Jimmy Carter administration. Both teams have locked up CCS playoff berths, but Pacific Grove needs a win to claim undisputed first place in the MTAL. A Carmel win would force a Padre co-championship with Pacific Grove. Neither team is afraid to put the ball in the air, as Pacific Grove (1423 yards) and Carmel (1233 yards) rank #2 and #3 in the area in passing yards from scrimmage. The Padre defense ranks among the best against the run in the area, having allowed only 1095 yards on the ground in eight games. Carmel has also forced 24 turnovers, snaring an impressive 13 interceptions. The Padre defense will have their hands full trying to contain Breaker quarterback Jon Grant, who has rushed for 9 touchdowns and thrown 9 touchdown passes.

King City (2-6-1) At Gonzales (2-7)

Game Time:	7:00	Location:	Dick Force Stadium
Last Year
Trailing 14-12 midway through the 4th quarter, King City drove to the Gonzales 5 yard line. The Spartan defense stiffened, but King City's John Arreola booted a pressure-packed 21 yard field goal to give the Mustang's a 15-14 lead with 7:21 remaining. That score would hold up, as King City was able to turn back Gonzales' final drive and hang on for the victory.
Notes

South county bragging rights are on the line again in this game, as anyone familiar with these South Salinas Valley communities understands the intense rivalry that closely resembles the Hatfields and McCoys. Whether it be youth baseball, swimming, basketball or horseshoes, this friendly rivalry between the two close-knit farming communities is ingrained into every family member from day one. Throw out the fact that both teams are playing out the season with no title or postseason chances - a win here will make either team's season. Gonzales fans have one edge - they offer the finest Swiss sausage sandwich in the Central Coast Section.

Saturday's Games

North County (2-7) At Monterey (0-9)

Game Time:	2:00	Location:	Monterey High
Last Year
Monterey rallied for a 22-21 victory in the season finale, but sloppy play dictated a game in which both teams combined for 7 turnovers, 23 penalties and 265 penalty yards. Monterey quarterback David Phillips hooked up with receiver Shawn Coppock for an 8 yard scoring strike in the 3rd quarter for what turned out to be the winning score. North Monterey County took a 13-0 lead into the second quarter, only to see Monterey rally back and take control of the game with 22 unanswered points.
Notes

The slow-starting North Monterey County offense has yet to score any points in the 1st quarter this season, but it could find success against a Monterey defense that has allowed 37.5 points per game. A win by Monterey would force a tie for last place in the MBL with North County. We are still checking on it, but it is believed a loss by the Toreadors would give the storied Monterey football program its first winless season in school history. North County running back Reggie Doucet has had a fine second half of the season, rushing for 285 yards and 4 touchdown in his last 4 games, including 80 and 103 yard efforts against league heavyweights Palma and Hollister.

Seaside (4-4-1) At Stevenson (4-5)

Game Time:	2:00	Location:	Stevenson High
Last Year
In a battle between two 9-0 teams and the MTAL championship on the line, a standing-room only crowd witnessed Chris Bonifas rush for 137 yards as Stevenson took a hard-fought 17-7 victory and MTAL title. At linebacker, the Stanford-bound Bonifas also helped shut down the vaunted Seaside offense, as the Pirates limited Seaside to 145 total yards from scrimmage on the night.
Notes

Despite losing practically every starter from last season (including a combined 14 players who garnered All-MTAL and/or All-County honors), both teams have played respectably. Up until last week, Seaside and Stevenson were still in the hunt for playoff spots, with Stevenson upsetting Carmel's bid for a perfect season with a stunning 10-9 victory 2 weeks ago. Stevenson's top ranked air attack will face a Seaside defense that ranks 3rd-to-last in pass defense, but among the best against the run. Stevenson has shown a propensity for throwing the interception, having chucked an area-worst 16 balls into the hands of opponent defensive backs.

Soledad (5-4) At Greenfield (1-7)

Game Time:	2:00	Location:	Greenfield High
Last Year
Jesse Rodriguez rushed for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 26-14 victory over Greenfield . Soledad twin brothers Arthur and Frank Berlanga combined for 117 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. Greenfield fullback Albert Rubalcava rushed for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Notes

Soledad hopes to keep its at-large CCS playoff hopes alive with a victory over Greenfield. Having played the toughest preseason schedule of any team in the MTAL, Soledad hopes a win, combined with the extra points garnered from playing a tough preseason schedule, will be enough to place them into the CCS football playoffs for the first time in the school's brief history. Soledad's hopes were bolstered with preseason opponent Gunderson's clinching of the Santa Teresa Athletic League title, for which Soledad will receive an additional playoff point.