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2001 Week Two Football Preview


MBL BEGINS LEAGUE PLAY
9/14/2001
By Staff
Monterey Bay Prep Report

09/14/01

Gilroy At North Salinas 07:30pm
King City At Morro Bay 07:30pm
Harbor At Pacific Grove 07:30pm
Aptos At Seaside 07:00pm
Salinas At Alisal 07:30pm
Gonzales At Watsonville 07:00pm
Gunderson At Soledad 07:30pm

09/15/01

Palma At Monterey 02:00pm
Santa Cruz At Carmel 02:00pm
Live Oak At North Monterey County 02:00pm
Greenfield At San Jose Academy 02:00pm
Hollister At Alvarez 02:00pm
Monte Vista Christian At Stevenson 02:00pm
 

Friday's Games

 

 
Game Time:  7:30

Location:

Salinas Sports Complex

Last Year

Gilroy amassed 555 yards of total offense against the Vikings in a 49-20 victory. The Mustangs averaged 10.6 yards per play, and Danny Gallo ran for a eye-popping 292 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Vikings moved the ball well themselves, racking up 343 yards of total offense, but three big interceptions did not help their cause.

Notes


North Salinas turned the ball over 7 times last week against San Lorenzo Valley, but a very strong showing by the Viking defense kept the game close. The North Salinas offense was held to an anemic 75 total yards. Gilroy, on the other hand, ran through Mission San Jose like a hot knife through butter. Gilroy averaged 24 yards per carry in their blowout victory. For this game to stay close, the North Salinas offense has to take care of the ball, generate some yards with long drives, and keep Gilroy's powerful offense off of the field.

 

 

King City At Morro Bay

 
Game Time:  7:30

Location:

Morro Bay

Last Year

King City was held to 4 first downs and 35 total yards of offense in a 11-0 loss to Morro Bay. The Pirates kept the ball on the ground, running for 216 yards on 44 attempts. Two interceptions and a fumble recovery kept the game close for King City.

Notes


Morro Bay, a member of the CIF Southern Section, belongs to the Los Padres League. In their opener, the Pirates ended up with a 7-7 tie to host Shafter High. Morro Bay's lone score came on a 64 yard pass play from quarterback Adam VanCoops to fullback Joe Garcia. Not counting the big play, Morro Bay only managed 135 yards of offense against Shafter. Against Monte Vista Christian last week, King City could only manage 126 yards of total offense. This looks to be a another defensive struggle.

 

 

Harbor At Pacific Grove

 
Game Time:  7:30

Location:

Breaker Stadium

Last Year

Pacific Grove went to the air early and often in a 31-16 victory over Harbor. John Grant lit the Pirates up with a 98 yard scoring strike midway through the second quarter for the first score of the game, and ended up with 210 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Despite allowing 177 yards rushing and a touchdown to Harbor's record setting Calvin Keyser-Allen, the Breakers were able to jump out early and put the game out of reach.

Notes


Pacific Grove was dominated in all phases of the game last week against Salinas High. The Breakers were held to 24 yards rushing on 32 attempts - an average of 0.75 yards per carry. When quarterback John Grant wasn't running for his life, his receivers were dropping balls. Phil Shin had a very quiet 93 receiving yards. With the physical pounding taken by the Breakers, it will be interesting to see how they bounce back. The good news for the Breakers is that they will not see another team with the size and speed of Salinas, especially in the MTAL.

 

 

Aptos At Seaside

 
Game Time:  7:00

Location:

Seaside High

Last Year

Seaside held Aptos scoreless for 3 quarters in an eventual 28-8 victory in Aptos. Seaside quarterback Anthony Garnett ran for two touchdowns in the game. A stingy Spartan defense limited Aptos to 113 total yards of offense. Seaside was called for 11 penalties for a total of 105 yards. 41 of Seaside's 48 plays from scrimmage were on the ground.

Notes


Having lost so many starters to graduation, Seaside had to be bolstered with their rivalry victory over Monterey last week. Monterey nearly doubled Seaside's offensive output, but four key turnovers and 11 penalties for 100 yards hampered the Toreadors. Seaside will have to contain Aptos' dangerous Dan Stevens, who accounted for all of the Mariner's scoring last week with an 86 yard kickoff return and a 1 yard touchdown run in a 36-12 loss to Alvarez. Aptos was vulnerable to the run, allowing 314 rushing yards to Alvarez. Seaside must limit their penalties - the Spartans were flagged 10 times for 90 penalty yards.

 

 

 
Game Time:  7:30

Location:

Alisal High

Last Year

Christian Taylor had touchdown runs of 64 and 53 yards in a Salinas High 40-6 victory over Alisal. Five different ball carriers scored for the Cowboys as they amassed 434 yards on the ground. Salinas only punted once in the game.

Notes


It will not be easy for Alisal to break their 32 game losing streak now that MBL league play begins, especially against a Salinas High team that realistically looks like they could challenge for the MBL title this year. Both teams played MTAL title contenders last week - Salinas High rolled over Pacific Grove 35-3, while Alisal lost a 15-14 heartbreaker to Soledad. Alisal does look much improved this year, in one game scoring half of last seasons point total and holding Soledad to 225 yards of offense.

 

 

Gonzales At Watsonville

 
Game Time:  7:00

Location:

Watsonville High

Last Year

In one of the seasons most exciting games, Watsonville scored on a 28 yard A.J. Avila to Alberto Garcia pass play with 2:17 left in the fourth quarter to pull out a 21-15 victory in Gonzales. Gonzales had pulled ahead 15-13, but the 'Catz were able to pull the game out with the late touchdown pass that saw them move 80 yards in two plays.

Notes


Watsonville looked like world beaters in their 35-0 thumping of Greenfield last week. The Spartans will have to contain Watsonville quarterback Jake Linney, who scored four touchdowns on 11 carries last week against Greenfield, as well as Drew Milczarek, who ran for 175 yards on 18 carries. Watsonville had 385 total yards on the ground, with a whopping 56 rushing attempts.

 

 

Gunderson At Soledad

 
Game Time:  7:30

Location:

Soledad High

Last Year

Teams did not play.

Notes


Soledad will have their hands full with Gunderson, who rolled over Pioneer 33-7 last week. Gunderson lost All-American running back Jason Harrison to UCLA, but appear loaded on defense this year. Defensive End Gary Lovely, the Blossom Valley League sophomore of the year, will be very difficult to contain. Two All-League second team defensive backs return in the form of Greg Lovely and Martell Heffner. Soledad's Erick Salto and Michael Ledesma each ran for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Aztec's 15-14 win against Alisal. 

 

Saturday's Games

 

 
Game Time:  2:00

Location:

Monterey High

Last Year

Palma's Justin Cambier scored three touchdowns, and 14 Chieftain ball carriers ran for 380 yards in a 49-6 bruising of Monterey. Palma quarterback Luis Amaral passed for two scores, and ran for one touchdown in the victory. Four Monterey turnovers and 80 penalty yards added to the Toreador woes. 

Notes


Monterey's loss to a rebuilding Seaside team does bode well for them in their league opener against area power Palma. Monterey's 6-0 220 pound Curtis Freeman, who had nine carries for 74 yards and a touchdown last week against Seaside, is a breakaway threat for the Toreadors, but no team in the area has the team speed of Palma. Monterey quarterback Dave Phillips will have to limit the turnovers if Monterey has any chance of keeping this game close, something the Toreadors have not been able to do since Palma entered the MBL three years ago.

 

 

Santa Cruz At Carmel

 
Game Time:  2:00

Location:

Carmel High

Last Year

Carmel lost a close 19-14 contest last year at Santa Cruz High. Carmel's Toby McLeod rushed for 117 yards on 28 carries, but the Padres could not overcome a third quarter that saw Santa Cruz score 19 unanswered points.

Notes


Carmel opened a few MTAL eyes with their 22-13 opening season victory over Harbor. Dating back to 1999, the Padres had lost their previous 14 games. Carmel running back Toby McLeod and quarterback Pat Johnson both had big games against Harbor - McCleod had 90 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while Johnson threw for 189 yards and a touchdown. Carmel faces a Santa Cruz defense that pitched a shutout last week against Stevenson. If Carmel is to continue its new winning streak, they will have to contain Santa Cruz's dangerous receiver Reuben Miller, who torched Stevenson last week for 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.

 

 

 
Game Time:  2:00

Location:

NMC High

Last Year

North Monterey County won a hard fought 28-12 opener against Live Oak in Morgan Hill. Evan Oliver had a big night for the Condors, rushing for 168 yards and one touchdown on just 6 carries. Three big turnovers cost the Acorns.

Notes


Coming into this game, the number zero plays a prominent role: North County has not allowed any points, and Live Oak has not scored any points. Live Oak lost 26-0 two weeks ago to Mitty and have had two weeks to think about it. North County shut out Soquel 18-0. Live Oak's All League running back Donnie Murphy was held to 27 yards on 12 carries by Mitty. North County will have to contain Murphy as well to win their league opener.

 

 

Greenfield At San Jose Academy

 
Game Time:  2:00

Location:

San Jose

Last Year

Teams did not play.

Notes


Greenfield was beat for 4 rushing touchdowns last week by Watsonville quarterback Jake Linney. That is not good news, considering what San Jose's dangerous quarterback Raul Sandoval did to Gonzales last Friday night. Sandoval was 11-15 passing for 123 yards and a touchdown, and also ran 6 times for 30 yards and a touchdown. Greenfield managed just 18 yards with two interceptions in the air against Watsonville. That will have to improve if the Bruins are to notch their first victory of the season.

 

 

 
Game Time:  2:00

Location:

Alvarez High

Last Year

Hollister won the game 16-0 on the field, but later in the season had the game declared an forfeit due to the use of an ineligible player. Alvarez was able to limit the Hollister running game to 130 yards, but the Alvarez offense could not move the ball against one of toughest defenses in the CCS. Nick Buzzeta scored an early 4th quarter rushing touchdown to put the game out of reach.

Notes


Both teams come off of easy preseason wins; Hollister beat Wilcox 27-12, and Alvarez rolled over Aptos 36-12. Currently ranked #9 in Northern California, Hollister senior Steven Salcedo ran for an MBL/MTAL high 142 yards against Wilcox. Alvarez's Antuone Gamble and Galen Perry each ran for 100 yards and a score against Aptos. It will be a difficult task for Alvarez to shut down both Salcedo and league MVP Nick Buzzeta on offense. On defense, Hollister features league defensive MVP Alan Renz, an All-CCS selection at linebacker. One thing in Alvarez's favor are the numerous injuries to Hollister's offensive line that have forced some position shifting by the Balers.

 

 

Monte Vista Christian At Stevenson

 
Game Time:  2:00

Location:

Stevenson

Last Year

Stevenson's Chris Bonifas ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns as the Pirates beat Monte Vista Christian 22-6. Stevenson never trailed in the game, scoring in the first four minutes on a Bonifas 36 yard scamper, and minutes later on a safety. Monte Vista Christian scored as time ran out in the first quarter, but was shut out for the remainder of the game.

Notes


Both teams come off of shutouts last week: Monte Vista Christian shut out King City 21-0, while Stevenson was shut out by Santa Cruz 17-0. Stevenson will have to contain Monte Vista Christian's  David Leach, who last week ran for 161 and 2 two touchdowns in place of injured Mustang Marcus Hightower. Hightower is expected back for Saturday's game. Stevenson will have to put together some semblance of a ground game  -  quarterback  Chris Jackson was the leading rusher for Stevenson with 35 yards.

 

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