Recapping prep football

No, football is not quite over with Salinas hosting a State Northern California Division 4-AA bowl game this Friday.
 Yet, for 16 other prep football teams in Monterey County, uniforms have been put in storage for the winter.
 Obviously Salinas' ride to a Gabilan Division title and Central Coast Section Open Division I crown will headline this past fall's story lines.
 But there are a handful of other stories that are worth rehashing, as we witnessed four new divisional champions from the previous season.
 Had it not been for the Cowboys heroics, Alisal might have stolen the spotlight after erasing an 0-3 start by wining seven of its next eight games, capturing the programs first ever postseason game.
 Remember, the Trojans were 2-8 in 2016 -- their fourth straight losing season. Yet, it was a loss back in September that arguably turned their season around.
 Alisal failed to hold a 17 point lead, falling in the final seconds to Soledad. As heartbreaking as the loss was, it didn't crippled them. Instead, it united them.
 The Trojans went 7-2 over their final nine games, with losses coming from Gilroy and Christopher -- two teams that won CCS titles.
 Marina went 13 plus quarters without scoring a point, dropping five straight games. Then it went on a record setting run, winning its final four games to finish 5-5.
 The five wins were a school record, as was the four-game winning streak. The Mariners shattered the single season school record for points, beat Coastal Division co-champion Santa Cruz.
 The Mariners became a conversation piece on campus. For a program with just 30 kids in it, the hope is that number will double next fall and a JV program will be restored.
 Seaside tailback/defensive end DeMarcus Hawkins put up an effort this past fall that the area has not witnessed since Redskins linebacker Mason Foster roamed the Spartans sidelines in 2006.
 Hawkins jumped at the chance to run the football, piling up nearly 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Spartans.
 Defense, though, is his calling card to college. The 225-pound demon compiled over 100 tackles and 11 sacks for Seaside. Simply put, he never came off the field.
 As for streaks, we saw Palma make it 33 straight postseason appearances, while Salinas has gone 10 straight years. Carmel's run of 10 consecutive playoff appearances came to an end.