SALINAS >> Discussions about elevating certain local high school football teams into the Gabilan Division, the highest level of competition in the Pacific Coast Athletic League, often include pushback from those schools, sometimes a feeling of fear that may ultimately cause decreased turnout for teams.

Santa Cruz, Monte Vista, Seaside and, to this day, Alvarez, have all suffered setbacks from being elevated into the Gabilan Division at one time or another.

Yet, one program has defied that logic. Soquel came into the division expecting to contend.

Two years into the Gabilan Division and the Knights have suffered just one loss — that coming last year against Salinas, which they visit Friday at 7:30 p.m.

“Each year is different, including our years,” Salinas coach Steve Zenk said. “But, yeah this will be one of the best teams we have faced since I’ve been in the Gabilan Division.”

Which says a lot, considering the reigning six-time league champion Cowboys are 42-2 during their run of supremacy in the Gabilan Division.

Dating back to 2022, Salinas (7-1 overall) has rattled off 15 consecutive league wins, while the Knights (6-2) have a run of their own, having won nine straight Gabilan Division games.

Both teams come into the meeting riding six-game overall winning streaks, with the reigning State Division 4AA champion Knights having outscored opponents 74-3 in the third quarter.

“Soquel plays really, really good defense and it is precise in how it plays offense,” Zenk said. “It is a program that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. It’s a well-coached team.”

Six years ago, Soquel was in the Santa Lucia Division, the lowest of the four divisions, under head coach Dwight Lowery, a former NFL player. It made jumps up to the Cypress and Mission Divisions, winning one title, before being elevated to the Gabilan Division in 2023.

The Knights’ lone setbacks this season came in their first two games, falling by identical 14-7 scores to Los Gatos and San Ramon, two teams that are a combined 15-2 this year.

“They run a pro-style offense with multiple sets,” Zenk said. “They want to get mismatches and use formations and gain advantages. These are games that are fun to coach.”

Soquel has been held without a point just once in the past eight years, or 88 games — that coming last fall against Salinas, which posted a 27-0 road win.

“I thought they were really physical last year and did a good job,” Zenk said. “I counted six plays that went our way instead of theirs. That’s high school football.”

Yet, for all the attention that has fallen upon Soquel, the Cowboys have quietly gone about their business, overcoming adversity during a two-week stretch to remain undefeated in league.

The depth that Zenk has spoken about was evident three weeks ago when he sat quarterback Rico Maturino against Monterey. Zenk wanted to give Maturino more time to heal from an injured ankle. So Salinas boldly started a freshman at quarterback instead.

“We needed Rico healthy for the rest of the season,” Zenk said. “I didn’t want the issue lingering. He suited up, even looked good in warmups. But I wasn’t breaking the freshman kid’s heart.”

The extra week has Maturino putting up fantasy-type numbers. He completed 23-of-26 passes last week — including completing his first 18 passes — in a win over 7-2 Arroyo Grande.

In his past two games, Maturino has thrown for 591 yards and six touchdowns, with four different receivers having caught touchdowns.

“He’s come into his own,” Zenk said. “He’s (Maturino) able to make things happen with his arm and legs. He is going to lead. Your quarterback has to be a leader.”

As balanced as the Cowboys’ attack has been in their past two games, Maturino has clearly built a bond with receiver Emarrcis Turner, who has 25 catches in his past two games.

“He’s getting hot and he is getting open,” Zenk said. “Emarrcis and Rico have developed great chemistry. I think Emarrcis is the best player in the area.”

Having missed virtually all of last year with a lower-body injury, Turner comes into the game with 52 catches for 885 yards and 10 total touchdowns, including a defensive touchdown.

“He works his butt off in practice,” Zenk said. “Emarrcis is very humble. You would not know he’s one of our best players by the way he holds himself accountable.”

For as dynamic as Salinas’ aerial up-tempo attack has been, the ground game has begun to find itself, having rushed for 198 yards last week, 78 coming from Deyvan Marquez.

“The offensive line has played incredibly well,” Zenk said. “They understand their roles and enjoy playing hard. They have limited the negative plays.”

That, in turn, has enhanced the tempo of the Cowboys’ attack over the past two weeks, something Zenk has seen in the pace at practices.

“What took 20 minutes four weeks ago is being done in 10 minutes now,” Zenk said. “We’re getting more quality reps in practice. We are just going faster with efficiency. It’s always been about getting a little better each day.”

As dominant as Soquel’s defense has been in allowing just 7.8 points a game, the offense starts with three-year starting quarterback Sam Whelan.

The senior is completing 75 percent of his passes (71-of-94), having thrown for 1,038 yards, with 10 touchdowns for the Knights, while adding four rushing touchdowns.

“You can tell he has matured into the position,” said Zenk of Whelan. “He makes good reads. He’s very accurate. And he’s a threat with his legs.”

So is tailback Tyreis Lundy, who has rushed for nearly 700 yards, averaging 7.1 yards each time he touches the ball. As a unit, the Knights’ running game is averaging 179 yards a game.

An opportunist Cowboys defense has turned four turnovers into touchdowns this fall, with Wyatt Maravilla evolving into one of the premier defensive backs in the county.

“In his last 12 games dating back to last year, we can count on him being where he is supposed to be,” Zenk said.

Shutting down Soquel’s ground game starts with Jackson Silacci-Jensen and Nate Crandall in the trenches, while linebacker Jake Mungaray has recorded 101 tackles in eight games, along with a pick-six.

“This week has been no different than any other,” Zenk said. “We work on the things we need to get better at. We don’t get too high or too low. That starts at the top.”