Aptos-Monterey football

CCS Division III semifinals
Aptos (9-2) vs. Monterey (9-2), Friday, 7 p.m. at Monterey Peninsula College.
 Since falling to Encinal, who was beaten in the NCS playoffs by Cardinal Newman, and Oakdale, who is 11-1 and in the SJS semifinals, Aptos was won nine straight games.
 Three of those wins came against teams that reached the playoffs, including last week's 28-24 upset over higher seeded Saratoga.
 The Mariners have as balanced a ground game as any in the CCS with four players combining for over 2,800 yards, but no one over 800 yards.
 Monterey is similar with quarterback Jimmy Hill III and tailback Ambrose Chioini-Narvarez chasing 1,000 yard seasons.
 Flying under the radar has been the Toreadores defense, which has scored four touchdowns this year and shutout three of their last four opponents.
 There isn't a better all-around linebacker in the area than Shaunne Katoa, while Hill and Brandon Finona-Gardner seem to always be around the ball.
 Monterey is 4-1 in its last five playoff games at MPC.