You hear it from countless coaches and players that it is about finishing a season strong and with a purpose.

It is not uncommon for a football team that has gone the entire season without winning a game to find redemption in the latter stages of a season. The work ethic stays the same - committed, focused and diligent. And all of a sudden in the final game they play like they have been triumphant all year long. The celebrations afterward often resemble a Super Bowl-like jubilee.

There is nothing winning can't cure.

With two games remaining, the Gilroy High football team has the opportunity to redeem itself and appease critics that have torn into the unit. By all accounts this is not the team that Gilroy fans have become accustomed to over the past two seasons. However, the ebbs and flows of a football program are a part of athletics at all levels.

I have a unique perspective each game, wandering the sidelines. I can sense the frustrations, but I can also feel the intense need for victory, and the effort from players and coaches is still evident.

The players don't stop playing and the coaches refuse to quit teaching.

There is a strong core of seniors on this year's team that have had their struggles dealing with the less-than-ideal season. However, players like Jordan Mitchell, Jordan Holler, Adrian Melendez, Mark Salazar, Nick Marra and many others, have continued to give 100 percent.

"The seniors really want to win and they are all making plays," Salazar said after last week's loss to Palma.

Tonight, Gilroy hosts North Salinas, the co-defending TCAL champions, and the only team in the league to hand the Mustangs a loss a year ago - plenty of motivation to say the least.

For the first time since a Week 1 win over Live Oak, the Mustangs have all the pieces back in place on its offense. Injuries to Julius Travis, Romeo Travis, Tommy Silvas, Bryan Hernandez, among others, had depleted a once potent offensive attack. If all goes well, and the Mustangs are able to move the ball with some success, the offense should be able to showcase what it had been wanting to do all year long - score points in bunches.

The Vikings come into the contest with a 3-5 overall record and sit in the middle of the pack at 2-2 in the TCAL.

Both teams match up fairly evenly on each side of the ball, with the Mustangs giving up a bit more on defense and scoring slightly less on offense.

North Salinas is another run-heavy team - typical of the TCAL - and boasts two halfbacks with more than 700 yards rushing on the season. Michael Benabides leads the way with 1,014 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns.

The objective is obvious for the Mustangs. They must stop the run. It will also be pivotal for the Mustangs' offense to sustain some early drives to keep its defense from exhausting itself in the first half.

Kickoff is set for the final home game of the season for 7:30 p.m. at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.