High School football: Expectations rise each year at Salinas

Editor’s note: Herald sportswriter John Devine is spending much of this month visiting Monterey County high schools to get a sneak peek of their football teams. This is the seventh in a series of previews. To see other previews once they are published, visit: montereyherald.com/sports/high-school-sports/

SALINAS — Punctuating a season by beating its biggest rival gives the alumni something to boast about for a year.

Yet, there are so many more indicators of success for Salinas High’s football program. It has quietly posted the best record in the region over the past 40 games with 31 wins. There are also three Gabilan Division titles in head coach Steve Zenk’s first three full years, a Central Coast Section title and three wins over its biggest rival in Palma.

“Our goals are the same and that’s to win league,” Zenk said. “If we don’t win at least eight games, I feel like we’re not doing our job as coaches.”

Salinas finished 3-1 in a pandemic-shortened spring season, which included a 7-6 loss to Palma, its biggest rival.

“What hurt us last season is we were limited to how many kids we could have,” Zenk said. “We lost some football kids who found other things to do.”

Salinas was limited last spring to one level of football (varsity) and 70 kids in a program that would normally have close to 180 players for all three levels (varsity, JV, freshman).

“We still have 145 out this summer,” Zenk said. “We had to make some tough decisions last spring. It might take another year to get our numbers back up and kids back into it.”

Judging by a recent practice, a group of 61 varsity players was more than into it with a well-executed, electric-type atmosphere.

The cupboard is far from bare for the reigning league champions, who might have a chip on their shoulder after losing their final game of the spring.

If anything, the setback to Palma set the tone during the off-season for those returning to take that next step, which for the Cowboys is an extended playoff run.

While players were allowed to return to the weight room this summer, the pandemic set all teams back in development in terms of strength and speed.

“You can round a kid back into shape in two or three months,” Zenk said. “We had a great summer in the weight room. We focused more on the teaching aspect.”

Zenk used last year’s abbreviated season as a springboard into the fall. Quarterback Adam Shaffer showed flashes of what the future could look like at Salinas, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes for 468 yards in four games, while rushing for 118 yards.

“He hit the ground running in the spring,” Zenk said. “The nice thing about having depth is you have competition at each position. Adam is battling for a job, like everyone else. Kids are pushing each other.”

Blessed with a strong arm, Shaffer will have one of the more gifted athletes in the county to throw the ball to in Nyziah Hunter.

“He has the full package,” Zenk said. “We don’t get a ton of kids who are big, fast and athletic. I do not want to put a target on his back but Nyziah reminds me of (former Seaside High and NFL linebacker) Mason Foster. How do you stop him?”

Not only is Hunter fast, but he has good hands and runs precise routes. He’s also had an off-season to build that chemistry with Shaffer.

Another target for Shaffer is Emmerson Mejivar-Cortez, who evolved last spring with a seven-catch effort in the Cowboys’ final game. He also returns kicks and punts. Keep an eye on flanker Isaiah Duarte.

Where Salinas has been dominant during the Zenk era is in the trenches with its size and athleticism. Zenk is a former offensive lineman.

Emerging in the trenches as a sophomore last spring, Aidan Flynn solidifies the Cowboys’ offensive line, which averages over 250 pounds a player.

A punishing front five has enabled Zenk to adjust to his personnel. A run-first offense in his first season, Salinas threw for over 5,000 yards the next two years.

“We’re getting to the point where we’re a little spoiled,” Zenk said. “Winning is becoming a habit. Which is good. But last year has nothing to do with this year. Expectations should be high.”

Flynn was also a factor on defense last year for Salinas, along with 270-pound Michael MacNeill, who can be a disruptive force in the trenches. Nathan Edeza provides a nasty pass rush coming off the edge.

“I like where we’re going and love what we’re doing,” Zenk said. “But it’s not where I want it to be. I don’t want people to get complacent. There are always avenues to get better. I may yell a lot. I will hold kids accountable. But I’m also the first one to pat on them on the back.”

And some goals go beyond beating local rivals. Zenk points to the postseason, where he feels it’s realistic to have visions of playing for a state title.

“Few teams get to end their season with a win,” Zenk said. “If you’re a playoff team, the only way to do that is to win a state title. Who doesn’t want to be a part of something special?”