SALINAS SPARTANS 
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BY GEORGE WATKINS • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it • July 12, 2010

The Salinas Spartans, many of them former Monterey County high school and community college football players, used their passion for the game and combined talents to capture the Northern California Football League championship Saturday at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.

After losing their first game of the season, the Spartans never lost again.

They capped off a 12-1 record with a 14-10 win over the North Bay Rattlers of Santa Rosa in the title game.

"Guys from this area play hard-nose football," Spartan coach Larry Souza said. "They don't quit. This is a great football community. They love the game and play hard for four quarters. That's the commitment that these guys made. It's a great group."

Salinas trailed 10-7 at halftime, with its only score coming on the first of two touchdown catches by Joey Stefani.

The Spartans took the lead at 14-10 on another David Carriedo-to-Stefani touchdown pass at the end of the third quarter.

Carriedo completed 15 of 30 passes for 268 yards. Stefani had six catches for 117 yards while Julian Harris had four grabs for 72 yards, including a key reception late in the game that allowed the Spartans to move from their own four-yard-line to close to midfield.

The Rattlers threatened to take the lead late in the fourth quarter with a first-and-goal at the Spartan 10-yard-line. But on fourth down Tyler Larick knocked away a pass in the end zone.

North Bay got the ball back a final time at its own 35, but an interception by Keawe Block with 1:40 to go sealed the outcome.

Tyrone Ward also had an interception for Salinas and Eli Alvarado recovered a fumble.

North Bay averaged 35 points a game this year, but lost to Salinas twice and never scored more than 14 points in either game.

"We were the only team to shut them out in the second half, and we did it twice," Souza said.

This was the third year of play for the Spartans, and team owner David Renteria said there will be a fourth. Tryouts for the 2011 season will be in December or January, he said.

"This was an awesome year," Renteria said. "We had players from King City, Greenfield, Soledad, Salinas, North County, Seaside, Monterey, Carmel and Marina. A lot of hard work made this happen."

North Salinas High football coach and Spartans' player, Steve Zenk, was honored by the league at halftime with the Marlin W. Kelley Award that goes to the person that best represents their team.

Zenk tore his Achilles' heel during an early-season practice, but continued to support the Spartans.

"He does a lot of stuff you don't always hear about," Renteria said.