Central Coast set for rematch with Salinas in NCAFF South
Division Championship
Gilroy
Ever since Rhett Van De Mark’s 47-yard pass to Will Lawrence fell just out of reach in the end zone, finalizing a 28-21 defeat to the Salinas Spartans in Week 3, it’s been all the Central Coast Barnstormers have been able to think about.
After they managed to squeak by a visiting San Jose squad last week, 14-13, in the first round of the Northern California Amateur Football Federation playoffs, Central Coast players and coaches admitted to looking past the Predators to this Saturday’s game with Salinas.
The upstart Spartans have been the story all season in the South Division. They beat up on the Alameda County Knights last week, 72-13, and are slated for a rematch with Central Coast Saturday at Burrell Field in San Leandro for the South Division championship.
Kick-off will follow one hour after the North Division championship, which is slated for 3 p.m.
“Beat them when it counts,” Central Coast head coach Greg Garcia said. “It’s playoff time.”
Aside from the obvious proximity of the two teams, Salinas is in its first year and features eight former Barnstormers. Carrying a 7-1 overall record, Salinas’ victory over the Barnstormers in Week 3 was also the last time Central Coast lost this season.
“Okay, this is what we wanted. This is what a lot of people wanted to happen,” said offensive lineman Jose Rodriguez. “We wanted the Spartans in the championship game. We’ll be ready.”
Coming off a win in which they posted 72 points, Salinas enters with a high-powered offensive attack that starts up front with the line.
“They have a really good offensive line, so they run a lot,” said defensive back Lance Goularte. “They haven’t changed anything all year because what they’re doing is working.”
Led at running back by Antowian Vaughn – a former Hartnell back, Goularte said – Salinas’ offense has been described as simple but effective. They use a zone blocking scheme, allowing Vaughn to pick and choose his direction, although the Spartans are said to usually go to the strong side.
Vaughn had a pair of touchdowns last week against Alameda for a combined 130 yards.
Goularte estimated the Spartans run nearly 70 to 80 percent of the time, setting the team’s play-action up rather nicely.
“If we stop the run,” Goularte said, “we’ll be in good shape.”
Garcia said the team’s offensive line is quick and mobile and prevents the pass rush well. Quarterback Robert Stefani is mobile and possesses a strong, accurate arm. After watching plenty of film on Salinas, Central Coast seems certain about what to expect Saturday in San Leandro. It’s just a matter of preventing Salinas’ well-executed plays.
“Even when we got the schedule at the beginning of the season, we were looking forward to playing them,” Rodriguez said. “They’re a well-coached team, very disciplined. We know what they’re gonna run, it’s just a matter of stopping them.”
The Salinas defense is an aggressive one that disguises their coverages, Garcia said. Led at corner by former Barnstormer Tyrone Ward, Salinas intercepted nine passes against Alameda last week, and Ward was the recipient of two of those picks. He returned both for scores, and also returned two punts for pay dirt as well.
The winner of Saturday’s contest will advance to the NorCal Championship, and will play the winner between the Northern Valley Lions and the Stockton Trojans.
“I wouldn’t care if we win or lose next week in the (NorCal) championship game, we just want to beat Salinas,” Goularte said. “That’s how bad we want it.”
