Three years ago the Monterey Bay League merged with the defunct Tri-County Athletic League to create two equity leagues — the MBL-Gabilan and MBL-Pacific Divisions.
The intent was to create the most competitive situation possible.
So far it has been a success as the MBL-Gabilan — the only A league south of San Jose — has been very competitive in upper to middle of the pack.
However with improvement in competition there’s one thing that has remained consistent: the Palma High football team and its run on top.
Entering the third year of the Gabilan the Chieftains have gone a perfect 12-0 in league play.
Palma isn’t looking to give up the crown just yet.
“The equity league has been great for the schools involved,” said Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo. “We’ve done pretty good; it’s been great getting that tough competition on a weekly basis. We’ve consistently been up for the challenge.”
This year Palma will rely even more on its defense after losing the reigning MBL Most Valuable Player Brandon Olivares and starting quarterback Mitchell Kidd to graduation.
Olivares was a workhorse last season, leading the Gabilan in rushing yards (1,658) and touchdowns (14).
“Last year we relied more on Brandon than I was comfortable with but he was a horse and he wanted it and was up for the challenge,” Carnazzo said. “This year it will be three or four guys getting the ball not just one back who will carry the ball that many times. We will rely more on a passing game.”
Palma will again have a tough non-league slate this year with games at home against Carmel, St. Francis-Mountain View, Willow Glen and wrapping up its non-league schedule with a road game at Palo Alto. This year the bulk of their games will be at Rabobank Stadium.
“It’s good to be playing at Rabobank -- it's a great place to play and a great setting for high school football,” Carnazzo said.
The biggest threat to ending the 12-game win streak will be a very young and talented Monterey squad.
The Toreadores will return reigning the Gabilan's Sophomore of the Year quarterback Carter Aldrete as well as all-Gabilan running back Akili Jones.
Monterey will host Palma on Halloween night in a game with championship implications.
“I consider Monterey, Salinas and Hollister to be equal this year,” Carnazzo said. “Their numbers are incredibly high and you can’t leave out an upstart like Alvarez; their program is on the rise.”
Palma has won 27 league titles in the last 30 years and only five of those have been shared titles.
This year four teams swapped divisions in the equity league.
Alvarez, which is coming off its best season in school history with 11 wins including the school's first league title and playoff win since 2001 will move up to the Gabilan along with North Salinas.
Monte Vista Christian and Alisal who both struggled in the Gabilan going a combined 1-11 have been moved down to the Pacific.
GABILAN (A)
PALMA (7-4, 6-0): After a very uncharacteristic 0-3 start to the year Palma rattled off seven straight wins to claim back-to-back Gabilan titles. The Chieftains will look to replace league MVP Olivares who led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns with a running back by committee attack.
Known for consistently having a stingy defense the Chieftains will get tested right away in their season opener when they take on a Carmel team who not only beat them 20-10 last year but was the highest scoring team in the Monterey Bay, averaging over 48 points a game.
“They like to spread it out and they have a great dual-threat quarterback,” Carnazzo said about Carmel senior Connor Marden.
Look for Palma to be the favorites again to capture its third straight Gabilan title but late games at Monterey and Hollister will be key in deciding the champion.
MONTEREY (8-4, 5-1): Monterey will have the most talent coming back in the league from a very successful team that won eight games last year. The Toreadores were also the only team in league to finish within a single score of champion Palma,a 26-21 loss in Salinas.
Last year's Gabilan Sophomore of the Year Carter Aldrete is back for his junior year and will have the services of fellow Gabilan running back Akili Jones in the backfield. If there was going to be a team to finally end Palma’s perfect streak it could be Monterey.
HOLLISTER (7-6, 3-3): The defending CCS Division I finalists came up just shy in capturing the school's fourth section title since 2000. They Haybalers played to their schedule last year, beating the teams they were supposed to beat while falling to the teams who were slightly better. This year they will have to replace their starting quarterback and running back tandem of David Stanton and Zach Hicks. The duo combined for 1,857 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground. Look for Hollister to rebound and make the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
SALINAS (5-6, 3-3): The Cowboys will have the biggest roster of any team in the league and they will need it just to get through their non-league slate. This year Salinas will face Aptos, Carmel, Sacred Heart Prep and Terra Nova. Both Aptos and SHP won CCS titles last year while Carmel and Terra Nova both qualified for the playoffs. If the Cowboys can make it through their non-league slate in decent fashion then look for Salinas to make an impact in the Gabilan. The Cowboys will open their season at home against Aptos but will not play again at home until Oct. 17 when they host Monterey. Senior quarterback Zack McDermott will lead a Cowboys offense that lost its two top ball carriers in Elijah Kirkland and Jordan Torres to graduation.
SEASIDE (5-6, 3-3): It looks like a bit of a rebuilding year for the Spartans. Seaside lost its top two quarterbacks, running back and receivers to graduation last year. A tough non-league slate that features games against Aptos and Open Division qualifier Wilcox will make things difficult. Two of the three teams that the Spartans beat in league last year are now in the Pacific Division.
ALVAREZ (11-1, 6-0): What’s your reward for the best season in school history? A promotion to the much tougher Gabilan Division for the Eagles who captured their first league title and first playoff win since 2001 last year. Alvarez will be very competitive in the Gabilan as it returns MBL-Pacific MVP Edric Gamble as well as Utility Player of the Year Caesar Ramirez. The Eagles will miss the services of Steve Otherson, the Pacific Defensive Linemen of the Year. Since the equity merger no team from the Pacific Division has moved up to the Gabilan and made the playoffs, though that could change this year with Alvarez.
NORTH SALINAS (7-4, 5-1): North Salinas will be in the unenviable position of getting bumped up to the Gabilan one year after losing its starting quarterback of three years who was also named co-Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year in Justyn Gutierrez. The Vikings also lose offensive tackle Branden Pena who was named all-MBL Offensive Linemen of the Year the past two seasons. The Vikings have a relatively soft non-league schedule that includes four teams which didn’t make the playoffs but will then get into Gabilan play where it will face all playoff teams.
