Aptos-Salinas football

Friday's game
Aptos (8-1) at Salinas (6-3), 7:30 p.m.
 Did we jump ahead of ourselves in assuming this anticipated showdown would be for the Gabilan Division title?
 Technically it still is as one of these teams will emerge with a share of the title.
 Both the Mariners and Salinas are looking for bounce back wins going into the postseason after both suffered losses last week at home.
 For Aptos, it ended its bid for an undefeated regular season, while the Cowboys saw their 12-game Gabilan Division winning streak halted.
 Salinas has to be concerned about containing Aptos' ground game, which piled up over 450 yards in a loss to Palma last week.
 The Cowboys gave up 280 yards on the ground to one runner last week and over 400 yards on the night in a loss to San Benito.
 While Carl Richardson threw for over 440 yards and four touchdowns last week, it's not ideal. It's a dominating offense when Salinas is more balanced.
 Aptos makes no secret with its intentions. It will run the ball all night behind four different runners, including Marco Reyes, who has rushed for 22 touchdowns this year.
 The reigning Gabilan Division co-Back of the Year, Reyes is coming off a 204 yard rushing effort against Palma, while Josh Powell added 111 yards on the ground.
 Aptos is not comfortable when forced to throw the ball. Last week it put the ball in the air 15 times, eight more than in any other game this year -- one of which was intercepted.
 All three of the defending Gabilan Division and Central Coast Section Division I champions losses this year have come at home.