GREENFIELD >> Before the game, an article that was written back in 2008 floated around the Carmel locker room, taking about the program’s first league title in 45 years.

The point head coach Golden Anderson was trying to reinforce with his players was that league titles just don’t happen, and up until 2008, hadn’t happened in nearly five decades.

“We wanted them to understand league championships don’t come around each year and how special they are,” Anderson said. “No matter what division you’re in, it’s not common.”

The Padres ensured themselves of no worse than a share of their second straight Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division South title Friday after a 31-7 win at Greenfield, extending their record regular-season winning streak to 21.

Carmel, which is averaging nearly 47 points a game during its historic regular-season run, has won nine league titles during Golden Anderson’s 14 full seasons — not including a pandemic-shortened year.

Yet, only two titles have come since 2018. Outside of the Padres’ run of six straight titles between 2008-2013 during their time in the old Mission Trail Athletic League, they’ve won just four in the past 10 years.

The Padres (9-0) can complete their second straight undefeated regular season next Friday when they host Pacific Grove in the 77th annual Shoe Game at Monterey Peninsula College.

“Traditionally since I’ve been involved, if you win a championship, it goes through Pacific Grove,” Anderson said. “The Shoe (trophy) is our No. 1 goal. We understand what goes along with the game. We have a lot of work ahead of us to get prepared.”

Owners of nine straight wins over Pacific Grove in the second-longest running rivalry in the county, Carmel holds a 41-33-2 series lead.

As explosive as the Padres have been during their record run, they were held to their lowest point total of the year by a Greenfield squad that had not given up more than 21 points in its first five league games.

“The Achilles’ heel for Greenfield is it has lost some close games,” Anderson said. “It’s a team that’s given up the least amount of points in our league. It’s a lot different looking Greenfield team since we saw them in 2016.”

Defense produced Carmel’s first points when Skyler Brown intercepted a pass and returned it 55 yards on the Bruins’ first offensive possession.

The Bruins, who jumped to the Mission Division South this season after winning the Santa Lucia Division — the program’s first-ever league title — have dropped seven straight games after winning their first two preseason games.

Anderson spread the ball around with his offense as Hudson Rutherford found Ty Arnold on a 22-yard scoring strike, with the ground game producing touchdowns of 2 yards from Ashton Rees and 1-yard from Matt Maxon.

Rees, who is listed as a receiver, has spent a significant amount of time in the backfield, often used in Wildcat formations where the runner takes the snap straight from center. Over the last two years, he’s rushed for 27 touchdowns in 20 games.

On defense, Indy Gabrielson had a sack and two more tackles for losses.

Greenfield, which closes the season at Rancho San Juan, avoided the shutout in the fourth quarter when Alexix Lomeli had a 2-yard touchdown.