A different animal

It's a clean slate for the 2-2 Cougars as they open Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play with a with home game against the Aptos Mariners on Saturday at 2 p.m.

This game opens a brutal four week stretch for SLV, a stretch that will surely define the Cougars season. On Saturday, Aptos (2-2 nonleague record, but with a two game winning streak) comes to town, followed by games at a very physical Soquel team (3-1) and at Scotts Valley (3-1) in a fierce rivalry game and then a home game against an underachieving Santa Cruz (1-3).

The Cougars match up well with Aptos and will focus on shutting down the Mariners running game.

The Cougars finished the preseason 2-2 and their offense is starting to round into shape (last weeks 26-7 win over Watsonville) after scoring a total of 23 points the teams first three games.

At this point in the season the team is relying on a running game by committee and big plays in the return game along with the occasional long pass play.

At this point in the season its all about perfecting what they do best, and the next three weeks will prove the Cougars mettle.