The 2000 campaign will go down as one of the best title races in league history. In a strange quirk of fate, three teams made it through week seven undefeated - Pacific Grove, Seaside and Stevenson. As a result, the final three weeks of the regular season featured title-implicated games between the trio of teams. In week eight, Seaside humbled Pacific Grove 31-0, leaving two undefeated teams. Week nine saw Stevenson whip Pacific Grove 21-6, setting up an MTAL week 10 championship game between 9-0 Stevenson and 9-0 Seaside. In an intense battle, Stanford-bound Chris Bonifas ran for 137 yards as Stevenson edged Seaside 17-7 for its first-ever MTAL football championship.

Playoffs
The postseason has not been kind to the MTAL since losing perennial power Palma to the Monterey Bay League three years ago. The MTAL is just 1-7 in the playoffs since Palma's departure, with the lone win coming last year with Stevenson's 35-7  win over Capuchino in the first round despite placing 3 teams in the postseason. The small school MTAL has had the misfortune of being in the same CCS Division Four playoff classification as some of the top teams in the state. San Lorenzo Valley is the two-time defending CCS D4 champion, with back to back state #1 rankings in their division. Palma won the CCS D1 (large school) title last season after collecting 7 small school CCS titles. Throw in Riordan and Valley Christian, who both play in large school "A" leagues, and you have a very competitive playoff division. There is good news this year for MTAL postseason participants: CCS rules allow only 2 titles in a row at a lower division, so San Lorenzo Valley will be forced up at least one playoff division. Additionally, Palma and Valley Christian now compete exclusively at the D1 level.

Graduation Hits League Hard
Of the twenty-seven MTAL players who garnered postseason honors last year, only four were underclassmen. Three of these returning players will strap it on for Pacific Grove. All-County linebacker Trevor Howell and All-MTAL defensive back Phil Shin will headline the Breaker defense. Both players bring impressive numbers to the offensive side of the ball as well. Howell rushed for 438 yards and 12 TD's last season. Shin, an All-MTAL and All-County receiver, gathered in 37 receptions for 515 yards and 5 TD's as one of the area's top deep threats. All-MTAL and All-County kicker Brooke Emanuel (3 field goals, 27 extra points) will stretch the field for the Breakers with his strong leg. One of the most versatile players in the area returns to play for Soledad. All-County utility player Erick Salto rushed for 271 yards and 4 TD's, hauled in 15 passes for 220 yards and 2 TD's, and ran back 2 kickoffs for touchdowns. 

Pacific Grove's Jon Grant (1384 yards, 9 TD's, 10 INT's) and Soledad's Robert Magana (1267 yards, 9 TD's, 13 INT's) headline this year's quarterback class. Both begin their third season as starting quarterbacks in the league. 

The league returns a solid corps of experienced ball carriers. Look for Seaside running back Donnie Brooks (412 yards, 4 TD's), and Carmel's Toby McLeod (532 yards, 4 TD's), King City's Delphin Antonio (489 yards, 4TD's), and Greenfield's Daniel Vargas (418 yards, 7 TD's) to put up some impressive numbers. Tight Ends Tim Covington (6-3, 280lbs, 318 yards, 2 TD's) of Carmel and Isaac Valaderez (6-3, 225lbs, 187 yards, 2 TD's) of King City will make big plays down the middle of the field.

Early Favorites
Pacific Grove returns key skill position players and seasoned leadership, and Soledad returns practically its entire squad from last year. But no program in the MTAL has been as consistent from the freshman level to varsity as Seaside, a dark horse pick for the title. The Seaside freshman and JV programs have both posted back to back titles, and that success may allow the Spartans to reload and sneak up on the frontrunners. With their recent success, the Spartans have limited the number of players who, in the past, have ended up wearing the green and gold of the zip code next door.