Salinas-Monte Vista football

Friday's game
Salinas (6-3) at Monte Vista (7-1), 7:30 p.m.
 This is the final tuneup for Salinas before the playoffs, as it has already locked up an eighth straight playoff berth.
 Both teams still have title hopes lingering in the back of their minds, although help will be needed this week from San Benito.
 Salinas isn't a surprise this year. Maybe Monte Vista isn't either. Both these programs reached the Central Coast Section finals in their respective divisions last season.
 The Mustangs have made a smooth transition into the Gabilan Division this year, with their only loss on the season coming from Palma.
 Monte Vista has one of the smallest rosters in the Gabilan with 32 players, compared to the 80 plus that will be in purple on Friday.
 It also has one of the top running backs in the league in D'Shawn Hopkins, who has nine touchdowns in his last two games.
 Salinas' up-tempo offense tends to wear defenses down. Matt Castaneda has thrown for over 1,800 yards this fall, with Ryan Jensen and Kevin Crosby having combined for 13 touchdown catches.
 Monte Vista is undefeated at home this year. Ironically, its only road loss to Palma came at The Pit.