Carmel-Pacific Grove football

Friday's game
Carmel (6-3) at Pacific Grove (8-1), 7:30 p.m.
 Redemption and a share of the title is the hope on one sideline. Perfection and retaining 'The Shoe' is the objective on the other.
 After 67 previous meetings, just one game separates Carmel and Pacific Grove in the annual battle for 'The Shoe'.
 The Breakers, who gathered no worse than a share of their second straight Mission Trail Athletic League title last week, own a 33-32-2 series lead.
 Dating back to the teams 2013 playoff battle, Pacific Grove has won the last two meetings, holding off the Padres last year 35-28 for the league title.
 The Breakers haven't beaten Carmel at home since 2007.
 The Padres have looked a lot different offensively, piling up over 500 rushing yards last week in a win at King City.
 In fact, Carmel hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in its last two games, the first time that has occurred in eight years.
 Pacific Grove is a reminder that defense and a sound ground game are still ingredient's to a title run, as it has rushed for over 2,000 yards while allowing just 28 points in the first half in MTAL play.
 While Noah Cryns has surpassed a combined 1,000 rushing and receiving yards, he also has four interceptions along with Sam Fenstermaker, who has two defensive touchdowns this year.
 Despite missing three games with a leg injury, Covossay Windham is over 1,000 yards rushing for the Padres while Daniel Higman piled up 248 yards on the ground last week.
 It could be a long game for the Padres if they don't take better care of the ball against an opportunist Pacific Grove defense.