Monte Vista-Seaside football

Friday's game
Monte Vista (3-6) at Seaside (4-5), 7:30 p.m.
 Before writing off the Spartans, take a deeper look at their losses this fall.
 One was in overtime to playoff bound Wilcox. Another was on the last play of the game to San Benito.
 And then last week two interceptions inside the 5-yard line stopped two potential scoring drives, ultimately the difference in a 19-7 loss to Monterey.
 Of course, the bottom line is they are losses. And now the Spartans are in a must win situation -- without its best player in Ronnie Turner (concussion) -- if they want to return to the CCS Division IV playoffs.
 Essentially Friday is a playoff game for Seaside. How will it respond after two gut wrenching losses? Others have to step up in Turner's absence at the receiver position, as well as punt returner and defensive back.
 Having written off the ground game, the Spartans find an opponent that has given them fits over the last four years in trying to move the ball through the air.
  Monte Vista knocked Seaside off two years ago. Last fall Seaside needed fourth quarter magic to produce two touchdowns in the final 3:27 to beat the Mustangs.