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CARMEL TRAVELS TO GONZALES FOR MTAL SHOWDOWN |
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11/7/2002 |
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By Staff |
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Monterey Bay Prep Report |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location:
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King
City High
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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 looks to knock off its second straight
undefeated team, as San Lorenzo Valley (#5 in the SJ
Mercury Coaches Poll) travels down to South
County for a rare late-season non-league contest. Although
King City has rushed for 22 touchdowns this season,
they are the only quad-league area team that has not
thrown for a touchdown. San Lorenzo Valley has
allowed an area-fewest 55 points this season, and
the Cougar defense has allowed only 5 touchdowns (3
rushing, 2 receiving) all year. Cougar tight end
Waylon Prather has at least one reception in every
game. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location:
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Live
Oak High
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Last Year
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Palma's Nick
Noroian and Justin Meier combined for 142 yards
rushing and 2 touchdowns in a 16-6 victory over
visiting Live
Oak. The Palma defense held the Acorns scoreless
through three quarters, but a late touchdown pass by
Orin Catrett broke up the shutout.
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Notes
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Palma would
like nothing better than to have a shot at a third
consecutive CCS D1 title, but another loss by the
Chieftains (#3 in the SJ
Mercury Coaches Poll) would knock the two-time
defending CCS D1 champions down into the CCS D4
playoffs, which is the school's natural enrollment
level. The Live Oak offense has been struggling of
late, having scored just 7 points in the last 9
quarters.
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location:
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Gonzales
High
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Last Year
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Carmel jumped
out to a 21-0 first quarter lead en route to a 34-20
victory over visiting the visiting Spartans.
Gonzales was able to move the ball on offense all
day against the Padres, but five Spartan turnovers
(including four interceptions) set up several Carmel
scoring opportunities.
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Notes
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| Dick
Force stadium should be bursting at the seams in
this showdown for first place in the MTAL. The
previously-unbeaten Carmel Padres (#15 in the SJ
Mercury Coaches Poll) are coming off an
18-16 upset loss to King City, and
suddenly find themselves fighting for their playoff lives. A loss to
Gonzales Friday night would likely set up a must-win
showdown with Pacific Grove in the season-ending
"Shoe" rivalry game that would determine
the recipient of the MTAL's second automatic playoff
bid.
Gonzales has posted two consecutive shutouts. Both
teams know how to move the ball - Gonzales is #1 in
the area in total offense,
Carmel is #3. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location:
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Soledad
High
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Last
Year
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Pacific Grove
quarterback Jon Grant threw for 239 yards and tossed
3 touchdown passes to eventual All-State
receiver/kick returner Phil Shin in a 31-15 victory
over visiting Soledad.
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Notes
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| Pacific
Grove's playoff destiny lies in their own hands.
After staring the season 1-3, the Breakers have
rebounded for three wins in their last four games. A
victory over Soledad and Carmel would lock up second
place in the MTAL and an automatic playoff bid for the Breakers.
Pacific Grove is ranked second-to-last in the area
in total offense, averaging 202 yards per game.
Soledad has turned the ball over an area-fewest 9
times this season. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location:
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Salinas
Sports Complex
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Last Year
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Tied 7-7 at
halftime, Gilroy exploded for 21 third quarter points
en rout to a 35-7 victory over visiting North Salinas.
Gilroy quarterback Henry Quistian threw for 189 yards,
tossing a pair of touchdowns to All-MBL receiver
Chris Thomas and All-MBL tight end Will Lawrence.
Mustang running back J.L. Mangono contributed two
rushing touchdowns.
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Notes
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| A
North Salinas victory over Gilroy would set up a
season-ending showdown for first place with cross-town
rival Salinas, giving the Vikings a shot at their
first league title since 1984. In his last three
games, standout North Salinas running back Ronnie
Drummer has rushed for 426 yards on 33 carries, an
average of 13 yards per carry. Gilroy has allowed an
area-worst 1910 rushing yards this season.
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location:
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Hollister
High
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2001
TCAL League Game
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2001
CCS D2 Title Game
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Hollister
had claimed a hard-fought 20-14 victory over Salinas
in week 7. In a testament to the strength of the
MBL, the two league heavyweights met again on a
rain-soaked Gilroy High field to determine the D2
title. Both teams sloshed through a scoreless first
half. RaChard Williams burst for a 70 yard Cowboy
score to give the Salinas a 7-0 lead midway through
the 3rd quarter. Still trailing 7-0 late in the 4th
quarter, the defending champion Balers forced a
turnover and put together a 40 yard scoring drive
that resulted in a Steve Salcedo 4 yard touchdown
reception with 1:49 remaining in the game. Faced
with little time remaining and poor field
conditions, the Balers decided to go for 2 points
and the outright victory. Dropping back to pass,
Hollister quarterback Nick Buzzetta came under
immediate pressure from Salinas' Casey Neligh,
forcing Buzzetta to throw incomplete on the
two-point attempt. Salinas recovered the
resultant onside kick, but a series of penalties and
Hollister defensive stops resulted in Salinas
punting out of their own end zone on an extremely
muddy field. A bad snap would have given the
Balers a safety and the victory, but under a heavy
punt block rush , Cowboys punter Larry Arre got the
kick off, cementing a second Salinas D2 title.
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Notes
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| The
Salinas (#2 in the SJ
Mercury Coaches Poll) defense has allowed an
area-fewest 1215 yards this season, has allowed only
13 points in the last 16 quarters, and has
registered 3 shutouts in the last 4 games. The
Hollister Freelance is reporting that the Balers
will be without the services of leading rusher Trent
Young for the rest of the season. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location:
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Monterey
Peninsula College
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Last Year
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Alisal snapped
its state-longest 33 game losing streak with a
dramatic 7-0 shutout of visiting Monterey. The
Trojan defense thwarted several Monterey drives by
forcing 7 turnovers on the night. Miguel Salas'
2 yard plunge in the 4th quarter was the
game's lone score.
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Notes
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bit of irony - Alisal snapped a 33 game losing streak
by beating Monterey last year. The previous two
seasons Monterey had embarrassed Alisal 41-0 and
51-0. The Toreadors are now in the midst of a
CCS-worst 18 game losing streak, and with Seaside on
deck in the season finale need to beat Alisal to avoid
a 20 game skid entering next season. Monterey
quarterbacks have thrown an area-worst 14
interceptions this season - the Alisal defense is
among the top 5 teams in the area with 11
interceptions. Alisal quarterback Johnny Mariscal is
having a tremendous season; the Trojan signal caller
has already thrown for 1153 yards and 11
touchdowns. Perhaps the most improved player in the
area, Mariscal only threw for 486 yards and 2
touchdowns all of last season. |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location:
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Watsonville
High
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Last Year
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Leading just
7-0 at the end of three quarters, the Watsonville
Wildcats pounced on visiting Harbor for 4 fourth
quarter touchdowns and an eventual 33-0 victory.
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Notes
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game should feature some intriguing match-ups. The
Harbor offense is ranked second in the area with 1297
passing yards - the Watsonville defense has allowed
424 yards passing, second-fewest in the area. The
Watsonville offense has amassed an area-best 2409
yards rushing - the Harbor defense has allowed an area
third-worst 1780 yards rushing, and has
surrendered an area-worst 2651 total yards of offense.
Watsonville has 120 passing yards this season, which
is worst in the area. Watsonville running back Shawn
Benjamin (146 points) has outscored the entire Harbor
team (120 points). |
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| Game
Time: |
7:30 |
Location:
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Aptos
High
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Last
Year
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Aptos running back Danny
Stevens hauled in 3 receptions for 138 yards and a
touchdown, and also made a key 4th quarter
interception, as the Mariners held on for a 36-29
victory over host Santa Cruz. Aptos fullback Joe
Wagner rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown.
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Notes
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| Aptos
must be careful to not suffer a letdown after last
week's emotional 14-3 loss to San Lorenzo Valley.
With their earlier victory over Watsonville, the
Mariners are sitting in the drivers seat for second
place in the SCCAL and an automatic berth into the
CCS playoffs. The Aptos defense has forced an
area-best 26 turnovers this season. Santa Cruz's
last two games have been decided by 1 point. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location:
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Alvarez
High
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Last
Year
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Alvarez running
back Galen Perry, the eventual 2001 MBL offensive MVP,
rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown in a 19-0 Eagle
victory over visiting North Monterey County. The
Alvarez defense limited the Condors to 71 yards of
total offense, and just three first downs.
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Notes
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game will feature two of the area's top running backs.
North Monterey County's Reggie Doucet has rushed for
797 yards and 9 touchdowns (area's 4th leading
rusher), while Alvarez's Ray Diazleal has rushed for
736 yards and 6 touchdowns (area's 6th leading
rusher). The Eagles are now just 1/2 game ahead of
North Monterey County for second place in the MBL and
an all-important automatic bid into the CCS playoffs.
The loser will likely be home for the playoffs. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location:
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MVC
High
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Last Year
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Although Monte
Vista Christian dominated the game statistically, the
Seaside defense returned two interceptions for
touchdowns and forced five turnovers in a 24-17
victory over the visiting Mustangs. Monte Vista
Christian quarterback J.T. Tipton threw for 251
yards, but interception returns on consecutive Mustang
possessions by Keith Garner (2 yards) Oba Sanchez (76
yard) turned the game in the Spartan's favor.
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Notes
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| Seaside
(#11 in the SJ
Mercury Coaches Poll) is coming off a huge
victory over Alvarez that put the Spartans all alone
atop the MBL with just two games remaining on the
schedule. Seaside
standout sophomore linebacker/running back Henry Utumapu has registered three consecutive games with
100+ yards rushing. Monte Vista Christian ranks last
in the area with 1540 yards of total offense, but the
Mustang defense has forced an area second best 24
turnovers.
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location:
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Soquel
High
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Last
Year
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Trailing 27-0
at halftime, Scotts Valley rallied for a miraculous 28-27
come-from-behind victory over Soquel to secure the
school's first-ever SCCAL league win. Standout
Falcon receiver Brian Cosgrove caught 15 balls for
214 yards and 2 touchdowns.
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Notes
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| Due
to the week 0 game in Hawaii, this is Scotts
Valley's last game of the season. After starting the
season 4-0, the Falcons have now dropped 5 straight.
A victory over Soquel would put the Falcons at .500
for the season, a tremendous accomplishment for a
small school playing with its first senior class.
After losing the first 5 games of the season
on the field, Soquel has rallied for two victories
in the last three weeks. |
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| Game
Time: |
2:00 |
Location:
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Greenfield
High
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Last
Year
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Trailing 7-0
after the first half, Stevenson running back Jamie
Staples scored two 5-yard touchdowns as the Pirate
defense held on for 14-7 victory over visiting
Greenfield. Both teams combined for 8
turnovers.
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Notes
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| Due
to the week 0 game with Burlingame, this is
Stevenson's last game of the season. The Pirates have
turned the ball over an area-worst 24 times (tied with Monterey). Greenfield has forced an area
second-best 24 turnovers. |
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