North Salinas-Salinas football

Thursday's game
North Salinas (0-1) at Salinas (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
 Once upon a time this was among the biggest rivalry games in the county -- known in the 1980's as 'The Big Game'.
 The two teams didn't play last year for the first time in over 40 years. Prior to that, Salinas had rattled off nine straight wins.
 Choosing to have their bye in Week 1, the two-time defending Gabilan Division champion Cowboys are opening their season on Thursday for just the second time in eight decades of football.
 North Salinas, who hasn't dropped two straight to open a season since 2013, fell in its opener 28-20 at North County.
 Isaiah Orozco did rush for a pair of touchdowns in the opener for the Vikings, whose last win over Salinas came at 'The Pit' in 2008. Salinas is just 4-4 at home in its last eight games.
  Last fall Carl Richardson set a single-season passing record for the Cowboys, throwing for nearly 3,500 yards and 22 touchdowns. His top five receivers from last year all graduated.
 Cade Smith will anchor a revamped defense for Salinas, having compiled 75 tackles last fall. Eight new starters are on defense.
 The last time North Salinas beat Salinas, current Salinas head coach Steve Zenk was running the show on the Vikings campus.