Friday's game
No. 2 Salinas (10-2) vs. No. 1 Milpitas (12-0) at Independence High, San Jose, 7 p.m.
We all know what happened the last time these two teams met in Week 3 as the Trojans held Salinas to 24 yards passing in a 27-0 route.
But that was back on Sept. 15. A lot has changed for both teams. Salinas was missing its two starting receivers, including Jeff Weimer, who has 40 catches and nine touchdowns in nine games
Both teams are a combined 20-0 since their meeting, with the Cowboys running off with the Gabilan Division title and Milpitas winning the De Anza Division.
This is the Trojans fourth time in five years in the Division I finals, beating San Benito 37-23 for the 2013 title.
What's impressive about the Trojans run this fall is that they've produced 502 points while allowing just 78 in 11 games on the field. They have shutout three teams while scoring 50 or more points four times.
Ironically, the 27 points Milpitas scored in beating Salinas is its lowest total of the season.
Quarterback Tyree Bracy has thrown for nearly 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns this fall for Milpitas -- including three against Salinas.
Twin brother Tariq Bracy has rushed for over 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns while 6-feet-4 receiver Tuni Faletau Fifita has turned 29 catches into 10 touchdowns.
During its 10 game winning streak, Salinas has scored 40 or more points five times, producing 43 last week in the first three quarters in a route of Los Gatos.
Brett Reade became the first player at Salinas to rush for over 1,000 yards and pass for over 1,000, accounting for 28 touchdowns this year.
The senior quarterback has either thrown or rushed for all eight of the Cowboys touchdowns in the playoffs, making him the focal point in Milpitas' defense.
Salinas chalked up nearly 500 yards in total offense last week with Ritchie Cerda rushing for 98 yards and Weimer having 138 yards on seven receptions.
Linebacker Drew Schuler has interceptions in back-to-back games for Salinas while Noah Habes, Nathan Martorella, Isaiah Brown and Sebastian Gomez have combined for 27 sacks.
The Trojans do bring a dimension that is difficult to practice for and that's flat out speed as the Bracy twins are elusive in the open field.
Milpitas' defense has forced 22 turnovers and has recorded 38 sacks this fall. Milpitas avenged last year's CCS finals loss to Menlo-Atherton with a 33-20 semifinal win.
The last time Salinas won a CCS divisional title was in 2001 when it defeated San Benito 7-6 in the mud. An assistant coach on the Balers sidelines that night was Salinas head coach Steve Zenk.
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