Palo-Alto Salinas football

Friday's game
Central Coast Section Open Division I playoffs
No. 6 Palo Alto (4-6) at No. 3 Salinas (6-4), 7 p.m.
 Based on opponents, these teams are more evenly matched than people think.
 Both have losses to Milpitas by similar scores as the Cowboys were beaten 40-6, while the Vikings fell 40-13.
 Palo Alto plays in the De Anza Division, which includes Milpitas, Los Gatos and Wilcox, teams that are all seeded high in their respective playoff brackets.
 Paul Jackson III has been the Vikings horse in the backfield this year, having rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Justin Hull has thrown 18 touchdown passes.
 With 2,090 passing yards, Salinas quarterback Matt Castaneda is just 51 yards shy from breaking the school's single season record. He's also fired 24 touchdown passes and leads the team in rushing.
 Kevin Crosby has caught a team high 47 passes this year for the Cowboys while Fresno State bound pitcher Ryan Jensen has 39 catches for 718 yards and nine touchdowns.
 Don't be mislead by Salinas' struggles in running the ball. The short passes have worked like a run all season.
 Linebacker Kyle Martorella has anchored the Salinas defense this season with Trevor Simon leading the team in tackles and sacks. Oscar Sanchez has three picks since returning from an injury.
 Salinas has reached the playoffs eight straight years, having at least gone to the semifinals seven out of eight seasons.