Aptos limped into last year’s Central Coast Section playoffs.
That isn’t the case this fall.
The Mariners are relatively healthy heading into their ninth straight postseason appearance under head coach Randy Blankenship, and they’ll have a shot at redemption in their first round matchup.
Aptos received the No. 5 seed in the CCS Open Division III playoffs, and will travel to No. 4 Terra Nova tonight for a rematch of last year’s quarterfinals meeting.
Kickoff in Pacifica is set for 7 p.m.
Monte Vista Christian, meanwhile, earned the No. 7 seed in the CCS D-V playoffs and will also hit the road to play No. 2 Monterey tonight at 7 p.m. at Monterey Peninsula College.
Terra Nova (8-2) won last year’s meeting against Aptos (8-2), 24-14, en route to an appearance in the Open D-III championship game.
Aptos was without a handful of starters in the loss, including record-setting running back Marcos Reyes.
Reyes, a senior, is healthy this fall, and has rushed for 362 yards and five touchdowns over the last two weeks against Palma and Salinas — two of the best defenses in the CCS.
That impressive production, however, did come in back-to-back losses to close out the regular season.
Despite coming up short of a share of the Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan division championship, Blankenship said he likes the direction his team is heading.
“Next week starts a new season,” the coach said. “Our goal was to win a league championship and we didn’t get it. But I think I got my football team back tonight. That’s important. Really important.”
Coach Tim Adams’ Tigers finished third in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay division behind champion Menlo-Atheron and second-place finisher Sacred Heart Prep.
Senior quarterback Jared Julian has been the spark plug on offense for Terra Nova, passing for 1,759 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also rushing for 839 yards and 16 touchdowns.
PCAL-G co-champion Palma (9-1) received the top seed in D-III, and will host No. 8 Pioneer (4-6) at Rabobank Stadium.
Aptos and Palma could play in a rematch of Week 10’s barnburner if both teams win their quarterfinal matchup.
M.V.C. (5-5) finished second in the PCAL Mission division behind Carmel.
Monterey (9-1) won the PCAL-Cypress with six straight wins to close the regular season.
The Mustangs’ stingy defense will have its hands full with the Toreadores’ speedy offensive weapons. Senior running back Tim Byrd leads the way for coach Hendrick Lusk with 973 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.
M.V.C. coach Jubenal Rodriguez will try to win his second straight CCS D-V title. He last season won the championship with Gilroy before jumping over the hill to coach the private school in Watsonville.
Undefeated Carmel (10-0) received the top seed in the division after choosing to not opt up into the Open Division playoffs.
The Padres host Mt. Pleasant (6-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Like Aptos, the Mustangs could see a familiar foe if they advance to the semifinals.
No. 3 The King’s Academy (8-2) is playing in the other quarterfinal on their side of the bracket.
M.V.C. lost 37-14 to T.K.A. in second week of the regular season.
