Pacific Grove (5-4) at Carmel (9-0), 2 p.m.
The coveted 'Shoe'.
Players embrace it. Coaches coddle it. Alumni talk about it for the rest or their lives.
Yes, it's that important to two peninsula communities.
"For the alumni and student body, it's huge,'' Carmel coach Golden Anderson said. "Not to diminish its importance, but our preparation is the same. Our opponents are all faceless.''
Perfection is also on the line Saturday for Carmel as it will attempt to break the tie in the 69th annual game, and lock up the Mission Trail Athletic League title outright when it hosts Pacific Grove.
The two teams are dead even in the previous 48 regular season meetings at 33-33-2, with the Padres prevailing last year to gather a share of the MTAL title with Soledad and Pacific Grove.
"Our No. 1 goal is 'The Shoe,'' Anderson sad. "Lately a lot more has come with it. Usually if you win 'The Shoe', you're probably getting everything that comes with it.''
For Carmel that would be no sharing of the title, while completing its third undefeated regular season in eight years under Anderson.
That's not the case this fall for the Breakers. There will be no title at stake, ending their two-year run as league champions. What is on the line is a potential fourth straight trip to the playoffs.
"It's tough to suggest it is just another game,'' Pacific Grove coach Chris Morgan said. "It's hard to ignore fact that it's 'The Shoe'."
Yet, it's more than that for Pacific Grove. A loss will likely eliminate them from playoff contention. Even a win doesn't ensure them enough points to get into the Division V postseason party.
"We take seriously what Pacific Grove does,'' Anderson said. "We don't need to get fired up about it. We're aware of what's on the line.''
The two teams have shown a history for shootouts in the annual affair, as 93 points were produced in the 2012 regular season battle.
There was also the 77-53 arena league style playoff battle in 2013 in which the Breakers sent Carmel to its only loss of the season in reaching the CCS finals.
Last year Pacific Grove went back to the section finals for the second time in three years, falling to Half Moon Bay.
"We've had some success the last couple of years,'' Morgan said. "We'd like to keep building upon that. Making the playoffs continues what we've built.''
The Padres, who could very well be the top seed in the Division V playoffs if they finish 10-0, will have to do it without tailback Covossay Windham for the rest of the season.
"He's a major component to their offense,'' Morgan said. "But it doesn't matter who they plug in. They seem to have success in finding matchups. Carmel likes moving at a fast pace."
Windham was putting up MVP type numbers with 1,072 yards and 18 touchdowns in six full games before tearing his ACL in Week 8 in a non-contact injury while scoring a touchdown.
"You lose guys to graduation every year,'' Anderson said. "For us Covossay graduated. We don't try and replace people. We fill the gaps with players that have high expectations as well.''
His absence forced Carmel to put the ball in the air more, where Daniel Higman has thrown for 1,401 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for nearly 800 yards.
Higman threw four touchdown passes in less than a half in last week's win over Gonzales, while rushing for a touchdown.
The Padres already run a spread attack. Hayden Stachelek and Matthew Luch have combined for 66 catches for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns.
"You can make an argument that Higman is an MVP candidate,'' Morgan said.
The same can be said for the Breakers Noah Cryns, who moved to quarterback before the fall started to put the ball in his hands on every single play.
Cryns has responded, throwing for 1,320 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 825 yards and 15 touchdowns.
"Statistically everything goes through him,'' Anderson said. "The passing and rushing stats start with Noah. You can limit some of the things. You can't stop a guy from doing everything.''
Cryns, though, suffered a broken bone in his non-throwing left thumb against Soledad. As a result, he's in a cast, but is not expected to miss the game.
"He took some snaps today,'' Morgan said. "He's still very mobile. He's a warrior. He knows it could possibly be his last football game. He'll do what he can to help his teammates.''
MTAL sprint champion Nick Coppla has been hard to catch in the open field, averaging 20 yards a catch on 33 receptions for Pacific Grove.
Coppla has caught nine touchdowns, rushed for six and has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns for Pacific Grove. Kane Miller has quietly caught 32 passes for over 500 yards.
The Padres have been a quick striking team, outscoring opponents 129-21 in the first quarter, then turning it over to an improved defense to shut down teams in the second half.
"We've had some games where we've been down two scores in the first half,'' Anderson said. "You hope you have a good plan and make adjustments from there. We're trying to execute every drive."
William Lund has intercepted three passes this year for Carmel while Shokh Inagambaev and Devun Smith have been among the team leaders in tackles.
The Breakers defense hasn't been at full strength all season and it's shown, as they are allowing 30.1 points a game -- giving up 35 in a loss last week at Soledad.
While a shootout may benefit the Breakers, Carmel's starting defense has only given up 20 or more points once in regulation this season.
"We have to take advantage of every offensive opportunity we have and limit the amount of times they have the ball,'' Morgan said. "Does that mean a shootout? It could turn into that."
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