Monterey Bay Prep Report Article

Friday, November 1, 2002
Monte Vista Christian At Monterey	07:30pm
Live Oak At Salinas	07:30pm
Greenfield At Pacific Grove	07:30pm
Gilroy At Palma	07:30pm
Alvarez At Seaside	07:30pm
Mt. Pleasant At Watsonville	07:30pm
Soquel At Santa Cruz	07:30pm
Sierra Christian At Gonzales	07:30pm

Saturday, November 2, 2002
Aptos At San Lorenzo Valley	02:00pm
King City At Carmel	02:00pm
Alisal At North County	02:00pm
Hollister At North Salinas	04:00pm
Scotts Valley At Harbor	02:00pm
Soledad At Stevenson	02:00pm

Friday's Games

Monte Vista Christian (3-4) At Monterey (0-7)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Monterey Peninsula College
Last Year
Teams did not play.
Notes

Monterey carries a 17-game losing streak into this week's game with MVC, the longest streak in the CCS section. Both teams are still looking for their first league win in the revamped MBL, and both teams are coming off very tough losses. MVC surrendered a 27-0 lead, falling 35-27 to Alisal. Although Monterey was roughed up 54-24 by Alvarez, the Toreadors actually out gained the Eagles in total yardage. Five turnovers, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns, hurt the Monterey effort.

Live Oak (0-6-1) At Salinas (6-1)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Salinas High
Last Year
Mired in defensive tussle, Salinas and Live Oak enter the 4th quarter tied 7-7. The Cowboy's booted a 25 yard field goal with 11:14 remaining in the game to take a 10-7 lead. A poor punt snap resulted in a Live Oak safety with 6:38 remaining in the game. Christian Taylor intercepted a Live Oak pass deep in Salinas territory with 1:00 remaining to preserve a Cowboy victory.
Notes

Salinas (#2 in the SJ Mercury Coaches Poll) is coming off an emotional victory over Palma. Live Oak was thumped 35-7 by North Salinas. The Acorns yielded 8.8 yards per carry to the Vikings, and must now face a very potent Salinas High run game. The Salinas defense is ranked #1 in the area in fewest yards allowed, averaging just 158 yards per game.

Greenfield (1-6) At Pacific Grove (3-4)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Pacific Grove High
Last Year
Pacific Grove's Brooke Emanuel kicked two 30 yard field goals and also hauled in a 57 yard Jon Grant touchdown pass en rout to a 34-14 victory over Greenfield. Chris Clayton rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown for Greenfield.
Notes

Already with a loss to league co-leader Gonzales, defending CCS D4 champion Pacific Grove must run the table for the remainder of MTAL league play and hope that Gonzales knocks off Carmel next week to make any Breaker playoff hopes a reality.

Gilroy (1-6) At Palma (6-1)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Salinas Sports Complex
Last Year
A jam-packed partisan crowd at Gilroy High hoped to witness the end of a 17 year Palma era, and the beginning of a new Gilroy championship era. Both Gilroy and Palma came into the game sporting 5-0 records, but Gilroy, having just dismantled powerhouse Hollister the previous week, looked unbeatable. The Mustangs were averaging 40 points a game, and averaging a 28 point margin of victory. Palma, on the other hand, looked mortal, winning close defensive battles in their first 4 league victories. But Palma, no stranger to big games, would again rise to the occasion for a 27-7 victory. The Chieftains dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage, limiting previously unstoppable Gilroy running back J.L. Mangono to 28 yards rushing. Palma's dominating ground game racked up 287 yards, led by Nick Noroian's 136 yards/TD and Jon Martinez's 82 yards/TD. Palma intercepted 5 passes on the night. The loss put Gilroy in a tailspin that resulted in a 2-4 record the remainder of the season.
Notes

Palma (currently #3 in SJ Mercury Coaches Poll) must rebound from one of the toughest losses in recent school history. Since 1988, the Chieftains had lost only 9 football games. Salinas became only the second school to beat Palma in a league game since the late 80's (Hollister has done it 3 years in a row, and has administered 4 of the 10 Palma losses since 1988), and the Palma 18-straight league championship streak is now in serious jeopardy. Since their 33-13 victory over Santa Cruz in Week 2, Gilroy has lost 5 straight games and has been outscored 147-20; the Mustang's have scored only 6 points in the last 12 quarters.

Alvarez (4-2-1) At Seaside (5-2)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Seaside High
Last Year
Teams did not play.
Notes

This is easily the game of the year in the Monterey Bay League, and will likely decide the league championship. Alvarez is currently ranked #11 in this week's SJ Mercury Coaches Poll. Both teams feature extremely physical defenses. The Seaside (18) and Alvarez (20) defenses are both among the top 7 teams in the area at forcing opponent turnovers. Alvarez running back Ray Diazleal is 4th among area rushers with 704 yards and six touchdowns.

Mt. Pleasant (2-5) At Watsonville (6-1)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Watsonville High
Last Year
Teams did not play.
Notes

Mt. Pleasant (enrollment 1800) is a member of the Blossom Valley - West Valley Division, considered the weakest of the three Blossom Valley divisions. Mt. Pleasant sports a 2-5 overall record, with league wins over Lick (0-7) and San Jose (0-6). Expect another big game from Watsonville running back Shawn Benjamin, who has an area-best 17 rushing touchdowns this season, and is currently ranked #3 in the quad-league area with 792 yards rushing.

Soquel (2-5) At Santa Cruz (4-3)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Santa Cruz High
Last Year
In the annual battle for "The Stump", Santa Cruz held on for a muddy 12-7 victory over rival Soquel.
Notes

Santa Cruz has now taken home "The Stump" for two consecutive years, yet trails Soquel 30-9 overall in the long-standing series. Soquel ranks last among quad-league area teams with just 62 points scored this season, and the Knights have won just 1 league game going back to the beginning of last season.

Sierra Christian (3-3) At Gonzales (6-1)

Game Time:	7:30	Location:	Gonzales High
Last Year
Teams did not play.
Notes

Sierra Christian is located in Rocklin, and is a member of the Sacramento Valley Christian League. The Bears have a published enrollment of 110 students as documented on the Sac-Joaquin Section web site. This is only the second year of football for the fledgling co-ed private school. Gonzales enters the game as the area's top-ranked offense, averaging 347 total yards and 40 points per game.

Saturday's Games

Aptos (6-1) At San Lorenzo Valley (7-0)

Game Time:	2:00	Location:	SLV High
Last Year
San Lorenzo Valley pulled out a thrilling 13-12 victory over Aptos to put the Cougars in the drivers seat for a 6th consecutive SCCAL title. Trailing 12-6 at the half, SLV's Waylon Prather caught a 3rd quarter Matt Sinnott pass in the flats and ran 98 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Prather ended with 4 receptions for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Notes

San Lorenzo Valley (currently #5 in SJ Mercury Coaches Poll), carries a 44 game SCCAL unbeaten streak into this showdown for first place. SLV (52) and Aptos (66) are #1 and #2 in the quad-league area in fewest points allowed. The Mariner's defense has forced an area-best 23 turnovers this season. The San Lorenzo Valley offense is averaging 334 yards per game, and the Cougar attack (1190 yard rushing, 1146 yards passing) is the most balanced in the quad-league area.

King City (3-4) At Carmel (7-0)

Game Time:	2:00	Location:	Carmel High
Last Year
Carmel running back Toby McLeod punished King City for 205 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns en rout to a 20-7 victory over host King City.
Notes

Carmel enters this week's contest ranked #12 in the CCS in the San Jose Mercury Coaches Poll, but must not get caught overlooking a dangerous King City team in anticipation of next week's showdown with Gonzales. Carmel has outscored opponents 133-8 in the first half, and the Padre defense is forcing an average of 3 turnovers per game. Carmel running back Chris Brown leads the area with 1061 rushing yards, and has a area second-best 15 rushing touchdowns.

Alisal (3-4) At North County (1-5-1)

Game Time:	2:00	Location:	NMC High
Last Year
North Monterey County shut out Alisal 21-0. With the score tied 0-0 at halftime, Condor running back Sergio Anaya scored on touchdown runs of 5 and 6 yards to break the game open in the third quarter. Alisal running back David Nichols rushed for 102 yards in the losing Trojan effort.
Notes

Can Alisal pull off yet another miracle 4th-quarter comeback? Injured Trojan quarterback Johnny Mariscal came of the bench last week to rally his team from a 27 point deficit to beat Monte Vista Christian 35-27. Alisal also rallied two weeks ago in the 4th quarter to nip Live Oak 21-20. Part of the reason the Trojans are having to come back so much is the fact that the team is yet to score a point in the first quarter. North Monterey County speedster Reggie Doucet is 7th in the area with 623 yards rushing.

Hollister (4-2-1)At North Salinas (3-4)

Game Time:	4:00	Location:	Salinas Sports Complex
Last Year
Hollister limited North Salinas to 60 rushing yards in a 27-0 shutout of the visiting Vikings. Baler linebacker Alan Renz broke the game open in the second quarter with a 62 yard interception return for a touchdown, as 4 North Salinas turnovers spoiled any hope of a Viking upset..
Notes

This could be considered a do-or-die game for North Salinas. A win by North Salinas would set up a season-ending showdown with Salinas for 1st place in the TCAL; a loss would all but eliminate the Vikings from the TCAL race and postseason play. A win by Hollister would keep the Balers tied for first place in the TCAL, with both CCS #2 ranked Salinas and CCS #3 ranked Palma on the horizon. A loss would likely make the Baler's season ending game with Palma a must-win contest for the second TCAL automatic playoff bid.

Scotts Valley (4-4) At Harbor (3-4)

Game Time:	2:00	Location:	Harbor High
Last Year
Harbor registered its first win of the season with a 27-15 victory over Scotts Valley. Harbor's Odom Demos rushed for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first-ever start at running back.
Notes

Harbor (214) and Scotts Valley (217) are the only two teams in the quad-league area with 200+ pass attempts (no other team is even close). Accordingly, Harbor (52 rush ypg) and Scotts Valley (69 rush ypg) are ranked last in the area in rushing. After starting the season 4-0, the Falcons are hoping to break a 4 game losing skid. Harbor has allowed 863 yards of offense in two consecutive losses.

Soledad (2-5) At Stevenson (1-7)

Game Time:	2:00	Location:	Stevenson High
Last Year
Soledad running back Erik Salto exploded for 164 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 27-12 victory over visiting Stevenson. Soledad limited Stevenson to 23 yards rushing. Pirate quarterback Chris Jackson passed for 282 yards and two touchdowns, but 4 interceptions stalled the Stevenson offensive attack.
Notes

Stevenson has turned the ball over an area-worst 23 times, and has a -10 turnover ration. Soledad has a +2 turnover ratio, having turned the ball over an area-fewest 9 times. Stevenson is surrendering an area-worst 343 yards of offense per game.