Barnstormers open up NCAFF playoffs Saturday at home to the San
Jose Predators
Gilroy
Despite falling in two of their first three games of the season – something that hadn’t happened in two years – the song is still the same for the Central Coast Barnstormers.
Seeking a third straight Northern California Amateur Football Federation championship, the Barnstormers will open the 2008 postseason as hosts to the San Jose Predators Saturday at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex in Gilroy.
Kick-off is at 6 p.m.
While Central Coast has simply owned the postseason in past seasons, they’ve always entered the playoffs undefeated. Saturday’s contest will mark the first time in two years the Barnstormers – at 4-1 in the South Division, 5-2 overall – will come in with losses to their name.
“It’s kind of been our saying all year,” head coach Greg Garcia said, ” ‘Be there when it counts.’
“When you lose during the season, that’s okay. Don’t lose in the playoffs.”
In a one-and-done system, the Barnstormers simply can’t lose if they have any intention of posting a three-peat.
And Saturday’s playoff game with San Jose – whom the Barnstormers defeated 25-3 in San Jose during the regular season – should bring the best out of the Predators, despite the previous game’s seemingly lopsided outcome.
“It’s the playoffs and everyone steps up their game,” said center Jose Rodriguez. “It’s that time. Win or go home.”
Breaking down recent film on the Predators, Garcia said the San Jose squad is running a similar style of offense that it employed back in Week 5 when the two teams first met up. But the way they’re running it is different.
Garcia noted the different formations San Jose has been using recently to disguise their plays. The disguises have been changing from week to week, as well.
“Do I think they’ll do that again? They might,” Garcia said. “They’ve showed a completely different offense the last two weeks.”
Those last two games, San Jose outscored Modesto and Soquel-Capitola by a combined score of 75-6. For what it’s worth, though, Central Coast defeated those two teams as well during the regular season, 83-0.
The Barnstormers, meanwhile, haven’t changed much on offense over the course of the season, although Garcia said the team has reduced plays with motion. Led by quarterback Rhett Van De Mark, Central Coast will still rely on the no-huddle offense, not to mention an always stifling defense.
“The defense finishes really strong,” Garcia said. “It’s been consistent and has been our strong point this season.”
Allowing just 85 points over the course of the season, Central Coast’s defense is second only to Salinas (58 points allowed), which is made up of many former Barnstormers.
With a win over San Jose all but assuring a rematch of the Week 3 battle that featured the first-year Salinas Spartans posting a 28-21 victory over the Barnstormers, Central Coast players and staff are simply trying to focus on the game at hand.
Salinas (4-1 South, 6-1) will open the playoffs against the Alameda County Knights (3-2, 4-3).
“A lot of guys are looking forward to the Salinas game,” Rodriguez said. “But we’ve still got to focus on the Predators. We’re not there yet.”
Anchored by team leaders Rodriguez and Joffre Longoria, Garcia feels he has a nice mix of veterans and youth on his team right now, where the next generation of players are beginning to move into leadership roles.
The one obstacle that needs to be kept in check, however, is the mental mistakes, Garcia said, where miscommunications have been leading to offsides penalties and missed audibles.
But recently, things have been going well, the coach added. With the change from regular season to postseason, the Barnstormers may be coming into their own.
While the start to the season provided a reality-check for the Barnstormers, they’re winners of four straight games now, and they may be finding their playoff niche once again.
“I think we’re at an advantage. We’ve won two championships. We’ve been there. We know what it takes,” Rodriguez said. “We’re trying to make a little dynasty here. Going for our third championship is pretty important.”
