MPC-Hartnell football

Saturday's game
Monterey Peninsula (6-2) vs. Hartnell (4-4) at Rabobank, 6 p.m.
 The Lobos can clinch their second straight American Golden Conference title with a win over their rivals, while Hartnell is fighting for a bowl berth.
 MPC has put an 0-2 start in the rear view mirror with six straight wins, snapping Merced's 10-game winning streak and defeating reigning co-champion West Hills in the process.
 Former San Benito High quarterback Hunter Raquet has blossomed at MPC since being inserted into the lineup, having thrown for 1,800 yards and 15 touchdowns.
 Three receivers have 25 or more catches for the Lobos, including Michael Armstead, who has a team leading 29 catches for 471 yards.
 Isaiah Kearney has a team leading 474 receiving yards for MPC, while Matteo D'Alfonso has a team high five touchdown catches.
 Tailback Hunter Nye has evolved into one of the premier backs in the state with 827 yards and nine touchdowns in eight games. Nye is ninth in the state in average rushing yards per game.
 Defensively the Lobos have forced 22 turnovers this year and are plus four in turnover ratio. Seaside High grad Troy Loper has two picks, two fumble recoveries -- and two special team touchdowns.
Anthony Saavedra leads MPC in tackles with 55, just head of Loper's 48, while Dylan Beechum has a team high five sacks.
 Already thin before the season started, injuries left Hartnell with just 32 players practicing this week. The team has dropped three of its last four.
 Defense has kept the Panthers in every game this fall, as they have recorded 33 sacks. Three players are ranked in the top 20 in the state in sacks, with Angel Maldonado sixth with 9 1/2 sacks.
 Alexis Ramos has a team high 55 tackles while Monterey graduate Matt Wright has recovered three fumbles and has 6 1/2 sacks.
 Sophomore J'uan Campbell has caught 51 passes for 733 yards and five touchdown for Hartnell, who is averaging just 20 points a game.
 Keishawn Robinson has rushed for a team high 520 yards while Monte Vista graduate Devon Daich has thrown for over 1,500 yards and nine touchdowns.
 A concern for both teams could be the status of both starting running backs. Robinson had just seven carries last week for Hartnell while Nye finished with nine touches for MPC.
 Hartnell has been involved in five games decided by five points or less in regulation. The Lobos last two games have been decided by four points.