Salinas football

Salinas Cowboys (6-5, 4-2)
 How do you replace record setting quarterbacks in back-to-back seasons?
 You don't.
 Yet, don't expect Salinas to alter its up-tempo, pass first attack. The system -- now in place for three years -- has been mastered from the lower levels up.
 Plus the Cowboys believe they have three quarterbacks that can run the offense. Who gets the call on opening night in eight days isn't quite clear, although Julian Soratos saw limited action behind center last fall.
 With is evident is there are no shortage of targets to get the ball to, starting with receivers Cooper Smith, Jeff Weimer and the fleet Jabari Smith, who caught six touchdown passes last year.
 "My role will change quite a bit this year, moving from the inside to the outside,'' Cooper Smith said. "This group has been together since we were little. We want to go deep into the playoffs.''
 The Cowboys have been to the postseason a school record eight straight times under Salinas coach Steve Goodbody, the winningest coach in school history.
 "We always talk about playing our best games in October and November,'' said Goodbody, now in his 11th year. "I think we've done that. We have a lot of challenges, playing nine playoff teams.''
 Where Salinas struggled with consistency last year was running the ball. Minus the quarterback, no one rushed for over 400 yards.
 Will it change? Does it have too? The strength of this offense could be the offensive line, anchored by all-league center Adan Hernandez and tackle Wyatt Connor.
 Defensively, the Cowboys allowed just 49 points in six wins last year, but 165 points in five losses. The belief is the youth has grown up, starting with returning linebackers Andrew Padilla and Drew Schuler.
 Safety Oscar Sanchez made a big impact after missing part of the season with an injury while Trevor Simon led the team in sacks and tackles.
 The only program besides Palma to have gathered at least a share of a Gabilan Division title since it was formed five years ago, Salinas is chasing its ninth straight postseason spot.
 Four league champions from a year ago are on the Cowboys schedule, including reigning Central Coast Section Division IV champion Aptos and CCS Open Division I runner-up Milpitas.
 What Salinas would like to avoid is the traditional slow start. It's 0-2 against Aptos in season openers and 2-6 in its last eight season openers.
 In an era where rosters are shrinking in numbers throughout the state of California, Salinas has over 210 kids in its program.