Alvarez-North Salinas football

Friday's game
Alvarez (3-6) vs. North Salinas (3-6) at Rabobank, 7:30 p.m.
 Essential this is a playoff game for both teams.
 The winner will at least have a shot to petition for a postseason spot while the other will be turning in uniforms on Monday.
 San Benito, Palma, Monte Vista and Salinas are Gabilan Division locks for the postseason.
 Five teams came out of the Gabilan Division last year to make the playoffs. There were a handful of teams last season to make the postseason with a 4-6 mark.
 You can make the argument that Tim Burkhardt is the best quarterback in the county this season for North Salinas, having thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns, while rushing for a pair.
 Burkhardt has taken a beating this fall, yet continues to get up, having thrown four touchdown passes in two of his last three games on a sprained ankle.
 Damon Diaz has become Burkhardt's favorite target with 43 catches for 845 yards. The Vikings have struggled in running the ball, which is enabling teams to come after the quarterback.
 Alvarez has one of the best pass rushers in the county in Alan Llamas, who has 11 sacks as a speed rusher. Michael Ramirez has picked off three passes.
 These teams are polar opposites offensively as Alvarez will look to grind the ball on the ground and keep its defense fresh.
 Quarterback Matthew Martinez, whose doubles as a linebacker, has rushed for nine touchdowns this fall for the Eagles. He and Ramirez have combined for 931 rushing yards.
 Alvarez has made the postseason three straight years. Last year North Salinas defeated them 29-15 in the season opener. Prior to that, the Eagles had won the previous two meetings.