Salinas-Aptos football

Friday's game
Salinas (0-0) at Aptos (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
 Over the last two years, the Mariners are 23-0 against opponents in the Central Coast Section with two Division III titles -- but no Nor Cal playoff berth.
 The only setbacks Aptos has had in the last two years have come from teams outside the CCS. In fact over the last four years, it is 38-0-2 among the four leagues in the southern region.
 Salinas gave the perennial Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League powers all they could handle last year before falling in the final seconds when the Mariners broke up a tie game.
 Aptos is a program with state aspirations. Its non-league schedule includes Salinas, Palma, Mitty and Bellarmine.
 While Aptos won't overwhelm you with its passing attack, look for six different running backs to run the ball in an up-tempo offense that racked up nearly 3,700 rushing yards last fall.
 It took Salinas two plays to score in last week's jamboree. By 10 plays, it had two touchdowns under its belt.
 The Cowboys, CCS Division I finalists last year, also run an up-tempo offense behind quarterback Matt Castaneda. A running back by committee approach could also be enforced.
 Somewhat lost in Aptos' CCS title run last season is the fact that its defense shutout four teams and held six others to a touchdown or less, allowing just 17 points in three postseason games.