Carmel-Stevenson football

Saturday's game
Carmel (3-0) at Stevenson (2-0), 2 p.m.
 Over the last four battles between these two rivals, the Pirates have actually outscored Carmel 10-6 in the first quarter.
 Of course, games are four quarters and the final results have been painful if you're a Stevenson fan, as the average margin of defeat has been 30 points.
 Truth be told, this has been a one-sided series for over a decade as the Padres have won the last 14  meetings -- with 13 of those wins being decided by 21 or more points.
 So why play the game?
 Well, Stevenson is going to show up anyway, undefeated this fall at 2-0, having opened the fall by outscoring its opponents 90-13.
 "We have a lot of respect for Carmel and for what they do,'' Stevenson coach Bruce Dini said. "But we have a system in place that we know we can be successful at."
 Last week the Pirates put up 49 points in the first half against previously unbeaten Lynbrook of San Jose.
 "I don't care who you're playing, 49 points in the first half is impressive,'' said Carmel coach Golden Anderson. "That says something about their offense. Stevenson is making plays. That's reality."
 The Pirates have a quarterback that can wing it in Casey Mornhinweg, who has 10 touchdown passes in two games, including a school record six in the opener.
  His primary targets have good size and speed in 6-foot-2 Will Lansbury and 6-1 Kenny Pich, who have a combined 30 catches for nearly 500 yards and seven touchdowns.
 "It's all about how you pace yourself and how you play that will determine your energy, said Dini, whose squad sits at 25 players. "At the same time, you can't hold anything back.''
  Dini is aware of what Carmel's juggernaut offense has done over the last eight years, or the fact that it has produced 40 or more points twice this fall behind Covossay Windham and Daniel Higman.

 Windham, who came into the year with over 3,500 rushing yards, has 427 yards and seven rushing touchdowns, while Higman has rushed for nearly 300 yards and has thrown for 475 yards and five touchdowns.

 Yet, before anticipating a shootout, the strength of both teams might be their defense. Carmel has allowed just 15 points in the first three quarters while creating eight turnovers.
 Christian Stapleton has anchored the Padres defense in the trenches while Devun Smith has filled a void in the secondary at safety.
 Behind pass rusher Alexander Meredith, Stevenson has allowed just one touchdown in the first half this fall. Lansbury also has two defensive touchdowns to his credit.
 "They do a good job of tweaking what they do every week,'' Anderson said. "They're always adding and subtracting each week. So you're seeing something new defensively.''
 While several players go both ways for Stevenson, very few see action on both sides of the ball for the Padres. Depth and endurance become a factor in games that can turn into track meets.
 "With both teams charged up for the game, I think sometimes it creates a slow start,'' Anderson said.
 While several players from both sides have grown up together, played youth sports together -- even live in the same neighborhoods, Dini downplayed the significance of the rivalry.
 "Carmel's rival is Pacific Grove,'' Dini said. "We're stuck somewhere in the middle. But I have seen this game get blown out of proportion from everyone other than the kids on the field.''