Salinas football

  Eight months of grinding as one. All of it for this moment.
 "This feels better than beating Palma,'' Salinas quarterback Brett Reade said.
 For the first time since 2001, the Cowboys are Central Coast Section Divisional champions after stunning previously unbeaten Milpitas 25-18 Friday at Independence High in San Jose.
 "I'm so happy right now,'' said Reade, who rushed for a touchdown and tossed a touchdown. "I just want to take it all in.''
 The last time Salinas won a CCS divisional title was a 7-6 decision over San Benito in the Division II finals.
 On the sidelines for the Balers that game was Salinas coach Steve Zenk, who in first year as the head coach for the Cowboys, has taken the team into uncharted waters.
 "Now they're going to expect me to do it again,'' beamed Zenk.
 Owners of a school record 10-game winning streak, Salinas (11-2) will get one of the State Northern California bowl bids, which will be announced on Sunday.
 It's possible the Cowboys could get a home game after knocking off Milpitas, who came into the title game 12-0, including a 27-0 win over Salinas back on Sept. 15.
 "Oh, not doubt they underestimated us,'' said Reade, who threw for 194 yards and rushed for 62 yards for the Cowboys.
 The Trojans came into the game as one of only three teams in the CCS undefeated. Their average margin of victory had been 41 points this fall.
 "This game was an example of who we are,'' Zenk said. "This team trusts each other and plays for each other.''
 The intimidation factor that Milpitas has used failed against a Cowboys squad, who didn't bit on the extra chatter on the field.
 "They bait you and try an intimidate you,'' Reade said. "We weren't intimidated this time.''
 Milpitas, who was making its fifth finals appearance in the last six years, hasn't trailed in many games this year. One to be exact.
 Yet, with 2:18 left in the third quarter, the Trojans were staring at a 20-18 deficit. Off of a sudden, they found themselves out of their comfort zone.
 "It looked like they were sleeping out there,'' Zenk said.
 Salinas produced points on its first three possessions in the third quarter, using a 1-yard touchdown run form Ritchie Cerda to take the lead.
 "All that hard work paid off,'' Salinas receiver Jeff Weimer said. "Everything we've gotten, we've earned.''
 Weimer didn't play in that first meeting with Milpitas, missing the first three games of the season with a knee injury.
 The senior receiver made up for lost time with six catches for 105 yards against the Trojans.
 "This is unbelievable,'' Weimer said.
  When Adrian Hernandez kicked a 41-yard field goal with 11:18 left in the game, it capped a 18 point run that included a safety for Salinas.
 Defense dictated the tempo from that point as the Cowboys shut down the lanes in Milpitas' passing game, holding them to 26 yards passing.
 Ironically, in the teams first meeting 10 weeks ago, Milpitas did the same thing to Salinas, holding them to 24 passing yards.
 "We weren't the same team tonight,'' Zenk said.
 While Trojans tailback Tariq Barcy rushed for 198 yards, just two of them came in the fourth quarter as Salinas's defense, anchored by Drew Schuler and Kelly McDermott, made a statement.
 "This feels so good,'' said Zenk, soaked from getting dosed with water. "For my coaches and kids, the school.''
 Salinas actually took a 7-5 lead in the second quarter when Reade ran through a small seam for a 9-yard touchdown run -- his 29th rushing or passing touchdown of the season.
 The touchdown also ended a 13 quarter scoreless drought against Milpitas, who had beaten Salinas three straight times.
 Yet, behind Bracy's 46-yard touchdown run, the Trojans ran off 13 straight points to take an 18-7 lead early in the third quarter.
 At one point Zenk smiled and winked at one of his coaches as the Cowboys answered Milpitas' second half touchdown by marching down and scoring themselves.
 No play typified the game or the season for Salinas than on this drive when Reade hit Jeff Weimer on a 21-yard completion on fourth-and-12.
 Three plays later Reade connected on a  9-yard touchdown pass to Ivan Curiel to get Salinas to within five.
 More importantly, it fueled a defensive surge that put the clamps on Bracy and forced Milpitas to put the ball in the air, where it completed just 4-of-19 attempts, with one pick.