Salinas-Milpitas football

Central Coast Section Open Division I Finals
Friday's game
No. 2 Salinas (10-2) vs. No. 1 Milpitas (12-0) at Independence High, San Jose, 7 p.m.
It's not a fluke that Milpitas is 12-0. Yet, the Cowboys haven't won nine straight games by accident either.
 You can't gauge a Week 3 meeting, in which Milpitas blanked Salinas 27-0, as an indication of what could be in store tonight. That was 10 weeks ago.
 That's not to suggest the Cowboys didn't evaluate film and fix some of the flaws that kept them off the scoreboard.
 It's no secret who Salinas has to contain and that's Trojans quarterback Tyree Bracy, who has thrown 21 touchdown passes this year -- three against Salinas.
 Bracy eluded the Cowboys pass rush the entire game back on Sept. 15 to keep plays and drives alive, rushing for 51 yards.
 The other concern is Bracy's twin brother Tariq, who compiled over 100 yards in total offense in the first meeting.
 Salinas also has to find a way to score. In its last two games against the Trojans, it has mustered just a field goal. In three games, Milpitas has outscored the Cowboys 76-9.
 Yet, there is reason to feel this game will be different. Brett Reade was 16-of-19 last week for 259 yards for Salinas.
 In his last three games, the senior quarterback has completed 41-of-54 passes for 485 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 153 yards and six touchdowns.
 Receiver Jeff Weimer did not play in that first meeting because of an injury while Kelly McDermott didn't catch a pass. Between them this year are 70 catches for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns.
 Milpitas is going to score points, averaging 45 plus points a game this fall. And it forces turnovers on defense, having created 22 this year.
 The Cowboys have to take care of the ball and grind it down field. Establish drives, chew the clock and limit Milpitas' offensive possessions.