Palma (7-2) at San Benito (9-0), 7:30 p.m.
If there's one team in the area that doesn't seem to be intimidated by the name on the jersey, it's the unbeaten Balers.
San Benito has done something no other team in the Gabilan Division has accomplished since it was formed five years ago and that's beat Palma.
It's done something no other program in league has done over the last 15 years and that's beating the Chieftains three times.
Of course, Palma has won the other 12 meetings. But they've battles, often down to the wire, such as last year's wild 33-32 win.
It appropriate that these teams are meeting in the final week of the season. This is the best rivalry in the area that no one talks about because the teams are 28.5 miles a part.
And once again, a league title will be at stake when the Chieftains make the drive to Hollister, where an entire community rallies around the football program.
The Balers have had a special year at 9-0. Hunter Nye has rushed for 1,493 yards and 24 touchdowns while Hunter Raquet has tossed seven touchdowns, and has no picks in 85 attempts.
Five times San Benito has scored 40 plus points and is averaging 38.2 points a game on the season. Every win has been by double digits.
Since giving up 52 points in a season opening road loss to 9-0 Sutter, the Chieftains have allowed 81 points in eight games.
The starting defensive unit, anchored by Drew Dalman Stan Smith and Robert Hernandez, has not allowed a point in the first half in their last four games.
Offensively, you know the ball is going to fall into the hands of tailback Emilio Martinez, who has rushed for 1,302 yards and 22 touchdowns in eight games.
Teams keep stacking the interior line to stop Martinez and quarterback Zach Flores keeps throwing touchdown passes.
The Chieftains are 7-0 when Flores tosses a touchdown pass, winless when he doesn't. Isaiah Blanco and Dominic Scattini have combined for 36 catches for nearly 700 yards and seven touchdowns.
Ultimately this game comes down to who plays the cleanest. The Balers defense has done a nice job in creating turnovers with 12 interceptions. Palma has turned the ball over eight times in the last four games.
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