Salinas football

Pacific Coast Athletic League

Gabilan Division

Salinas (11-3, 7-0) 

 While you can make the argument that beating Palma for the first time in 14 years didn't dictate the Cowboys season, it certainly sent them on the right path towards an historic campaign.

 "For our alumni, it was a big deal," Salinas coach Steven Zenk said. "For the kids, 20 minutes after the game they were talking about San Benito."

 It was the same mindset the Cowboys had when they dropped two games in the first three weeks of the season, and when they went out and rattled off a school record 10 straight wins.

 Yet, in the mind of Zenk and those that are back, there is still some unfinished business. Falling in the State Northern California 4-AA playoffs in overtime by a point still stings.

 "It took a while for me personally," Zenk said. "I mopped around all December. I felt it was a game we should have won and let it slip away. But we always tell the kids to let it go."

 Which is exactly what Zenk's players have done. That's not to suggest Salinas has forgotten the pain of being that close to playing for a state title.

 "As soon as that game was over, we talked about getting back here and working harder to achieve our goals," lineman Sebastian Gomez said. "There's no pressure, just incentive."

 Chasing a state title is no longer a dream at Salinas, but a vision. Standing pat is unacceptable as the quest to repeat the feat begins.

 "It is something we talk about," Salinas quarterback Carl Richardson said.

 In fact, Richardson started holding player only film sessions without the coaches in the off-season to get a jump start on the 2018 season.

 "I told the kids to take a couple of months off to recuperate," Zenk said. "All of a sudden, our players are organizing weight lifting and off-season workouts. I was getting lonely."

 Granted replacing the Gabilan Division Player of Year in quarterback Brett Reade is no small task. His legs were just as dynamic as his arm in combining for over 3,000 rushing and passing yards.

 But the cupboard is far from bare with the return of the 6-foot-4 Richardson, who could have started for a lot of teams last year as a sophomore.

 Recently voted the Most Valuable Player at a camp at the University of Washington, Richardson has a cannon for an arm, and is extremely accurate.

 "He might be one of the best leaders I have ever had," Zenk said. "He can make all the throws. What people don't know about him is he can run. Carl will force teams to respect that part of his game."

 The junior has a handful of targets to get the ball to, starting with Ivan Curiel, who caught 19 passes last year as a third option, including a touchdown pass in the CCS title game.

 Transfer Roderick Gaskins brings his 28 catches for nearly 500 yards from Seaside to Salinas, along with flat out speed. Don't overlook Zac Robison, who caught 12 passes

 Richardson isn't the only one that has the potential for a big play on the ground. Running back Mike Cortez has trimmed down to 225 pounds.

 "We're limiting him in contact drills," Zenk said. "He hits the holes hard and hits people even harder. He'll get a few more carries this season."

 Salinas may possess the most talented lineman in the county in the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Gomez, one of the few players on the team that may go both ways this fall.

 Gomez, who earned lineman honors at a camp at the University of Idaho over the summer, is a beast in the trenches. He's also a punishing run blocker along with Josh Gomez.

 "Our strength is our line," said Zenk, a former lineman at Idaho. "What I have learned in 21 years of coaching is you do what you're good at. We'll have a different look based on our personnel."

 Nathan Martorella and his 10 plus sacks are back on the outside for the Cowboys. He will be turned lose again this year to create havoc on opponents.

 While the offensive numbers captured the spotlight last year, Salinas' defense held nine opponents to 18 points or less, including a 25-18 win over Milpitas in the CCS Division I title game.

 Milpitas will again be on defending Gabilan Division champion Salinas' non-league schedule this fall, along with Central Section power Clovis.

 "Part of the reason we scheduled Clovis is if you want to compete for a state title, you have to play intersection teams," Zenk said. "You might get thumped. But you have to find out about yourself."