Game of the week: Cowboys set to open season at Valley Christian

Salinas man shoots, kills at least 80... Why some of 49ers’ most faithful fans...

Game of the week: Cowboys set to open season at Valley Christian

This weekend’s schedule and Top 10 are on the bottom of this story.

—-

SALINAS – Steve Zenk was a fan last week, watching a lot of football – in person and on film. It just wasn’t his team he was watching.

A bye to open the season for Salinas High’s football team would not appear to be ideal, especially if the expectation is to be playing well into December.

However, Zenk, who has guided the Cowboys to six straight Gabilan Division titles in the Pacific Coast Athletic League since becoming the head coach, has a different perspective.

“The last time we were given a Week 1 bye, we won a section title (2017),” Zenk said. “I do like having a scrimmage and a week to get better before starting game prep.”

Owners of the second-longest league title run in county history, the Cowboys will open the year on the road at West Catholic Athletic League nemesis Valley Christian of San Jose.

Dating back to last fall, Salinas shares the second-longest current regular-season winning streak in the Pacific Coast Athletic League with Greenfield and Scotts Valley at seven. Carmel has won 13 straight regular season games.

Ranked No. 7 in the Central Coast Section, the Warriors reached the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs last fall, opening the season with a 24-7 win over Wilcox.

Last season Valley Christian jumped out to a 4-0 start, allowing just 33 points, beating two Gabilan Division teams in the process.

Yet, it was Salinas’ late-season heroics that propelled it into the Open Division of the playoffs as one of the top eight teams in the section, while the Warriors were bumped down to Division I.

“It appears they have a lot more depth than a couple of years ago,” Zenk said. “They are getting their post-COVID-19 numbers back. I’ll take a top eight ranking in the CCS every year.”

Salinas’ 0-3 start last season included a 16-8 loss to Valley Christian, where it managed just one touchdown in its first 12 quarters against three power teams from three different sections.

“We want to get better, be prepared for league play,” said Zenk, who is eight wins shy of 100 for his career. “Find your weaknesses. We do not want to get stagnant and complacent.”

Ranked No. 9 in the section, Zenk has gone out of his section in the preseason in each of the last five full seasons to test his team against other section powers.

“It’s a great way to evaluate your program,” said Zenk, who will face Clovis and Arroyo Grande this year. “I like to know going into the playoffs we have seen that caliber of team.”

It’s not just the postseason that has become an expectation for Salinas, which has made 15 straight playoff appearances. Pride in winning a league title still holds value.

Last fall’s 0-3 start brought the eulogies out. Instead, the Cowboys ran off seven straight wins to complete their fourth undefeated Gabilan Division season among their six titles.

“In reviewing our scrimmage, we were competitive,” said Zenk, who has compiled a 38-2 record as a head coach at Salinas against Gabilan Division opponents. “When we’re on, we are really, really good. But we need to work on consistency.”

That will come with game experience as Salinas has five new starters on defense and eight on offense, including quarterback Rico Maturino.

Salinas quarterback Rico Maturino scans downfield for a receiver in the third quarter of last season’s game against Valley Christian of San Jose. Valley Christian held on for an 16-8 win over Salinas at The Pit. (Donald Fukui/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

“Sometimes we have kids that start as sophomores and juniors, but not seniors,” Zenk said. “The best players will play. Everyone is coached the same. Who is the Cowboy this year?”

Maturino gives the Cowboys a dual dimension with the ability to use his feet, as well as his arm, averaging over 7 yards each time he touched the ball last year – albeit in limited opportunities.

“I feel offensively we’re a little ahead of where we were last year,” Zenk said. “We didn’t find our identity last year until after the fourth game. We are playing some really good teams.”

Maturino has one of the more gifted targets in the county to get the ball to in receiver Emarrcis Turner, who is likely ticketed to start on the defensive side of the ball as well.

While Maturino is a weapon with his legs, the return of tailback Dayven Marquez (injured in Week 1 of last year) and the addition of Brandon Palma give the Cowboys a solid combination in the backfield.

Dayven Marquez returns after an injury cut short his junior season for Salinas High. (John Devine — Monterey Herald)

“We’re not stuck,” Zenk said. “We’re balanced. If something is not working, we will adjust. We take what the opponent gives us. We know what we want to do.”

Having split its last two games with the Warriors, Salinas will look for its front seven to set the tone against a run-heavy team.

Tailback Marcel Leggett and his 800 rushing yards and team-high seven touchdowns are back for Valley Christian, while a pair of 300 plus linemen anchor the trenches.

“I think their offensive line outweighed our defensive front by 50 pounds across,” Zenk said. “But we did not give up a touchdown in the second half against them last year.”

Defensive end Nate Crandall and linebackers Jake Mungaray and Jackson Scott provide stability up front, while Wyatt Marvilla and Gavin Flynn solidify the secondary.

“It’s an advantage for them because they have played a game and know how their kids go,” Zenk said. “I don’t have jitters anymore, except making sure I don’t trip and fall.”

This weekend’s games

THURSDAY’S GAME

Marina at North County, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Pacific Grove at Alvarez, 7:30 p.m.

Menlo-Atherton at Monterey, 7:30 p.m.

King City vs. Palma at Salinas High, 7:30 p.m.

Salinas at Valley Christian, 7:30 p.m.

Alisal vs. North Salinas at Rabobank, 7:30 p.m.

Rancho San Juan at Los Altos, 7:30 p.m.

Gonzales at Soledad, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY’S GAMES