Palma-Salinas football

Friday's game
Palma (2-3) at Salinas (3-2), 7:30 p.m.
 Few rivalries gets scrutinized as much as this one.
 Two teams that make the postseason an annual stop -- with campus' separated by a half mile.
 If there is pressure, it's on the Cowboys, who haven't beaten Palma in 15 years -- several of them one sided affairs.
 Palma's mystic, though, has been challenged this year, after seeing its run of 13 straight league wins snapped by Aptos two weeks ago -- just its second loss since the Gabilan Division was formed.
 The Cowboys have shown off their offensive firepower in two league games, averaging 47.5 points and 300 plus rushing yards a game behind Ritchie Cerda and quarterback Brett Reade.
 Yet, it was Salinas' passing attack that warranted attention last Friday when Jeff Weimer caught three touchdown passes. That, along with Weimer, were missing in the first three games this fall.
 While the Chieftains passing game can't be completely ignored, it is a run-first offensive mentality behind Anthony Villegas, who has rushed for over 100 yards in his last three games.
 Turnovers have been a thorn in Salinas' side in this rivalry. Four were committed in last year's game and 15 have occurred in the last four battles with the Chieftains.
 The mental aspect of this game comes to the forefront -- particularly after the adrenaline rush wears off a few minutes into the game.