SALINAS >> A milestone birthday wish was granted, putting Steve Zenk one step closer to a historic number of wins.

Zenk celebrated his 50th birthday Thursday with his 96th career win as a head football coach as Salinas High turned to its defense in securing a 28-13 win over Alvarez at “The Pit.”

“My mom calls at 4:58 every year because that was when I was born and sings ‘Happy Birthday,’” Zenk said. “Then she hangs up and calls my twin brother because he was born at 4:59.”

Only three current coaches in the county have won more than 100 games — Palma’s Jeff Carnazzo, Seaside’s Al Avila and Carmel’s Golden Anderson.

The Cowboys’ dominance over Alvarez dates back to 2002, as they have won 20 straight games and hold a 22-3-1 overall series lead.

The reigning six-time Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division champions are now 40-2 in league play since Zenk took over eight years ago — minus the pandemic-shortened spring season of 2021. The Cowboys are 2-0 in division play this season and 4-1 overall. Alvarez is 2-4, 0-2.

“It’s hard for a teenager to be focused for 10 games,” said Zenk, who is 3-0 lifetime on his birthday. “Frankly it’s hard for an adult. We’ll take this and learn from it. We will come back more focused on Monday.”In part, because the Cowboys will find Monterey on their calendar next Friday, a team several believed before the year started would be an obstacle in the Cowboys’ path toward a seventh Gabilan Division title.

“The focus, starting with me wasn’t great this week,” Zenk said. “I don’t take anyone lightly. Playing a day early is an excuse. It’s on me as the head coach.”

On the heels of an emotional win over Palma in which a 75-yard pick-six from Jake Mungaray in the final 12 seconds sealed the win, rekindling that fire took some time for Salinas.

While building a 21-point cushion in the fourth quarter seemed like enough, the Eagles were driving after scoring a touchdown before Jackson Scott picked up a fumble and raced 75 yards for a touchdown.

“Do you have less contact to heal during the week or stay on our pace in practice?” Zenk said. “I still don’t have the answer. So we try something new each year. We error on the thought of safety.”

In its four wins this season, Salinas’ defense has been filthy, producing four touchdowns, while holding opponents to 21 points in the first half

“We’re doing a great job on turnovers and turning turnovers into points,” Zenk said.

The offense has shown off its big-play potential as well, including on Thursday when Deyvan Marquez broke free and darted 75 yards for a touchdown to give the Cowboys an early 7-0 lead.

Salinas now has seven touchdowns this year of 50 yards or longer, with Marquez accounting for two of them. Sidelined most of last year with an injury, the tailback added a second touchdown in the second half.

The combination of quarterback Rico Maturino and receiver Emarrcis Turner clicked for the fifth time this year as the pair hooked up on a 9-yard touchdown late in the first half.

Salinas’ bid for its first shutout of the year, however, was foiled when the Eagles Abel Bailon found Jaylen Ward in what turned into a 95-yard touchdown catch.

A chance for Alvarez to make it a seven-point game in the fourth quarter became a 14-point swing when Scott picked up a fumble and motored in the opposite direction for Salinas.

“We’ll get back to some normalcy next week,” Zenk insisted. “For whatever reason, this week felt a little rushed. Alvarez came out and never quit and played to the end. We needed this.”

Salinas took advantage of the fumble and went on to defeat Alvarez. The team looks to add to their recent success next week