MONTEREY >> Expectations and outside noise can create distractions that can be a high school football coach’s biggest barriers to reaching their teenage players.

A week after Salinas gave up 41 points in a loss to Clovis, Monterey was tagged for 41 in a setback to Carmel.

Oh, how the critics on social media have gone into hibernation, as both football teams have put together winning streaks going into Friday’s Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division meeting at Monterey Peninsula College at 7:30 p.m.

“Our focus was on the end result instead of the process,” explained Monterey coach Alex Besaw. “That shift in mindset has helped. Kids forgot to have fun and remember why we are out here.”

Since enduring a two-game losing skid to two teams a combined 10-1, the Toreadores have rattled off two straight wins to open the Gabilan Division.

It wasn’t like Salinas fell to a bottom feeder in its 4-1 start, as Clovis is 6-0 and ranked No. 2 in its section and No. 29 in the state.

“Kids are still pushing each other for starting jobs,” Salinas coach Steve Zenk said. “It speaks to our overall depth. We have kids that compete to play. Competition makes a Cowboy better.”

Having coached together at Salinas eight years ago as assistants under Steve Goodbody, Besaw and Zenk are familiar with each other’s methods.

While Besaw prefers a no-huddle approach, Zenk comes with an up-tempo attack that keeps an opponent from making substitutions on defense.

“It’s not up-tempo,” said Zenk, in reference to Monterey’s offense. “It’s a wait and see what you are lining up in, which they do a good job of. It’s a case of whose going to make more big plays.”

Lately, the big plays from the Cowboys have come from their defense, which has produced four touchdowns this fall — three in the past two games.

Two weeks ago, it was linebacker Jake Mungaray returning a pick-six 75 yards with 12 seconds left to seal a win over Palma, while last week linebacker Jackson Scott took a fumble back 72 yards against Alvarez.

Of the nine turnovers Salinas has created this year, eight have turned into points either from the defense, offense or special teams.

“Our defense is really setting the tone for us,” Zenk said. “It might be the best defense I’ve had. They do a great job of being in the right spot. The turnovers we’re creating are not an accident.”

Last fall that defense rose to the occasion against Monterey by shutting the Toreadores out in the second half, stopping them inside the red zone late in the fourth quarter in a come-from-behind 26-18 win.

“They have a ton of athletes,” Besaw said. “We will have about 15 players on the sidelines and Salinas will have 55 on their side. It’s a good size program that’s had a lot of success.”

Nine of the Toreadores 11 offensive starters will see time at some point on the defensive side, including four offensive linemen, while the Cowboys have three players that see action on both sides.

No one has been more dynamic in the first half of the season than Emarrcis Turner, who seems to be making up for lost time after missing last season for Salinas with a lower leg injury.

The 6-foot-2 Turner has been a playmaker on both sides of the ball with 24 catches for nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns, while returning a fumble for a six on defense.

“He’s matured,” Zenk said. “He likes to work hard. He makes practice fun. I’ve seen Davis, Cal Poly, Idaho State and Idaho in person this year. He could play for them right now.”

Besaw has seen enough of Turner to understand the offense revolves around the elusive receiver that makes acrobatic catches look routine, while outrunning defenses in the open field.

“Salinas spreads the ball around,” Besaw said. “You can’t ignore their run game. But a lot of the offense goes through No. 3. We have to be mindful of that. He’s (Turner) good at extending plays.”

Of course, Besaw has a player that’s been known to shred defenses as well in 6-foot-1 Kavon Collins, who caught three touchdown passes last week against Aptos.

With a scholarship on the table from Northern Arizona, Collins has been subjected to a lot of double teams this season, although he still has nine touchdown catches in five games.

“Part of the challenge is making sure we’re a balanced attack,” Besaw said. “It’s about taking advantage of what teams give us and not forcing situations.”

While Collins is coming off a 105-yard receiving effort last week, Kai Vaughn put together a career game two weeks ago with over 200 receiving yards for Monterey.

“The names that get the most attention are the ones that have been here since their sophomore years,” Besaw said. “But we’re not made up of three of four individuals.”

The offense, though, does revolve around quarterback Preston White, who has tossed 13 touchdowns this fall, giving him 68 touchdown passes in 29 career games.

“Preston is really good,” Zenk said. “He stays under control. He hits his checkdowns. When there is nothing there, he’s a big strong kid that can get yards on the ground.”

No one has played with more heart this year than Salinas quarterback Rico Maturino, who went off on crutches two weeks ago at halftime, then returned to lead them past Palma.

Assuming Maturino is behind center, he can expect pressure on the edges from pass rushers Jayden Brown and Jamar Aquino, as well as inside linebacker Soakai Funaki.

“Both our pass rushers do a good job of getting separation and bottling up things on their side of the field,” Besaw said. “And we feel Kai (Vaughn) is one of the best defensive backs in the area.”

One concern for Besaw that has nothing to do with Salinas is dealing with the fact that Monterey is out of school on fall break.

Besaw has changed his approach in each of his first three years, looking for what he calls as a “sweet spot” to keep his kids focused while out of school.

“We have to change the narrative of it being a negative,” Besaw said. “The advantage is we are just focusing on football. I felt the kids were mentally focused this week. We had a great film session and a good practice.”

While both teams exhibit explosive offenses, neither coach wants a track meet, where both are racing up and down the field.

“Salinas is more suited for a track meet because of their depth,” Besaw said. “I told my kids in the fourth quarter, you’ll see some fresh bodies. Our defense has a big challenge.”

And while Monterey can pound the ball and utilize the clock with tailback Enobong Wirth in the backfield, don’t expect Besaw to slow the game down.

“For me, it’s pretty situational,” Besaw said. “If we can go up tempo, we will continue to apply pressure.”

Zenk is still looking for that game where the Cowboys put it all together and play four quarters of football.

“Coach Mendes told the kids ‘everyone we play, it’s like their Super Bowl,’” Zenk said. “When is it going to be our Super Bowl?”