King's Academy-Carmel football

Central Coast Section Division V finals
Saturday's game
King's Academy (10-2) vs. Carmel (12-0) at Westmont High, 7 p.m.
 Besides the fact that it has a bus ride four times as long as its opponent, Carmel has other reasons for having mixed feelings about playing at Westmont High in a title game.
 Its first Central Coast Section title came at Westmont in 2009 when it defeated Menlo 56-35 for the Division IV crown, capping a 12-0 season.
 However, the following year Carmel was outscored 28-0 in the final 16 minutes in a gut-wrenching 39-32 loss to Sacred Heart Prep, who was coached by current King's Academy coach Pete Lavorato.
 The top-seeded Padres are 12-0 again, having outscored two postseason teams 111-35. The two 50 plus point outings give them seven on the season.
 Yet, what has gotten overlooked this season is the defense, which has posted four shutouts this year and has not allowed a point in the third quarter all season.
 Over the last six quarters, the first unit has given up just one touchdown, while producing a pick six from Dakota Mornhinweg.
 Robert Brown has been arguably the best defensive player in the area, compiling 12 sacks. Tristan McCallister, JT Byrne and Zach DeZee are sideline-to-sideline type defenders.
 In Carmel's previous postseason appearances, the defense has been the Achilles heel, going back to that loss to Sacred Heart Prep in 2010.
 In four of its last five postseason losses, the defense allowed 49, 77, 52 and 46 points.
 "When we've struggled in the playoffs in the past, it's been because of mistakes and penalties," said Carmel coach Golden Anderson.
 That goes for both sides of the ball.
 Yet, in those losses, Carmel also scored 42, 53, 49 and 26 points. In the teams last playoff meeting with King's Academy in 2016, it held on for a wild 50-47 win.
 The Padres haven't been forced to engage in a shootout this year. Now is not the time to start.
 "We can't give this team extra possessions," Anderson said.
 The Knights have scored 97 points in two lopsided playoff wins. They have scored 50 or more points in four of their last six games.
 King's Academy racked up over 300 rushing yards and six touchdowns last week against Monterey. Carmel gave up over 300 rushing yards last week in a win over Gonzales.
 But only eight of those yards came in the red zone against the first team defense.