Redwoods-MPC football

Saturday's game
Redwoods (2-5) at Monterey Peninsula (5-2), 1 p.m.
 It's an odd time to play a non-conference game when you're chasing perfection in conference. But it's the hand MPC has been dealt.
 The Lobos have been on an emotional high of late, needing overtime to defeat Merced, and rallying to knock off West Hills 32-28 last week.
 The significance in both games is Merced was riding a 10-game winning streak while West Hills has either shared or won every conference title since moving in four years ago.
 Meanwhile the Lobos have rattled off five consecutive wins, while Redwoods snapped a four-game losing streak last week with a win over Foothill -- one of MPC's two losses.
 Freshman tailback Hunter Nye is coming off a monster game for the Lobos, having rushed for 278 yards, the most rushing yards by an individual in the 17-year Mike Rasmussen era.
 The San Benito grad is 201 yards away from a 1,000 yard rushing season. Nye leads the team with 10 touchdowns this year.
 Quarterback Hunter Raquet is completing over 63 percent of his attempts for nearly 1,500 yards and 12 scoring strikes, four to Monterey High grade Michael Armstead.
 Defensively, MPC has created 21 turnovers and is plus five in turnover ratio. Anthony Saavedra leads the team in tackles with 45 while Dylan Beechum has 4 1/2 sacks in his last four games.
 Redwoods is struggling offensively, averaging just 18 points a game. Quentin Bates has caught six touchdown passes while Cody Anthony has 61 tackles and 143 return yards on interceptions.