North, Bakersfield-Monterey football

Saturday's game

North, Bakersfield (0-1) at Monterey (0-0), 4 p.m.

 The Stars are coming off a 9-4 season, in which they played for the Central Section Championship, falling to Central Valley.

 North opened the season with a 24-14 loss to Centennial.

 Chris Romero rushed for 1,700 yards last season for the Stars, scoring 20 touchdowns. Defensively, senior linebacker James Johnson recorded 108 tackles last year.

 As explosive as Monterey will be, patients must be preached as it continues to learn the offense. A state qualifying 400 relay team makes up the teams receiving core.

 Azjani McGill showed off that speed last year as a sophomore with touchdowns of 71 and 82 yards. Evans Charles threw for  nearly 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns, often running for his life.

 While the Toreadores have quick strike potential with this offense, the defense needs a blow. Last fall it gave up 40 or more points four times.

 Too often last fall Monterey found itself playing catchup, having been outscored 84-41 in the first quarter and 172-97 in the first half.

 North has gone 3-1 in each of the last four years in the Southwest Yosemite League. Monterey has gone 3-9 the last three years in non-league play, with two of those wins coming against Marina.