San Benito-Salinas football

CCS Division I finals
Friday's game
No. 3 San Benito (8-4) vs. No. 1 Salinas (8-4) at Rabobank, 7 p.m.
 Salinas is fully aware of the difficulty of playing a team twice in the same season.
 In 2012, Salinas defeated San Benito 26-6 in the regular season, then fell 30-13 in the semifinals. The same thing occurred in 2009 when it defeated the Balers 29-10 in the regular season before succumbing in the playoffs 14-13.
 We've already seen the Balers gain a measure of redemption in the playoffs with a win over Alvarez  after absorbing a regular season loss.
 Plus these are two totally different teams since that first meeting in October, in which Salinas used a field goal to beat the Balers.
 The Cowboys are 7-1 since starting the year 1-3 while the Balers have won five straight games since enduring a three game losing streak.
 Both teams went undefeated in the month of November.
 Of course, we're in December. Salinas has never lost a game in December. Then again, it has only played one -- that coming in 2001 when it beat San Benito 7-6.
 Zach McDermott has either rushed or thrown for 33 touchdowns this year, including six in last week's playoff win.
 The senior has thrown for a school record 1,956 yards, giving Salinas an option it has never had in the postseason.
 The Cowboys defense has produced eight turnovers in two postseason games, returning two for touchdowns.
 Since rallying from a 13-point deficit to beat Palma on Nov. 7, the Balers have outscored their last four opponents 124-12.
 Quarterback RJ Clark has accounted for 18 touchdowns and over 1,300 rushing and passing yards for San Benito.