SALINAS — As if the Salinas-Palma football rivalry needed any more juice, this Friday night there is much more on the line than mere bragging rights.
The Cowboys and Chieftains renew their rivalry for the 50th time at Rabobank Stadium in a game for first place in the ultra-competitive Monterey Bay League-Gabilan Division.
While the rivalry has been one-sided the past 20 years — Palma has won 19 of the last 20 contests — this year has a different feel.
Salinas (4-3, 3-0) is coming into the contest riding a big wave of momentum which includes a three-game winning streak in league play. Last week, the Cowboys handed Monterey its first loss of the season with a 28-21 decision.
“This year is a new team with new discipline we are more connected and focused to win,” said Salinas senior linebacker Nick Fierros. “It’s going to be a good ball game and we have as good of chance at beating them as ever.”
This year Salinas has endured two heartbreaking losses in the final 10 seconds of games against two reigning Central Coast Section champions: a 21-14 loss to Division III champion Aptos at home and a 27-21 loss to D-IV champion Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton.
“Those two loses were heartbreaking but they brought us together as a family,” Fierros said. “It helped us finish games better in league because we had been in that situation before.”
A lot of teams might have hung their hands after two excruciating defeats but not this Cowboys team.
They responded by winning three of their last four games including tight league wins over San Benito and Monterey while defeating a down Seaside team 35-0.
“This year we are mature, have great senior leadership and are playing very good defense,” said Salinas coach Steve Goodbody who is in his ninth season at the helm of the Cowboys. “They continue to be tenacious no matter the score.”
Behind duel threat quarterback Zach McDermott — 863 yards passing for five touchdowns and 318 yards rushing and seven rushing touchdowns — the Cowboys are averaging a shade over 29 points per game on the season.
Along with McDermott is senior running back Bruch Leighton who leads the team in rushing with 702 yards and five touchdowns.
It’s balance like this that Goodbody feels gives his team a shot to beat Palma while at the same time realizing that they are in for another tough game.
“We have to get our offense going and it won’t be easy as their defense has always been outstanding,” Goodbody said. “In all three phases they are good. They are at the top of the league for a reason.”
Since the inception of the MBL-Gabilan three seasons ago Palma (6-0, 2-0) has yet to lose a game.
This year along with its typical stingy defense the Chieftains are relatively balanced on offense.
Junior quarterback Jack Richardson has already thrown for nearly 1,000 yards along with 10 touchdowns passes against only two interceptions.
After losing star running back and MBL-Gabilan Most Valuable Player Brandon Olivares to graduation, the Chieftains simply reloaded in the backfield. Sophomore Emilio Martinez stepped in and has rushed for 824 yards and 11 touchdowns, good for second in the entire South County behind only Alvarez quarterback Edric Gamble (835 yards and 13 touchdowns.)
“It’s a good group of no-nonsense kids who work hard and are very passionate about the sport,” said Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo. “This year we are a little more balanced on offense and it helps.”
To make things even scarier for the improvement Palma has made on its offense in balancing it out it its defense is as stingy as ever. The Chieftains through six games are allowing a miniscule 5.3 points per game and in league play have outscored its two opponents by a combined score 99-0.
“We always pride ourselves on good defense and we have been exceptional all season long,” Carnazzo said of his defense. “Winning games in the trenches is big on both sides of the ball.”
Don’t sell the Cowboys short, though, as they were the team back in 2002 that ended Palma’s 102-game winning streak over Monterey County schools.
With a victory Friday night the Cowboys wouldn’t be ending a streak of that magnitude but would hand Palma its first-ever loss in the Gabilan as well as take complete command of winning the league title.
“We try to approach it as the same but it’s tough with community being involved,” said Goodbody of the rivalry against Palma. “It’s another tough ball game against a very tough ball club.”
A game that could be the first to completely pack the less than three-year-old Rabobank Stadium, which seats up to 5,000 people.
Salinas versus Palma may not exactly sell out Rabobank but one thing is for certain:
“It’ll be rocking and rolling,” said Goodbody. “We always bring a big fan base plus it’s right across town and if anyone goes to one game a year it’s this one, so we are excited.”
