Salinas football

Salinas (8-4, 6-1)

 Apparently a second straight league title -- a first at Salinas in 39 years -- wasn't enough to satisfy the expectations cast upon the program.

 Nearly 85 players for Salinas were in the weight room in the off-season, grinding with the thought of getting back to playing football in December.

 "We set team goals," Salinas quarterback Carl Richardson said. "Achieve those and individual goals will come."

 While sharing the Gabilan Division title and winning eight games wasn't a bad season, it seemed like Salinas was still in a fog after its record run of 10 straight wins and a section title in 2017.

 Two straight losses to open last fall at home left Salinas dazed. Players were pressing, perhaps trying to do too much.

 "I blame myself for that," Salinas coach Steve Zenk said. "If we're not having success, it's on me, not the kids or my staff. I'm not doing my job."

 Even when Salinas was embarking on a six game winning streak that capitulated them to a share of the Gabilan Division title, mental mistakes crippled them all season.

 While Zenk points the finger at himself first, he also talked about accountability in the off-season, a priority for those that are back.

 "I know I'm a year older and maturer," said Richardson, who added 20 pounds of muscle on a lean 6-foot-5 frame. "I feel a lot stronger. We've built a lot of chemistry in the off-season."

 Richardson also spent the summer showcasing his talents in camps across the nation. He received an offer from Washington State. Baylor has also shown interest in the quarterback.

 Yet, Richardson has decided to hold off on making a decision on where he'll play in college, instead choosing to put his full attention to his senior year at Salinas.

 "The recruiting process has been a ton of fun," said Richardson, whose brother is on scholarship at Stanford. "But name a better setting than this. I'm so pumped to focus on high school football."

 Last season Richardson threw for nearly 3,500 yards and 22 touchdowns for Salinas, including 371 yards in a win over Palma, and 335 yards in beating Aptos for a share of the league title.

 "He can be one of the best quarterbacks in the state," Zenk said. "He's at that level. What makes him special is he doesn't want it about him. It's all about the team. We're seeing something special."

 But Salinas also lost 280 receptions among five players to graduation. The off-season has been spent with Richardson breaking in a new cast of receivers, including JJ Chin.

 "Our receiving core will be faster and taller," Zenk said. "Now we do not have the experience. These guys haven't had significant snaps at this level. What we do here, though, is develop kids."

 Richardson should be in good hands up front with the return of lineman Jorge Pamatz, Ulises Gonzales and 6-3, 280 pound Michael Luther.

 In the Cowboys spread offense, Richardson could throw for 4,000 yards. At same time, he's capable of giving the team a boast with his legs.

 "We're going to do what defenses allow us," Zenk said. "We expect to see three man fronts and eight defenders in the secondary. If you let us run, we will. We have some powerful backs."

 Zenk, a former lineman at the University of Idaho, was speaking about Ryan Granger, who scored a pair of touchdowns in a limited role, and the emergence of Aaron Hansen.

 Salinas was also hit hard by graduation on defense, although Cade Smith and his 75 tackles, along with Pamatz are back in the trenches.

 In eight wins last year, the Cowboys defense allowed just 13 points a game, posting three shutouts. But in four losses, that number increased to 39.2 points, allowing 45 points in a playoff loss.

 "What I learned in my first year as a head coach is defense is the first priority," Zenk said. "We are fast and aggressive. I can see the chip on their shoulders because of all the talk about our offense."