APTOS -- Vibrant practices with smiles splashed across their faces, even as temperatures soared this past week. At times, it has been missing at Monterey. Perhaps taking a step back and rediscovering that passion was the perfect antidot.
Whether it was the pressure to live up to heightened expectations before the football season began, or having its confidence challenged after a pair of losses, the response has been encouraging.
"We had our best week of practice," Monterey coach Alex Besaw said. "It was a direct reflection of what we did Monday through Thursday."
The Toreadores put together their best performance of the season, matching their season high for points in a 42-14 win over Aptos.
"The season is full of peaks and valleys," Besaw said. "We've had our share of valleys. We have to learn that in football and the game of life. You don't turn your back on a family member. There will be more adversity."
In their first two Gabilan Division games, the Toreadores have outscored the opposition 84-21, as they gear up to face six-time defending Gabilan Division champion Salinas next Friday at Monterey Peninsula College.
The game is coming during Monterey's fall break.
"The conversation immediately turned over to Salinas after the game," said Besaw, a former assistant at Salinas. "Don't fall into the trap of being off from school, and use it to not have an energetic week of practice."
On the road for the third straight week, the Toreadores were balanced and efficient on offense, with Preston White completing 8-of-11 passes, with four of those completions going for touchdowns.
"This was a big game for us," Besaw said. "We were on the road again. With traffic, it was a long bus ride. It's a well-coached team. And it was Aptos' homecoming."
Last fall Monterey turned its season around, using a kickoff return from Kavon Collins as time expired in a wild 48-43 win, igniting a four-game winning streak.
While there were no late game dramatics this time, Collins -- who has an offer from Northern Arizona -- had another big game, turning five catches into 102 yards and three touchdowns, giving him eight touchdowns in two games against Aptos.
"We've put ourselves in a good position being 2-0," Besaw said. "It's a long season. We still haven't played our best football. But tonight was one of the best games we've played all year long."
The leadership values that Besaw has been seeking all fall from a group of 19 seniors that have been up since their sophomore years has begun to develop.
"Preston (White) has been a lot more vocal than he has in the past," Besaw said. "And Soakai (Funaki) has been our anchor on defense and leading by example."
The senior linebacker finished with 14 tackles, three for losses for Monterey, with Jamar Aquino adding six tackles and a pair of sacks.
"Aptos was a tough read," Besaw said. "It is a disciplined football program with an identity on offense. It tested our ability to be disciplined on defense."
The Toreadores created four turnovers, and recovered an onside kick, with Kai Vaughn and Dakota Ordonio both intercepting passes that led to points.
White and Collins hooked up three times for touchdowns. In three seasons together, the pair have connected 35 times for touchdowns. Tailback Enobong Wirth added 128 yards and two touchdowns on the ground for Monterey.
Carmel 66, King City 33: For all the offensive firepower that the Padres had on display, it was a kickoff return to open the second half that changed the complexion of the game.
For the second time in the game, Simeon Brown ran back a kickoff 70 plus yards for a touchdown, igniting a run of 14 points over the first 2:15 of the second half in Carmel's 66 point eruption.
The win also tied a school record for consecutive regular season wins (18) for the defending Mission Division South champions, who improved to 6-0 on the season.
"I thought the offense was efficient tonight," Carmel coach Golden Anderson said. "We scored on all but our last drive. We had the two touchdowns on special teams. It was kind of a sparring match in the first half."
Brown's kickoff return, coupled with an interception that led to a Hudson Rutherford touchdown pass extended Carmel's lead to 30 in the third quarter.
"The kickoff return was big," Anderson said. "It was still a two-score game at the time. King City had a good game plan. It isn't always what we didn't do. It's what the opponent did. King City has some guys that made plays."
That would include quarterback Junior Manriquez, who had two touchdown runs and tossed a touchdown for the Mustangs, while Carson Tidwell went over 100 yards rushing.
"We learned tonight that we can compete at a high level when we execute," King City coach Mac Villanueva said. "Offensively, we did some great stuff against them. That's just an extremely well-coached team with some quality athletes."
Rutherford picked a part the King City defense with three touchdowns passes, while Ashton Rees had touchdown runs of 19 and 65 yards, giving him 12 touchdowns on the season.
Rutherford connected with Ty Arnold, Matt Maxon and Brooklyn Ashe for touchdowns, while Maxon also caught a touchdown pass from Kaleb Herro. Connor Reilly closed the scoring.
Carmel, who is on fall break next week, will have a bye week before it hosts Rancho San Juan in two weeks.
"It's unique for us," Anderson said. "It comes at a nice time. We'll have a couple of days of practice and give them a break. Let the kids go on college trips, or let their parents take them out of town. All of us need to recharge the batteries."
North Salinas 47, Rancho San Juan 0: Concerns about looking ahead to its matchup with Pacific Grove were squashed in the opening minutes when the Vikings produced 21 points in the first six minutes of the game.
"I was worried about us being overconfident," North Salinas coach Ben Ceralde said. "A lot of these kids played together, live down the street from each other. You can see their campus from ours. I was pleased with how well we performed."
Posting back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 35 years, the Vikings tuned up for their first ever meeting in Pacific Grove next Friday, as both teams are 2-0 in the Mission Division South.
"I have not really looked at a lot of film of them," Ceralde said. "I told the boys that Pacific Grove is as well-oiled machine. If we are undisciplined, they'll take advantage of us."
Last year North Salinas snapped the Breakers six game winning streak to start the season with a 50-6 decision, enroute to returning to the playoffs.
The 47 points against Rancho San Juan was a season high for North Salinas, who blanked Greenfield 20-0 last week.
"We had a lot of good energy tonight, good communication," Ceralde said. "We executed very well. We had a good week of practice."
Izaiah Gonzalez accounted for three touchdowns for North Salinas, throwing a pair of touchdown passes to RJ Leota, while catching a touchdown pass from Kai Ceralde.
Freshman Dylan Reynoso rushed for three of touchdowns, while Sean Nimuan returned a fumble for six.
Alisal 24, Monte Vista 14: Not only did a week off enable the Trojans to get four starters back from injuries, but it also enabled them to refocus on the start of league play.
"The most important part is we got healthy," first year Alisal coach Francisco Estrada said. "We got our running backs back. Both were huge in pounding the ball on offense. We got two guys back, who were big on defense."
Special teams also answered the call as Gus Matias broke up 14-14 tie in the fourth quarter with a 34-yard field, enabling the Trojans to slip past Monte Vista.
"That was huge," Estrada said. "It was one of those decisions where we were in no-man's land. He's worked hard on his craft. He sunk it right throw the uprights."
A three-point lead became a 10-point cushion with 4:56 remaining when Hector Politron connected with Jordan Lopez on a 38-yard touchdown pass.
"The good thing right know is we are 1-0 in league," Estrada said. "We told the team we'll enjoy the victory. Now it's on to North County. Being in league means every game is the most important game and every game is a must win."
Politron added a 15-yard touchdown run. while Nate Perra took a jet sweep 25 yards to give Alisal a 14-8 lead with 6:04 left in the third quarter.
The Trojans collected four turnovers to stall a potent Monte Vista offense, as Javier Estrada and Alex Gomez both had interceptions, while Carlos Zamora and Efren Posadas recovered fumbles.
"I can count on my fingers how many times they ran the ball," Estrada said. "We knew Monte Vista had some big weapons. The quarterback is really good. The receiver is at a different level. The plan was to make somebody else beat us."
Estrada was referring to quarterback Dominic Pierini and receiver Nico Downie, who hooked up eight times for 145 yards and a score. Downie has 51 catches for over 1,000 yards through six games this year.
The 14 points was a season low for the Mustangs, who fell to 0-2 in the Mission Division North.
Crystal Springs Union 52, Trinity 0: Starting the game with just 10 players, the Warriors finished with nine in being blanked in 8-man football.
Eli Robertson had an interception for Trinity, who slipped to 2-2 overall. The Warriors will visit Pinewood of Los Altos Hills next Friday.