State Champions
2008
D-I
Centennial (Corona)(15-0) 21
De La Salle(Concord)(12-2) 16
D-II
Cathedral Catholic(San Diego)(14-0)37
St. Mary's(Stockton)(12-3)34
D-III
St. Bonaventure(Ventura)(14-1) 28
Cardinal Newman(Santa Rosa)(13-1) 6
Open Division
Grant (Sacramento)(14-0) 25
Poly (Long Beach)(14-1) 20
Small School
St. Margaret's (San Juan Capistrano)(15-0)59
Hamilton (Hamilton City)(10-3)7
2007
D-I
De La Salle(Concord)(13-0) 37
Centennial(Corona) (13-2) 31
D-II
Oceanside (12-1) 28
Novato (13-1) 14
D III
St. Bonaventure(Ventura)(14-1) 35
Central Catholic(Modesto)(11-1-2), 21
2006
D-I
Canyon (12-2) 27
De La Salle(Concord)(13-1) 13
D-II
Orange Lutheran (14-1) 42
Palo Alto (12-2) 28
D-III
Oaks Christian (14-0) 27
Cardinal Newman(Santa Rosa)(13-1) 20
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CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC 37, ST. MARY'S 34 CIF STATE DIVISION II FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Rams second to one
Shootout not decided until final minute in a classic in Carson
By Stephen Roberson
Record Staff Writer
December 21, 2008
CARSON - St. Mary's quarterback Cody Vaz and receiver Louie Lechich both had record-setting performances during Saturday's CIF State Division II Championship Bowl Game.
It just wasn't enough.
Cathedral Catholic, the San Diego Section's Division III champion, set a number of records as well in a 37-34 victory at The Home Depot Center, giving the Dons their first state championship.
Cathedral running back Tyler Gaffney - who has narrowed his collegiate choices to USC, Notre Dame and Stanford - rushed for a bowl-game record 329 yards on 33 carries with five touchdowns, also a record.
Vaz completed 31 of 46 passes for 336 yards with four touchdowns, setting the bowl game record for both completions and yards while tying the mark for touchdown passes.
Lechich finished with a bowl-game record 15 catches for 157 yards with two touchdowns. Alex Michaels also caught two Vaz touchdown passes.
"We just wanted to come out and prove we belonged here, and I think we did that," Vaz said. "We played our tails off. We played a great game. It's just unfortunate we came up a little short."
Cathedral finished with 590 yards of total offense, another bowl-game record. With the 451 yards the Rams put up, the teams combined for 1,041 yards of total offense.
Gaffney, who missed one play with an injury during the third quarter, gave the Dons (14-0) the lead for good, 37-34, with a 51-yard touchdown run with 4:45 remaining.
"He's a great running back," St. Mary's Jon Sanguinetti said. "Everything they say about him is real. It's not hype. He's good, he's fast, he's big. We made a couple mistakes where we lined up wrong. We played hard; we just came up short."
Gaffney didn't limit his production to running. After St. Mary's took its first lead of the game, 27-23, on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Vaz to Alex Michaels with 9:38 remaining, Gaffney went to the air.
On the ensuing drive, he completed a 30-yard pass to quarterback Parker Hipp on fourth-and-9 from the St. Mary's 32 on a flea-flicker play called "58 Parker". A facemask penalty moved the ball from the 2 to the 1, and Gaffney punched it in on the next play to give the Dons the lead again, 30-27.
Cathedral coach Sean Doyle considered calling the play earlier in the game, but Hipp convinced him to save it.
"I didn't think it was the proper moment," Hipp said. "But on fourth-and-(9) ... I finally said, 'Coach, this is the time.' "
St. Mary's countered right away on what was initially a gaffe.
Rams return man Chad West caught the kickoff at the 4-yard line and looked down at the 5 and thought it was the goal line. He stopped, realized he wasn't in the end zone - which in high school football is an automatic touchback - and started running.
He didn't stop until he reached the end zone 96 yards later with a touchdown that put St. Mary's in front, 34-30.
Gaffney's 51-yard touchdown run gave the Dons the lead once again and set the stage, potentially, for a game-winning St. Mary's drive.
With nearly 5 minutes to play at the start of the drive, Vaz drove the Rams into Cathedral territory. Then on fourth down, he threw a fade to Lechich near the left sideline that fell incomplete.
Both Franks and Lechich said Lechich was interfered with, but both the junior receiver and the coach took the no-call in stride.
"I thought the (defender) had our receiver's arm, but it didn't happen that way," Franks said. "We didn't get (the flag)."
Said Lechich: "I think we called the right play. We were beating them inside all day, and we wanted to go with a fade right there. I couldn't get my arm up there to grab it, but the (officials) aren't going to decide the game. It just didn't work out."
The resiliency from St. Mary's wasn't lost on Gaffney.
"You have to give them credit," he said. "Third-and-long, fourth-and-1, they kept getting the first downs. ... It definitely made the game fun. As much fun as it is to beat up on a team, it's even more fun to win a game 37-34."
Contact reporter Stephen Roberson at (209) 546-8272 or sroberson@recordnet.com.
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Grant more than belongs on same field as Poly
December 21, 2008 4:01 AM
Pacers come through in the fourth quarter to beat favored Jackrabbits, 25-20, and make history for school, city and Sac-Joaquin Section to win CIF Open Division football title.
By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor CalHiSports.com
It took the California Interscholastic Federation 79 years to implement state championship bowl games in 2006 after discontinuing the state format following the 1927 season amid financial concerns.
It took Polytechnic High School of Long Beach even longer, 89 years, to return to a state football championship game. The Jackrabbits were looking to make history as the first program to win CIF state titles in the early era and the modern CIF State Championship Bowl Games, but Grant of Sacramento made history of its own as the Pacers pulled out a thrilling 25-20 victory over the Jackrabbits in front of 14,122 at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
The win was not only the first for five Northern California teams that traveled South in the first year of the expanded bowl games that included the addition of a small schools and an open division, but the biggest win ever for a Sacramento area prep football team.
"We won this football game because of our character," said Grant head coach Mike Alberghini.
The Pacers were a surprise pick for the open bowl game going up against a Poly team that came in ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 2 in the nation in the ESPN RISE FAB 50, but they came in well-prepared and with confidence fueled by those that felt De La Salle of Concord should have played the Jackrabbits.
The Pacers proved they were more than a deserving selection and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 15-yard touchdown reception by Darvin McCauley to cap a eight-play, 65-yard drive that began with 1:11 remaining in the game.
"They shut down our run and we felt early on we had to go to the pass," Alberghini explained. "We just had the answers. We felt the one thing coming in here is everyone said they're more athletic. Well, we're athletic, too."
The game didn't start out too well for Poly (14-1) as the Pacers drew first blood. On the second offensive possession for Grant (14-0), quarterback Kipeli Koniseti caught Poly cornerback Lazari Middleton looking into the backfield and hit McCauley in stride on an out and up pattern for a 54-yard touchdown with 6:59 remaining in the first period.
The CIF Sac Joaquin Div. II champions had great field position throughout the first half as Poly played its customary game of catch up. The Jackrabbits actually dodged two major bullets as Grant had two great opportunities to put points on the board and came away with zero. Following a fumble on a kickoff return by Poly's Jordan Johnson that Grant recovered at the 20-yard line, the Pacers were facing a fourth and four from the 16-yard line and Koniseti just over shot a wide open receiver who got behind Middleton in the corner of the end zone.
With 1:30 remaining in the first quarter, Poly allowed a 40-yard reception by Ronald Fields in the middle of the field, but its defense toughened up and forced a fourth and 10 from the 15-yard line to cap a eight-play, 65-yard drive that began with 1:11 remaining in the game.
"They shut down our run and we felt early on we had to go to the pass," Alberghini explained. "We just had the answers. We felt the one thing coming in here is everyone said they're more athletic. Well we're athletic, too."
The game didn't start out to well for Poly (14-1) as the Pacers drew first blood. On the second offensive possession for Grant (14-0), quarterback Kipeli Koniseti caught Poly cornerback Lazari Middleton looking into the backfield and hit wide receiver Darvin McCauley in stride on an out and up pattern for a 54-yard touchdown with 6:59 remaining in the first period.
The CIF Sac Joaquin Div. II champions had great field position throughout the first half as Poly played its customary game catch up. The Jackrabbits actually dodged two major bullets as Grant had two great opportunities to put points on the board and came away with zero.
Following a fumble on a kickoff return by Poly's Jordan Johnson that Grant recovered at the 20-yard line, the Pacers were facing a fourth and four from the 16-yard line and Koniseti just over shot a wide open receiver who got behind Middleton in the corner of the end zone. With 1:30 remaining in the first quarter, Poly allowed a 40-yard reception by Ronald Fields in the middle of the field, but its defense toughened up and forced a fourth and ten from the 15-yard line. On fourth down, junior wide receiver Xavier Amey hauled in a pass near the left corner on the end zone but came down out of bounds.
Poly has not been known as an offensive juggernaut in recent seasons, but its offense was just plain anemic in the first half. The ground-oriented Jackrabbits gained a total of six rushing yards and picked up five first downs. It was only a matter of time before a team as talented and tough as Grant capitalized on the Jackrabbits' lethargic play.
Again the Poly defense forced a third and long (15 to be exact), but again Middleton allowed a wideout just enough space to pull down a Koniseti pass as Howard Warren hauled in a 38-yard reception down to the Poly one-yard line. On the next play, Koniseti scored on a quarterback sneak to give Gran a seemingly commanding 13-0 lead with 10:44 remaining in the second quarter.
"Everyone said I'm not a passer," remarked Koniseti, who finished with 236 yards passing on 13 of 26 pass attempts with two touchdowns. "That's all I needed was motivation by the doubters. We may have a lot of different guys on this team, but we have a lot of chemistry and we all speak the same language."
Poly eventually made a defensive adjustment by sliding safety Stan McKay over to right cornerback and placing senior Tylor Showe at McKay's safety spot. The adjustment didn't allow Grant to execute long pass plays, but it still took an extraordinary defensive effort to help Poly get on the scoreboard. With Grant driving once again towards Poly's red zone, all-state defensive end Iuta Tepa not only stripped the ball from junior back Devontae Butler, but actually ripped the ball right from his possession and began rumbling downfield the other way. Tepa actually fumbled on his return, but the ball was recovered by teammate Juwuan Brown at Poly's 35-yard line.
With the Jackrabbits not able to run against Grant's strong defensive front, quarterback Morgan Fannell went to the air. He finally converted on a 65-yard touchdown reception to a streaking Kaelin Clay after misfiring downfield on first and second down. That made the score 13-7 in favor of the Pacers, but the Jackrabbits failed to gain any rhythm offensively. Only another fumble recovery, this one by Corey Walker after Koniseti scrambled and coughed up the ball on third and nineteen play, kept Grant's off-balance and unable to put up any more points in the first half.
In the third quarter, the tables were turned and it was Poly that enjoyed the good field position. On one possession Grant took over at its own two-yard line and escaped with a punt. But on the Pacers' next possession that started at the eight-yard line, disaster struck when Grant had its punt blocked on a surge led by Brown, linebackers Kenny Tuiloma and Matthew Jones. The ball was scooped up and returned six yards for a touchdown by 'backer George Dailey-Lyles to give the two-time CIF Southern Section Pac-Five champions a 14-13 lead with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter.
"I was on the weak side and thought I might have a shot and just went for it," Jones said. "I'm glad I did. I was even happier to see George pick it up."
The Pacers got the break it needed to put itself in scoring position after Poly's special team touchdown when Fennell (11 of 28, 164 yards passing, 1 TD, 1 INT) had a pass picked off. It was returned to the Jackrabbits' 15-yard line by defensive back Marvin Lamb when Johnson, the intended receiver, slipped and the ball floated up in the air for much too long for one of Grant's speedy skill position players not to pick it off.
The Pacers capitalized and took a 19-14 lead when Butler, who finished with 114 yards rushing on 22 carries, scored on a six-yard touchdown run on fourth and inches with 10:36 remaining in the game. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
Poly, accustomed to playing from behind in this year's playoffs, finally found daylight on the ground and answered Grant's score with a 55-yard touchdown run by senior back Melvin Richardson. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound bulldozer, who entered the game with eight postseason touchdowns, accounted for most of Poly's rushing yards on his scoring gallop that gave Poly a 20-19 lead after Fannell over shot a wide open Corey Westbrook on a two-point conversion attempt.
On Poly's other 24 rushing attempts, the Jackrabbits gained 49 yards as their vaunted defense was wearing down from being on the field much too long in the second half.
Poly, the state's all-time winningest program with 684 football victories, was trying to win the school's second CIF state title so it was only fitting that its defense was on the field to perhaps secure the win.
In 1919, coach Eddie Kienholz led Poly to a 21-14 victory over Berkeley at Tournament Park in Pasadena. Similar to Keinholz's team, which allowed just 13 points in its first 11 games heading into the title game with Berkeley, head coach Raul Lara's club was spearheaded by its defense. They allowed a paltry 8.9 points per game heading into the open division bowl against the Pacers, but all that didn't matter as Grant kept it composure and exploited Poly's fatigue in trying to cover McCauley.
Defensive back Darius Williams-Fox was giving the 5-foot-11,180-pound receiver much too cushion and outside of one tackle for loss by Daily-Lyles, the interior defense was not crisp in tackling a relatively fresh Butler on the game-winning drive. Koniseti drove the Pacers down to the 15-yard line of Poly and hit McCauley on a pass where he split Williams-Fox and Showe to score the biggest touchdown in the history of Grant's program.
"I could have done this all year, but we're not a passing team so I sat back and waited for my chance," said McCauley, who finished with eight receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns. "Coach A (Alberghini) gave it to me tonight and I did what I had to do."
Grant, which came into the game ranked No. 5 in the state, will move to at least the No. 2 spot with its five-point victory when the CalHiSports.com final state ratings for the 2008 football season are released next week.
Centennial of Corona, which recorded a 21-16 over previous No. 3 De La Salle in the Div. I bowl game, could be the team to take over the top spot.
After recording a win of this magnitude, Alberghini and his troops probably won't be worrying much about it after the magnitude of Saturday night's victory is felt when they return home.
"Our defense was worn out," Lara said. "Usually we move the ball in the second half and are able to rest our defense, but Grant did a great job. We were No. 1 and they beat us so I guess they're No. 1 but Centennial is very good, too. We didn't execute, we had our chances, but Grant came to prove something."
And prove they did.
Comments or corrections? Email mark@studentsports.com
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Another State Title for Coach Welch
December 19, 2008 11:02 PM
St. Margaret's makes quick work of Hamilton in CIF small schools state bowl game in 59-7 win.
By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor
Carson, Calif. -- For head coach Harry Welch of the St. Margaret's High football team of Rancho Santa Margarita, it was a bit tougher to win the first CIF state bowl game title of his career than the second.
Welch's team dominated in all phases of the CIF Small Schools Division State Football Championship Bowl Game in posting a 59-7 triumph over out-classed Hamilton of the Northern Section at The Home Depot Center.
Scott Kurtz
Harry Welch compared his two state title-winning teams at St. Margaret's and Canyon to loving two sons equally the same.
As a head coach, Welch became the first to earn two state crowns since the CIF began its bowl games two years ago. His earlier title came when the team he previously coached, Canyon of Canyon Country, upset nationally-ranked De La Salle of Concord in the Division I game, 27-13.
"We prepared for what we saw on film and we executed well," Welch said. "We hustle and play hard and we got some breaks early.
The Tartans (15-0) also improved their winning streak to 43 games, giving them a chance next year to pass Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, which had a 48-game win streak that ended last year, for No. 1 all-time in the CIF Southern Section and No. 2 on the all-time state list.
St. Margaret's first game next year will be against fellow small school power Francis Parker of San Diego, a team that was 12-1 this year and returns a major talent in quarterback Deon Randall.
St. Margaret's was a big favorite entering the state bowl game and it only took a few minutes for the Tartans to assume control. They scored on their second possession on a three-yard run by junior John Murayama. Then less than two minutes later following a fumble recovery by David Edwards, it was Murayama taking an inside reverse down the sidelines for a 30-yard touchdown.
Murayama added two more rushing touchdowns and ended with 22 carries for 99 yards. Senior quarterback David Mohinder also led the way with 11 completions in 19 attempts for 228 yards and one score.
"We prepare every week the same," Murayama said. "We thought we were ready to play and we came on strong."
Hamilton (10-3-1) committed six turnovers in the first half, which contributed to St. Margaret's assuming a 52-0 lead. The biggest of those was an interception by Alex Brolick that he returned to the one-yard line just before the end of the first quarter. On the next play, Mohinder snuck into the end zone and any resemblance of a game was effectively over with St. Margaret's ahead by 24-0.
Another factor in Hamilton's poor showing likely was the team's nearly-month-long hiatus after it won the Northern Section Div. III title. The Braves' lone touchdown came with 5:06 left on a 10-yard pass from Brad Lohse to junior Cody Watson.
"The layoff was a little bit of a factor but we did what we could to stay game ready," said Hamilton head coach Mark Cooley. "If we had a little playoff action going like St. Margaret's we might have been a little sharper, but it just wasn't there tonight and we didn't play anywhere near our best football against a real good team."
Corrections or comments? Email mark@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment so others can check out what you have to say.
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Centennial pulls out landmark victory
December 20, 2008 3:37 AM
Burfict-led defense and Martinez-led offense lifts Huskies past De La Salle, 21-16, and earns the Corona school its first CIF state title.
By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor,CalHiSports.com
There was a familiar theme in Friday night's CIF Div. I State Championship Bowl Game between De La Salle of Concord, the defending Div. I champs and California state team of the year, and Centennial of Corona, last year's Div. I runner-up.
After losing to Canyon of Canyon Country in the inaugural CIF Division I bowl game in 2006, Spartans' head coach Bob Ladouceur and his club used the stinging 27-13 defeat as motivation to defeat the Huskies in last year's contest, 37-31, and complete an undefeated 13-0 season.
This season, the tables were reversed, as Centennial head coach Matt Logan and his program used that same feeling as motivation throughout this season. That motivation, combined with a group of talented players on both sides of the ball, resulted in a 21-16 Centennial victory before 7,581 rabid fans at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
With the win, Centennial becomes the fourth team in state history to complete a 15-0 season, following Oaks Christian of Westlake Village in 2006, Bishop Amat of La Puente in 1992 and St. Margaret's earlier in the day. Tomorrow night on the same field, Poly of Long Beach will try to join the Huskies as a 15-0 championship team against unbeaten Grant of Sacramento. If the Jackrabbits were to lose, Centennial would be the logical choice to be crowned 2008 CalHiSports.com State Team of the Year.
"Maybe for a brief moment we're up there with them, but they've been like this for 20 years," said Logan if this win puts his program on an elite national level like De La Salle. "We've still got a long ways to go. This is a tremendous benchmark for our program."
The Spartans got the first break of the game when on a fourth and three from their opponents' 40-yard line, the snap on Centennial's punt sailed over the head of Trevor Romaine. He had to fall on the ball and De La Salle (12-2) took over at the 18-yard line after the 22-yard loss. It looked like Centennial was going to hold the Spartans to three points after the miscue as All-American linebacker Vontaze Burfict stuffed De La Salle quarterback Blake Wayne on third and four from the 12-yard line. Burfict ended the game with a team-high nine tackles, three for loss.
Centennial made its second critical mistake of the game when on the ensuing 27-yard field goal attempt, the Huskies were whistled for an encroachment penalty that gave the defending Div. I state champions an automatic first down. Ladouceur's charges took advantage of the gift as junior Terron Williams-Ward carried off left tackle and punched it in from one-yard to give the Spartans a 7-0 lead with 6:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Centennial looked to answer with a score of its own as senior quarterback Taylor Martinez and running back Arthur Burns helped the Huskies move downfield into scoring position with quick darts up the middle and pin-point passes. On fourth and inches from the seven-yard line, Burns easily got the yardage on the outside but he coughed up the ball and De La Salle's Khyri Knowles recovered at the three-yard line. The fumble was Centennial's third big blunder, but the Spartans returned the favor when Wayne dropped back to pass and had a tipped pass picked off by Burfict at De La Salle's 17-yard line. Two plays later, Burns scampered in from four yards out to tie the contest with 2:42 left in the first quarter.
De La Salle, which came into the Div. I bowl game ranked No. 3 in the state and No. 19 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50, was out-gained in total yardage in the first quarter, 139-19, and the Huskies were clearly winning the field position battle so it was just a matter of time before they took advantage.
Martinez's arm and feet helped the two-time CIF Southern Section Inland take the lead near the end of the first quarter. He avoided De La Salle's rush by gaining yards to the outside on broken runs and displayed an accurate ball downfield, not to mention the ability to punt.
Running to his left, Martinez hit wide receiver Geshun Harris on a 33-yard pass reception by out-leaping and out-muscling the De La Salle defensive back for the ball before falling out of bounds at the seven-yard line. After a three-yard rush by Burns, Martinez waltzed into the end zone untouched from four yards out to give the Huskies a 14-7 lead.
"I guess we were just a step ahead of them today," said Martinez, who finished with 290 total yards, including 243 passing on 15 of 21 attempts. "All our hard work and training this summer paid off but we still had to play great for all four quarters to beat these guys."
Although Wayne struggled in the first half and Burfict was dominating the game by blowing up ball carriers and screen plays, Centennial couldn't muster any points in the second quarter and went into halftime holding a precarious 14-7 lead. This despite the fact that the Spartans, usually known for their precise execution on offense, committed five unforced penalties for 41 yards.
Championship-level teams are known for making a statement on the first offensive possession of the second half and that's exactly what the Spartans did. They methodically drove down the field, punctuating a 13-play, 59-yard drive on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Wayne. De La Salle wasn't able to find any creases in the first half, but did find some soft spots in the Huskies' defense on the game-tying drive, the key play a 13-yard reception by junior tight end Carlton Walter that gave Ladouceur's club a first down at Centennial's 17-yard line.
As the game wore on, it was clearly evident Centennial, which came in ranked No. 2 in the state and No. 9 in the FAB 50, had the more talented team, but the Huskies let the Spartans hang around.
On Centennial's offensive possession following Wayne's touchdown, it looked like De La Salle caught the break it needed with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter. Martinez hit wide receiver Ricky Marvray on a deep slant pass and it appeared the UCLA commit fumbled the ball forward in Centennial territory. De La Salle's Michael Dosen fell on the ball, but after a quick conference the referees ruled Martinez's pass incomplete.
The Huskies took advantage of the momentum De La Salle had sucked out of it and later kept the drive alive on fourth and two with a Martinez run around end.
In last year's Div. I game, a furious Centennial comeback fell just short but this time around the Huskies wouldn't be denied as Burns (25 carries, 85 yards, 2 TDs) scored the game-winning touchdown on a two-yard run with 2:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Although there were no touchdowns in the final period, there certainly was excitement as the Huskies had a chance to open the game up against a struggling Spartans' offense. It didn't happen as De La Salle displayed its championship moxie.
The key play that kept the Spartans' hopes alive was a blocked field goal by special teams demon Noah Perio on a 37-yard Trevor Romaine attempt with 3:18 remaining in the game. De La Salle was 70 yards out from a potential game-tying touchdown, but the drive bogged down in Centennial territory. On fourth and five from the 43-yard line, Wayne's pass to Perio was behind the intended target and just out of reach, as the ball fell to the ground and the Centennial sideline erupted.
Wayne struggled with his passing accuracy but gave his usual game effort, finishing with 64 yards on nine of 20 passing while adding 25 rushing yards on 12 carries.
"Offensively we were pretty inept, especially in the first half," remarked Ladouceur, whose club was out gained in total yardage, 299-182. "But defensively we hung in there. We just didn't play a complete game."
The final points came with 5.8 seconds left when Martinez ran out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Even the free kick had high drama, as De La Salle lateralled backwards twice and appeared to have a wall created near the Centennial sideline before it collapsed and the ball-carrier was brought down in Centennial territory to end the game.
With the five-point loss, Ladouceur fell to 1-2 in CIF state bowl games while Centennial secured its highest final state rating. De La Salle's loss also prevented Ladouceur from joining Harry Welch as the only two-time CIF state bowl game winner and also prevented the veteran coach from becoming the state's all-time winningest coach. He finishes the 2008 season with an overall record of 344 wins, 22 losses and three ties.
"I thought they were worthy of all their high rankings and probably deserved to be in the open (division game)," Ladouceur said. "We almost got it at the end. We had it set up and the kids made a good effort."
Most All-Time Career Coaching Victories
344 -- Marijon Ancich, Santa Fe Springs St. Paul, 1961-1981, 1993-2005 & Tustin, 1984-1992 (127 losses, 10 ties)
344 -- Bob Ladouceur, Concord De La Salle, 1979-2008 (current) (22 losses, 3 ties)
338 -- Herb Meyer, Oceanside, 1959-1975 & Oceanside El Camino, 1976-2003 (150 losses, 15 ties)
292 -- Dick Bruich, Fontana, 1977-1998 & Fontana Kaiser, 2000-2008 (85 losses, 4 ties)
290 -- Leo Robinson, Woodlake, 1962-2002 (127 losses, 11 ties)
Note: Dick Bruich just completed his last season at Kaiser. Updated records courtesy of CalHiSports.com State Record Book and Almanac.
Corrections or comments? Email mark@studentsports.com
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Centennial holds off De La Salle
By Chace Bryson
Staff writer,Contra Costa Times
Article Last Updated: 12/20/2008
CARSON With its offense getting minimal success against one of the top defenses in the state, the De La Salle High football team had to rely on its defense and special teams.
And the two units nearly did the job. A desperate kick return attempt on the game's final play ended 34-yards shy of the end zone and Centennial-Corona defeated the Spartans 21-16 in the California Interscholastic Federation Division I state championship bowl game Friday at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
"(Centennial) is a great football team," De La Salle defensive coordinator Terry Eidson said. "We played to the last play of the game. I'm very proud of our kids."
With the score 21-14, Centennial gave up a safety as it attempted to run out the game's final second. As a result, the Huskies had to attempt a free kick with 7.8 seconds to go. De La Salle attempted a return play that involved three laterals. The second lateral managed to get Terron Williams-Ward open down the left sideline. He picked up close to 35 yards before he was forced to pitch it to Ryan McVay, who was brought down at the 34-yard line.
"We've been working (on that play) for about a month," said Eidson, who also coaches the special teams. "We had blockers. But with the speed of (Centennial) it's hard to pull off."
The game was a rematch of the 2007 CIF Division I championship game which De La Salle won 37-31.
De La Salle (12-2) dominated the first half in the teams' first meeting, but that was not the case on Friday. Centennial (15-0) outgained the Spartans 192-82 in total yards in the first half.
"Our game plan was solid," De La Salle quarterback Blake Wayne said. "Just in the first half we didn't execute as well as we wanted to and we only got 16 points on the board, and that's not going to win a championship."
The Huskies were billed as one of the best defenses in the state, and they proved it. After retaking the lead on a 2-yard run by Arthur Burns with 2:25 left in the third quarter, Centennial forced De La Salle to turn the ball over on down in each of its last two offensive possessions.
The Spatans' best drive moved the ball inside the Centennail 38, but Wayne's pass on fourth-and-five went in and out of Noah Perio's hands and Centennial took the ball over with 1:13 to go in the game.
"They were just real fast," De La Salle coach Bob Ladouceur said. "Their defense was better than our offense. That was just a fact. I thought our defense, though, made enough stops for us to win, but we just didn't follow through offensively."
The teams traded scores in the third quarter with De La Salle tying the game on 1-yard run by Wayne, and Centennial regaining the lead 21-14 with a 2-yard run by running back Arthur Burns.
Both teams capitalized on mistakes for their first scores. De La Salle took a 7-0 lead with 6:57 left in the first quarter by going 18 yards on five plays, a drive which followed a bad snap on the Huskies first punt attempt. Williams-Ward scored the touchdown on a 1-yard dive.
Centennial tied the game with a two-play drive just four minutes later after Vontaze Burfict intercepted Wayne at the De La Salle 17-yard line. Burns scored on a 4-yard run.
The Huskies took a 14-7 lead with eight seconds left in the quarter, driving 51 yards in four plays and scoring on a 4-yard run by Taylor Martinez.
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MORE PLAYOFF NEWS TO YOUR LEFT.
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Championships 2008
12/13/2008
D-2
#1 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, CA)(NBL) 17
#2 Clayton Valley (Concord, CA) (DVAL) 7
D-3
#1 Encinal (Alameda, CA) (BSAL) 35
#3 Novato (CA) (MCAL) 28
D-1
#1 De La Salle (Concord, CA) (EBAL) 34
#3 Pittsburg (CA) (BVAL) 10
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Fort Windsor: What a team
From Press Democrat Staff Writer Eric Branch
For obvious reasons, we generally don't delve into junior varsity football at the high school sports blog. However, there are exceptions.
And here's one:
Last summer, seven members of the Fort Bragg junior varsity team attended the the University of Oregon Football Camp. Since they didn't have enough players to field a team " teams scrimmage against each other during the weeklong camp " they forged a team with the Windsor JVs.
Fort Bragg JV coach Roy Mitchell said his players weren't initially thrilled with the arrangement.
"The Windsor coaches ran the team and our guys were thinking they weren't going to be able to play," Mitchell said. "But the Windsor coaches were just fantastic."
Things worked out so well, in fact, that the players were calling themselves Fort Windsor by the end of the camp.
Fort Windsor must have been one heck of team.
This past season, the Fort Bragg JVs went 10-0.
Windsor? The Jaguars went 9-0-1.
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Varsity Gridders maul Tigers, 42-7; end season at 4-6
Erion gains 170 yards and four TDs to shatter school rushing record
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
When the varsity football Jaguars sit back and reflect on the 2008 campaign, theyll no doubt wonder what might have been.
Windsor was plagued by inconsistency for much of the season, showing occasional flashes of brilliance on the road, while dropping its first four home games.
But the Jags saved their best football for the last two outings, finishing up on Friday with a commanding, 42-7 victory over visiting Analy. The win gave the team a final season record of 4-6 and a third-place mark of 3-3 in the Sonoma County League.
Junior running back Cameron Erion put an exclamation point on what has been a phenomenal year, adding another 170 yards and four touchdowns on the ground to obliterate several WHS rushing records.
For the year, Erion was greased lightening, finishing the season with 1,641 rushing yards and 18 offensive touchdowns- both shattering existing school marks. Along the way, he averaged 10 yards per carry at a clip of about 165 yards per game. Very impressive numbers, especially considering that he sat out the equivalent of two full games during the season.
Windsor senior quarterback Blake Schmidt also finished off a notable year on Friday, running for a personal-best 147 yards on 12 carries, pushing his season rushing total to 285 yards and three scores. Through the air, Schmidt was 111-201 for 1,359 yards and 15 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions.
Big-play receiver D.J. King had a great season in his own right, hauling in 35 passes for 555 yards and eight scores, while rushing for another 102 and one touchdown. King is the heir apparent to the quarterback position next year.
Fridays clash with visiting Analy was the seasons best for the Jags a dominating performance on both sides of the ball.
Windsor served notice on its first possession, as Erion returned a Tiger punt to the Analy five yard line. The play set up the first of four eventual rushing touchdowns by Erion, this one a five-yard burst. Kicker Lee Aranda added the PAT boot for a 7-0 lead.
The Tigers showed promise on their third possession of the opening period, as quarterback David Glass directed a 66-yard march highlighted by a 20-yard pass to Jimmy McCann and capped by a three-yard scoring run by Anthony Giacobbe. Eric Bolen made good on the PAT kick to knot the contest at 7-7.
The Jaguars took charge early in the second quarter, mounting a 68-yard drive fueled by big runs from Erion and Schmidt, and culminating in an 11-yard touchdown dash by Erion for a 14-7 advantage.
Windsors defense forced the third Analy punt of the half, and the Jags returned the favor with another march resulting in a 10-yard scoring burst by Erion for a 21-7 lead.
Jaguar defensive back D.J. King picked off an Analy pass on the ensuing series and returned it to the Tiger 25. The play set up a seven-yard Erion touchdown scamper for a 28-7 bulge at the break.
The carnage continued early in the third period when King hauled in a pass from Schmidt and raced 50-yards to the house for an insurmountable, 35-7 advantage.
The Tigers battled back on their next possession with a pair of pass completions to sophomore Julian Titus-Patino, but Kings third interception of the game would kill the threat. The Jaguars ended the madness with 4:47 left in the fourth quarter when Schmidt called his own number on a one-yard scoring dive for the eventual, 42-7 victory.
Schmidt played arguably his best game of the year with 142 yards rushing and a touchdown, adding one pass completion on three attempts for 50 yards and a score. Erion was virtually unstoppable, rushing 17 times for 170 yards and four touchdowns in just over a half of football. King chipped in 50 receiving yards and one score.
Leading defenders included: King (tackle, 3 INTs), Teddy Van Bebber (5 tackles, 6 assists), Brandon Scott (7 tackles, 3 assists), Kory Langhals (4 tackles, 5 assists, sack), Jordan Winkler (6 tackles, sack), Cody Paz (5 tackles, 4 assists), Jacob Welch (3 tackles, 2 assists, sack), Kyle Yung (3 tackles, 2 assists), Craig Lyman (tackle, assist, 2 sacks), Erion (3 tackles, assist), Chris Michels (4 tackles, assist, sack), Zach Arvig (2 tackles, 3 assists), Scott Phillips (2 tackles, assist), Chris Lowe (2 tackles, 2 assists), Brennen Duke (tackle, assist), Deandre Faaita (tackle, assist), Kevin Meinberger (tackle, 2 assists), Steven Hutchison (tackle, assist) and a tackle apiece from Andrew Cunha, Jason Langhals, Michael Hutchison, and C.J. Landwehr.
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Behind the scene at the football seeding meetings
It wasn't a hard sell for Newman and St. Vincent.
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
One of the most often asked questions regarding North Coast Section postseason is what goes on in the seeding meetings.
Sunday’s football meetings at Walnut Creek served as a good example.
For someone like Cardinal Newman coach Paul Cronin and St. Vincent coach Gary Galloway, the meeting was hardly stressful. Galloway, whose team received the number one seed in Division V, didn’t even attend the meetings. He let his nephews, Justin and Taylor, assistants on the Mustangs’ staff, take his place.
Cronin and some of his assistants attendend the Division II meeting, where 17 teams applied for 12 berths. They expected a top-two seed and received a No. 1.
The selection committee usually includes three school administrators independent from any of the teams applying.
If it seems like those administrators probably don’t know all that much about the teams, it’s the job of the coaches to inform them.
Each coach is given two minutes to talk about his own team, their big wins, how many of their opponents are playoff bound, who they played in the preseason, but they are not allowed to talk about any other team outside of the context of a win or loss. Maybe the most important part of the meeting is when each coach is asked to seed the tournament, who they would put No. 1, No. 2 and so on. It’s put on a board for all the coaches and the committee to see. And if a coach winds up putting a team sixth, that has all second or third place votes, the committee can question that coach on why he placed them where he did, in front of the other coaches.
This year with East Bay and Redwood Empire schools forming a bigger pool some of the divisions have been expanded. Plus, the Division II field included quite a few teams with winning records.
Teams like Petaluma and Sonoma Valley, both 5-5, probably would have made last year’s Redwood Empire format, but this year, .500 records, even with a couple of “big” wins wasn’t good enough to get chosen by the committee.
For some coaches, like Bill Nobles of Anderson Valley, the seeding meetings and there 9 a.m. starts, not to mention the long drive to the East Bay, can be an inconvenience.
Nobles’ team did make it into the Division V playoffs — Anderson Valley lost to league champ Tomales 12-0, easily the closest anyone played the Braves — and opens at South Fork on Saturday night.
Nobles is the pastor at the First Assembly of God Church in Booneville and missed Sunday service to attend the meeting.
While the upper half of the Div. II seeds to figure, the bottom half led to much going back and forth between selection committee memembers and coaches, as they tried to give every team on hand a chance at making a case for their inclusion and then just trying to set the field and seeds in proper order. Some meetings can take four or more hours.
“I went down last year,” said Galloway, whose Mustangs play mainly against Div. IV competition all season and then compete in Div. V. The Mustangs were co-NCL I South champs with Clear Lake and 9-1 overall. The Mustangs also snagged a No. 1 seed last year.
“We’ve got respect for the teams we’ve got to play, but I wasn’t worried,” about the seeding meeting Galloway said. “We had wins against Middletown (the No. 2 seed in Div. IV), Fort Bragg (No. 6 in Div. IV) and Tomales (No. 3 in Div. V).
Galloway has probably been to over 20 football seeding meetings, in addition to basketball and baseball. “I remember when (small school) meetings were held in Ukiah for football and Cloverdale for baseball. The drive wasn’t so bad.”
Cronin, whose team is 10-0, ranked 17th in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and is the No. 3 team in the Bay Area’s Chronicle rankings — behind only De La Salle and Bellarmine — said it wouldn’t have bothered him to have gotten the No. 2 seed.
But 14 of the 17 coaches at the Div. II meeting gave Newman the No. 1 seed and the committee quickly asked for someone to make the motion that the Cardinals be seeded No. 1.
“Sometimes you can look at that (coaches’ seeding) board for too long and it kind of beats you down,” Cronin said.
Cronin is a proponent of the new playoff format involving East Bay Schools, which is the way it was done in the 1980s and early 90s. Plus, there are different schools from the ones an Empire team has played during the season.
“We’re excited about them,” Cronin said of the playoffs.
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High school football previews
By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Thursday, November 13, 2008
TONIGHT
C. Newman (9-0, 6-0) at Maria Carrillo (5-4, 3-3), 7:30 p.m.
It doesn’t look like anyone will stop the Cardinals on the way to the top seed in the NCS Div. II playoffs. QB Randy Wright has now thrown for 24 TDs with just one interception and rarely throws in the second half. Newman’s defense has allowed six TDs in its last six games. Carrillo has hung on for the most part during an injury-plagued season. The Pumas have lost consecutive games to Montgomery and Ukiah.
Petaluma (4-5, 3-2) at Healdsburg (7-2, 3-2), 7:30 p.m.
The Trojans have lost two straight after opening the SCL with three wins. Sean Sullivan is over 1,000 yards rushing. Healdsburg lost 38-0 last week to Casa, but still should make the Div. IV playoffs. The ‘Hounds usually play well at Rec Park.
Santa Rosa (3-6, 2-4) at Rancho Cotate (8-1, 5-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers have been another team hit hard by injury. Rancho’s only blemish was a loss to Cardinal Newman. Rancho should get a high seed in the Div. II playoffs.
Casa Grande (6-2-1, 4-1) at El Molino (3-6, 1-4), 7:30 p.m.
The Gauchos, who can guarantee an outright SCL title (sixth straight) with a win tonight, are rolling. They have outscored SCL foes in their last four games 143-14. El Molino hasn’t won since the Golden Apple Game and had a bye last week.
Piner (2-7, 1-5) at Montgomery (3-5-1, 3-3), 7:30 p.m.
Piner is coming off a 63-7 loss to the Ranch, while Montgomery won its second straight, handling Maria Carrillo, 45-7. Montgomery’s new offense has generated 33 or more points in the last three games.
Analy (5-4, 1-4) at Windsor (3-6, 2-3), 7:30 p.m.
Analy, too, has been hit by the injury bug, missing key offensive weapon Joey Maloney. Windsor had one of those “Where did that come from?” games last week as Cameron Erion rushed for an Empire record 450 yards and the Jaguars defeated Petaluma, 48-27.
Elsie Allen (1-8, 0-6) at Ukiah (7-2, 4-2), 7:30 p.m.
For the first time in NBL play, the Lobos scored twice in a loss to Santa Rosa last week, while Ukiah lost 46-20 to Newman, despite 133 rushing yards by back Marcos Hernandez and two TD throws by Kyle Morris.
San Marin (3-6) at
Sonoma (4-5), 7:30 p.m.
The Mustangs are 3-4 in the MCAL and have lost to the MCAL’s top teams, Novato, Marin Catholic and Redwood. Sonoma has won its last two against Analy and Petaluma. Nick Fedrick has rushed for over 1,000 yards and receiver Steve Filippi has 957 yards in receptions.
Middletown (8-1, 3-0) at
Lower Lake (1-8, 1-2), 7:30 p.m.
The Mustangs have outscored their last six opponents, 238-15, including four shutouts. Middletown should get a high seed in the Div. IV playoffs. Lower Lake won its first game last week against Willits.
Willits (0-9, 0-3) at
Fort Bragg (7-2, 2-1), 7:30 p.m.
A long season comes to an end for the Wolverines, who consider this game one of the biggest of the season. Fort Bragg’s Jake Cimolino goes after the single-season school rushing record (1,653) tonight; he’s at 1,648.
Clear Lake (6-2-1, 3-0) at
St. Helena (4-5, 1-2), 7:30 p.m.
The Cardinals can seal a NCL I South championship tonight, while the Saints can play the role of spoiler and shoot for a .500 season.
St. Vincent (8-1) at
Kelseyville (4-4-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Mustangs’ defense continues to be the centerpiece of the team, winning last week 7-3 against St. Helena. Kelseyville has been up and down, but does have a 37-21 win against St. Helena.
Upper Lake (4-5, 0-3) at Cloverdale (4-5, 1-2), 7:30 p.m.
Upper Lake stayed close to Clear Lake, losing 20-14 last week, while Cloverdale lost at Fort Bragg, 28-7. Cloverdale also lost to Clear Lake, 32-29.
Point Arena (1-5, 1-4) at Calistoga (3-6, 2-3), 7:30 p.m.
After a win against Laytonville, the Pirates got roughed up by Tomales last week. It appears Calisotga still has a shot at a Div. V playoff berth with a win.
Potter Valley (2-6, 1-4) at Laytonville (1-7, 0-5), 7:30 p.m.
Potter Valley had a week off after a 22-6 loss to Calistoga. Laytonville is coming off a 36-20 loss to Rincon Valley Christian.
SATURDAY
Tomales (6-2, 5-0) vs.
RV Christian (5-2, 4-1) at Montgomery, 2 p.m.
The Braves and the Stan Moody-led Toss Offense is going for an outright NCL II championship. RVC, win or lose, has a shot, like the Braves at the Div. V playoffs.
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Regular season wraps up in football,Playoffs are just a week away
By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Thursday, November 13, 2008
The final week of the regular season in high school football is already upon us, which also means the playoffs are just around the corner.
The Empire figures to be well represented as the selections and opening matchups with be announced by the North Coast Section following Sunday seeding meetings Sunday morning at Las Lomas High in Walnut Creek.
Cardinal Newman (9-0) wraps up its season tonight at Maria Carrillo and the Cardinals, ranked 15th in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, No. 6 in Northern California and the top Division III state bowl game contender from the north.
The Cardinals are expected to receive the top seed in the newly alligned NCS Division II playoffs. Twelve teams will be selected Sunday and it looks like there will be teams with winning records who may not make the field. Clayton Valley (9-0), Rancho Cotate (8-1), Campolindo (8-1) and Ukiah (7-2) and Casa Grande (6-2-1) appear to be locks. Sonoma (4-5), hosting San Marin tonight and Petaluma (4-5) at Healdsburg tonight, both need wins just to be considered.
Healdsburg (7-2) should have a Div. III playoff spot locked up. Analy (5-4) could use a win tonight at Windsor to make the 16-team playoff field.
Leaders in Div. III are Encinal (9-0), Bishop O’Dowd (8-1), Novato (7-2), Healdsburg, Miramonte (7-2), Piedmont (7-2), Marin Catholic (7-2) and McKinleyville (7-2).
Eight of the 17 teams in Div. IV (401-700 in enrollment) make the playoffs. Unbeaten Ferndale should be in contention for the top ranking. The Empire’s top contenders in this division are Middletown (8-1), Fort Bragg (7-2) and Clear Lake (6-2-1). Justin-Siena, Berean Christian and St. Vincent/St. Patrick could be in the mix.
St. Vincent (8-1), which plays mainly a Div. IV schedule, appears likely to get the top seed in the eight-team Div. V playoffs, while Tomales (6-2), Anderson Valley (6-1) and Rincon Valley Christian (5-2) all would appear to have a good chance of making the playoffs. St. Elizabeth of Oakland won the Class B championship last year against St. Vincent, which is now called Div. V.
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Empire's top football players
By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Thursday, November 13, 2008
In high school, playoff games are counted in a player’s final statistics.
The 2008 season has had its share of standout players and a few rank among the leaders for NCS schools (assuming the schools submit their stats).
Here are some of the top individual performances by running backs, receivers, quarterbacks and defenders this season:
CAMERON ERION
Running back, Windsor
Erion shot up the rushing leaderboard to No. 1 in the NCS after his 450-yard, five touchdown performance last Friday. Erion has rushed for 1,471 cards on 144 carries.
RANDY WRIGHT
Quarterback, Cardinal Newman
Wright is having a dream
season.
He’s completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 1,807 yards and has thrown for 24 TDs, with just one interception. He’s also rushed for 257 yards and five TDs.
MATT O’BRIEN
Quarterback, Casa Grande
O’Brien has broken the school career passing record with 2,990 yards and thrown for a Casa record 32 TDs.
This season he has completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,274 yards, 17 TDs and just four interceptions.
KYLE MORRIS
Quarterback, Ukiah
Morris has passed for 1,931 yards and 19 touchdowns, and is completing 58 percent of his passes.
CODY ALLEN
Quarterback, Rancho Cotate
Allen has excelled more as a runner than a passer in Rancho’s offense, rushing for 655 yards and nine touchdowns.
He has passed for 587 yards and five touchdowns.
STEVE FILIPPI
Receiver, Sonoma
Filippi ranks among NCS leaders in receptions (57) and yardage (937). He has seven TDs.
SEAN SULLIVAN
Running back, Petaluma
Sullivan has rushed for 1,054 yards and 13 TDs.
JEFF BADGER
Running back, Cardinal Newman
Badger leads the team in rushing (717 yards on just 70 carries) and tackles.
MARCOS HERNANDEZ
Running back, Ukiah
Hernandez rushed for 133 yards last week against Newman and went over 1,000 yards.
MIKE MULAS
Inside linebacker, Sonoma
Mulas is averaging 13.7 tackles per game.
JAMES BERTHINIER
Running back, Montgomery
Berthinier guaranteed himself a spot in the Empire record book last week, running 99 yards for a touchdown against Maria Carrillo.
JAKE CIMOLINO
Running back, Fort Bragg
Cimolino has rushed for 1,648 yards and 22 touchdowns (he has 23 TDs total) with one game remaining tonight against Willits.
STAN MOODY
Running back, Tomales
Moody has rushed for 1,200 yards in just eight games and has scored 122 points.
— Rich Rupprecht
The Press Democrat
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Jags run over Petaluma, 48-27 in biggest season win
Running back Cameron Erion sets record with 450 rushing yards
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
Will the real Jaguars please stand up?
The varsity football Jags have done their best Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde impression this season, looking like world-beaters one game and egg-beaters the next.
Windsor resembled more of the former on Friday at Petaluma’s Durst Field, running roughshod over a very strong and unsuspecting Trojan squad to record a stunning, 48-27 victory.
Junior running back Cameron Erion led the way for the Jags, churning up 450 individual rushing yards and five touchdowns in a record-shattering performance. The yardage total set a single-game, Redwood Empire record, and Erion’s season yardage total of 1,471 eclipsed the WHS record of 1,398 rushing yards amassed by Eric Hernandez in the 2006 season. The five touchdowns also established a new school standard.
“I wish I had the answer on why we can’t do that every week,” said an incredulous head coach Jason Fayter. “We didn’t do anything new. The line did a great job at the point of attack and we got good blocking from our receivers downfield. Cameron just had an amazing game.”
Amazing may be a gross understatement, since Erion was a threat to go all the way virtually every time he touched the ball.
The game started well enough for the Trojans, drawing first blood on a 27-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Taylen Hinks to receiver Jake Montero for an early 6-0 lead. The Jags served notice on the next possession, as Erion broke loose for an 82-yard scoring bolt to even the game at 6-6.
Erion struck again early in the second quarter, racing 44 yards to the house for his second touchdown. Kicker Lee Aranda followed with the PAT boot for a 13-7 Windsor advantage.
Petaluma answered with four minutes left in the half when 1,054-yard rusher Sean Sullivan busted through a hole and scampered 47 yards for the score to knot the contest at 13-all. A Trojan pick on the ensuing Windsor series led to a two-yard plunge by Sullivan to put Petaluma up, 20-13.
But the Jaguars didn’t blink, as Erion ripped off several big gains to move Windsor into the red-zone late in the quarter. Quarterback Blake Schmidt capped the drive with an 18-yard scoring strike to slot receiver D.J. King to knot the contest at 20-apiece at the break.
“That was a key part of the game,” recalled Fayter. “In other games we’ve played well but had turnovers or mistakes that we didn’t recover from. When we scored on the next series, it gave us a big lift right before the half.”
It was Windsor’s turn early in the third quarter, when Schmidt again hooked up with King- this time on an 11-yard lightning bolt to put the Jags up 27-20. Petaluma answered right back on its next possession, mounting a drive that would result in a five-yard keeper from Hinks to tie the game at 27-all. The Jaguars would finish the period with yet another scoring march, culminating in a 22-yard touchdown dash from Erion for a 34-27 lead at the end of three.
It was all Jaguars in the final quarter, as Erion added scoring runs of 27 and one yard to cap a night for the ages to post an eventual, 48-27 victory.
Erion’s record-smashing effort of 450 yards came on 26 carries. Schmidt finished off a solid night over center with three completions on nine pass attempts for 54 yards and two scores, adding 43 yards on the ground. Other notable offensive efforts were had by: King (7-44 yards rushing, TD, 1-18 yards receiving, TD), Michael Campbell (1-24 yards receiving), and James Reed (1-12 yards receiving).
Top defenders included: Michael Hutchison (9 tackles, 2 assists, sack), Kory Langhals (4 tackles, 5 assists), Kyle Yung (5 tackles, 2 assists, INT), King (4 tackles, 2 assists, INT), Cody Paz (3 tackles, 2 assists), Jordan Winkler (4 tackles, assist), Craig Lyman (3 tackles, 2 assists, sack), Chris Michels (2 tackles, 2 assists), Jacob Welch (tackle, assist, FR, sack), Teddy Van Bebber (2 tackles, assist), C.J. Landwehr (2 tackles, assist), Zach Arvig (2 assists), and a tackle apiece from Erion, Schmidt, Brandon Scott, and Reed.
The Jaguars (3-6, 2-3) can play spoiler in the league finale this Friday when they host the Analy Tigers (5-4, 1-4) in a 7:30 battle in the “Jungle.”
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Erion has hard time believing he set Empire rushing record
Newman, Casa closing in on league titles
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Monday, November 10, 2008
The initial reaction to Windsor’s Cameron Erion rushing for a Redwood Empire school record of 450 yards against Petaluma was one of disbelief and amazement.
Disbelief from opposing Petaluma coach Steve Ellison, from Windsor coach Jason Fayter and particularly from the record setter - a 5-foot-11, 165-pound junior.
“Some of the coaches were talking during the game and I heard them say I had something like 350 yards,” said Erion. “After the game they added up the stats and said it was 450 yards. It’s crazy.”
Fayter knew Erion was piling up yardage, especially after running for an 82-yard touchdown in the first quarter. “The yardage kind of snuck up on me,” he said.
Sometimes, the two schools statistics aren’t in line after a high school game, but that wasn’t the case Friday night at Petaluma. Windsor statisticians had Erion down for 446 yards and Petaluma for 450 on 26 carries. The Press Democrat normally goes with the stats called in by the home team.
“That was unbelievable,” Ellison said. “He really put on a show. It was incredible, just unreal.”
“I felt pretty good,” said Erion, who sat out the previous week’s game against Casa Grande with a neck strain suffered in the first series of the El Molino game the prior week. In just over a half, Erion had rushed for 238 yards against the Lions. And in the first game of the season against Redwood, he rushed for 234 yards.
Erion had five rushing touchdowns against Petaluma, Windsor winning, 45-27.
For the season, Erion has rushed for 1,457 yards on 144 carries and scored 13 touchdowns.
Fayter and Erion both credited the Windsor line for opening the holes needed to set a record. Asked about his running style, Erion said, “I like to get behind my blockers, wait a second and then run to the hole.”
Erion said he especially likes running behind right tackle Jacob Welch. “All the linemen really did a good job. I’m proud of them.”
The Cal-Hi state record book, last edited in 2005, lists Ronney Jenkins of Oxnard Hueneme as the state’s single-game rushing record holder with 619 yards (7 TDs) on 30 carries in a 52-34 win against Oxnard Rio Mesa in 1995. Next is Dallas Bernstine of Jesse Bethel of Vallejo, who rushed for 555 yards in a 59-38 win against Vintage of Napa in 2001.
Around the Empire last weekend, Cardinal Newman sewed up a share of the North Bay League championship with a 46-20 win over Ukiah and Casa Grande guaranteed itself a share of the Sonoma County League championship with a 38-0 win against Healdsburg.
Newman (9-0, 6-0)) can capture the NBL outright with a win at Maria Carrillo on Friday and Casa Grande (6-2-1, 4-1) can lock up an outright SCL title (it’s sixth consecutive share or outright) Friday night at El Molino.
Middletown held onto its lead in the North Central League I North with a 56-0 victory over Kelseyville; Clear Lake maintained its one-game lead in the NCL I South with a 20-14 win against Upper Lake and Tomales will be going for an outright NCL II championship against Rincon Valley Christian Saturday afternoon at Santa Rosa High. Tomales defeated Point Arena, 68-6, and Rincon Valley Christian topped Laytonville, 36-20, last weekend.
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SCOTT MANCHESTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT.
Windsor's Cameron Erion rushed for 450 yards on 26 carries and scored five touchdowns last week against Petaluma. Shown here in a season opening loss to Redwood, Erion rushed for 234 yards. The 450 yards is an Empire record.
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Remarkable night for Erion rushing
The following blog entry is from Press Democrat..
Petaluma coach Steve Ellison called it an unbelievable performance. Windsor coach Jason Fayter said he was shocked when his assistants told him the final numbers.
Windsor junior Cameron Erion set an all-time single-game Empire rushing record Friday night with a 450-yard night (26 carries) against Petaluma at Durst Field in Petaluma.
The old record was set by T.J. Bird of Cloverdale in 1997, when he ran for 360 yards against Hoopa Valley in the playoffs.
"It was incredible, unreal," said Ellison, whose team has not played bad defense all season.
Erion ran 82 yards for a touchdown to open Windsor's scoring and also had TD runs of 44, 22, 27 and 1 yards, scoring 5 TDs in all.
Fayter said Erion got his yards on all kinds of runs, power runs, stop and start delay runs, broke lots of tackles and just had a night that every high school back dreams of.
Erion didn't play last week against Casa after sustaining a neck injury in the opening series of a win against El Molino the previous week. He rushed for 240 yards in a half that game. He also rushed for 234 yards on 24 carries in a loss to Redwood in the season opener. Fayter said Erion now has nearly 1,600 yards rushing on the season.
Game stats also showed Windsor with 597 yards in offense and Petaluma with 363, nearly 1,000 yards in a high school game.
A pretty remarkable night in Petaluma.
Bob Padecky..
A record to behold
As I was interviewing Cameron Erion about his 450-yard rushing night Friday against Petaluma, I told him about the national high school record for most yards rushing in a game.
"It was by a guy who averaged 594.5 yards a game for his entire senior year," I said.
Erion and Windsor coach Jayson Fayter had the look of amazement.
That would 144 yards more than Erion gained Friday night.
"A guy from New Jersey once ran for 754 yards in 1950," I said. "I don't think they passed the ball much back then."
For those of you keep score at home, his name was John Giannantonio from Netcong, New Jersey. Didn't make it in the NFL.
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Varsity footballers fall to Casa Grande
Windsor falls to 2-6; travels to Petaluma on Friday
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
The varsity football Jaguars figured to be up against it in their Thursday night clash with Casa Grande- a team with six league championship pennants won in its past seven seasons.
Those fears proved to be well-founded, as the visiting Gauchos exploited a short-handed Windsor squad to post a dominant, 31-7 victory.
The loss dropped the Jaguars to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the Sonoma County League.
The Jags came into the contest at considerably less than full strength, without the services of 1021-yard rusher Cameron Erion, sidelined by a leg injury. The loss of Erion would severely hamper Windsor’s offensive attack, on a night with few highlights for local fans.
The Gauchos struck early, capping a sustained drive with a 24-yard scoring run from quarterback Matt O’Brien to grab an early lead. Casa went up by two scores later in the period when O’Brien hooked up with talented wide-out Matt Nadolski on a 14-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 lead.
The Gauchos took advantage of good field position in the second quarter, mounting a relentless drive resulting in a two-yard scoring dive by running back Kahil Keys to make it 21-0. Casa effectively put the game away later in the period when O’Brien connected on a 37-yard lightening bolt to receiver Teddy Osmundson. The Gauchos finished off the first-half explosion with a 24-yard field goal by kicker Conner Derby for a 31-0 bulge at the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Jaguars managed to avoid the shutout late in the final period when quarterback Blake Schmidt found slot-receiver D.J. King on a 68-yard scoring pass for the eventual, 31-7 Casa victory.
Running back Steven Hutchison did most of the heavy lifting for the Windsor offense, rushing for 78 yards on 21 carries. Other notable offensive efforts were had by: Schmidt (3-11, 89 yards, TD), Michael Campbell (2-72 yards receiving), King (1-68 yards receiving, TD), and Miles Williams (1-15 yards receiving).
Leading defenders included: Deandre Faaita (6 tackles, 2 assists), King (tackle, 7 assists), Kyle Yung (4 tackles, INT), Cody Paz (6 tackles, assist), Jacob Welch (5 tackles, assist), Kory Langhals (4 tackles, 2 assists), Campbell (4 tackles, assist), C.J. Landwehr (3 tackles, assist), Jordan Winkler (2 tackles, 3 assists), Craig Lyman (2 tackles, 2 assists), Chris Michels (2 tackles, 2 assists), Zach Arvig (2 tackles, 2 assists), Michael Hutchison (2 tackles, assist), Luke Johnson (2 tackles, assist), and one tackle apiece from J.J. Mortensen and Aaron Fletcher.
The Jaguars will try and re-group this Friday, when they travel to Durst Field to face the Petaluma Trojans. Game times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
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Primed for the Playoffs
New format could pit Empire teams against East Bay schools
By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Thursday, November 6, 2008
With just a couple of weeks left in the regular season of high school football, its time to check out the North Coast Sections new playoff system.
To better assimilate the state bowl games expanded to five games at Carsons Home Depot Center on Dec. 19-20 the NCS did away with Class 3A, 2A, A and B formats and replaced them with five divisions.
Each division has an enrollment limit Division I is 2,001 and above, Division II is 1,401-2,000, Division III is 701-1,400, Division IV is 401-700 and Division V is 400 and below and the football teams fit one of the five divisions.
Schools can still petition the NCS to play up, which Cardinal Newman has done. Its enrollment places Newman in Division III, but the Cardinals will play in Division II because most of the North Bay League teams it plays are Division II schools. Newman petitioned to play up before the start of the season.
The biggest difference in the NCS playoff format is the mixture of East Bay schools with the usual Redwood Empire field of schools from Sonoma County, Marin County, Mendocino County and Humboldt-Del Norte regions.
It doesnt look like many schools with winning records will get bumped from the playoffs, because the biggest division Division III has 31 schools and the biggest playoff field, a 16-team bracket.
Division II, with schools like Newman, Rancho Cotate, Ukiah, Casa Grande, Maria Carrillo and Petaluma, has 26 schools and a 12-team playoff bracket.
Healdsburg and Analy are Division III teams, Middletown, Fort Bragg, Clear Lake and Cloverdale are Division IV, and St. Vincent, Tomales, Anderson Valley and Rincon Valley Christian are Division V. There are eight-team playoff brackets in Division IV (17 schools) and Division V (19 schools).
Probably the biggest difference between this years playoffs and last years are the logistics. Teams have to travel farther outside their areas for games, although dont tell Analy that after back-to-back playoff trips to Crescent City to play Del Norte.
In the 1980s and 90s, when Empire teams played East Bay schools in the playoffs remember Montgomery playing De La Salle? there was always the presumption of superiority by the East Bay. Seeding meetings regularly had Empire schools playing no home games and playing the best of the East Bay early on.
That really shouldnt be the case in the 2000s. Various publications not only have Newman ranked No.1 in Division II, but Rancho Cotate is the third-ranked school, and Ukiah fits in the top six.
Between Newman and Rancho is Clayton Valley; Campolindo and Las Lomas follow the top three. Casa Grande gets honorable mention votes as well. And thats not even close to filling out the 12-team field, which would indicate there may be room for a .500 or slightly better team such as Petaluma or Sonoma, if the Dragons win their last two games.
Healdsburg, at 7-1, ranks among the best NCS Division III schools. The No.1-ranked team appears to be Novato, which played in a state bowl last year, followed by Encinal and Bishop ODowd. Analy (5-3) still has a good chance of making the Division III field.
Middletown and Fort Bragg should be among the best Division IV playoff teams. Middletown won Class A section titles in 2001, 1999 and 1997. Fort Bragg won four consecutive Class A championships from 1993-1996 and a Class 2A championship in 1999.
Another school opting to play up that continues to impress everyone they play is Ferndale, a school of only 158 students. Ferndale is 8-0 and is playing in Division IV. Clear Lake, Cloverdale and St. Helena are also Division IV schools, as is St. Patrick-St. Vincent (6-2) of Vallejo and Salesian.
St. Vincent of Petaluma (7-1) is the only other Empire school besides Newman to receive a state ranking by Cal-Hi Sports, a No.5 spot on the small-schools Northern California list.
St. Vincent, Tomales and Anderson Valley could make the Division V playoffs. The best of the rest of Division V includes St. Elizabeth of Oakland, St. Bernard of Eureka and South Fork of Miranda.
PLAYOFF OUTLOOK The NCS football playoffs begin in two weeks. The format has been changed to five divisions and will include East Bay schools. There will be no Empire schools in the Div. I playoffs. Here are some of the top prospective playoff teams in each of the divisions as well as teams on the bubble:
DIVISION II
Cardinal Newman, Rancho Cotate, Clayton Valley, Campolindo, Las Lomas, Ukiah, Redwood, Maria Carrillo
On the bubble: Petaluma, Sonoma
DIVISION III
Novato, Encinal, Bishop ODowd, Healdsburg, Marin Catholic
On the bubble: Analy
DIVISION IV
Ferndale, Middletown, Fort Bragg,
St. Patrick/St. Vincent, Salesian,
Clear Lake
DIVISION V
St. Vincent, Tomales, St. Elizabeth, Anderson Valley, St. Bernard, South Fork
On the bubble: Rincon Valley Christian
You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@pressdemocrat.com. For more high school sports coverage, read Rupes blog at prepsports.pressdemocrat.com.
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Weekend Football Predictions
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, November 7, 2008
FRIDAY'S PICKS
Cardinal Newman 42, Ukiah 21
Should be a lot of balls in the air Friday, but Newmans defense will again be the key.
Casa Grande 31, Healdsburg 7
Gauchos rounding into form at the right time.
Maria Carrillo 24, Montgomery 21
Zack Sheets and Sam Atoe pretty good 1-2 punch. Monty could have lost to Santa Rosa.
Sonoma Valley 28, Analy 14
Dragons repeat last weeks win against Petaluma.
Petaluma 33, Windsor 13
Trojans alway tough at home. Need a win badly to stay in playoff contention.
Santa Rosa 31, Elsie Allen 6
Therman McGowan back, but a leg injury will force him to play QB.
Middletown 35, Kelseyville 7
Mustangs riding a 6-game winning streak and defense playing superbly.
St. Vincent 21, St. Helena 13
Tough loss for St. Vincent last week. Bounce back on the turf.
Fort Bragg 28, Cloverdale 12
Timberwolves running game back in the spotlight.
Lower Lake 27, Willits 13
The Trojans pick up their first win of the season.
Tomales 38, Point Arena 7
The Toss produces a big offensive night under the lights at home.
Calistoga 21, Anderson Valley 20
Picking the Wildcats in an upset.
SATURDAY'S PICKS
Rancho Cotate 44, Piner 6
Cougars defense leads the way.
Clear Lake 21, Upper Lake 13
The Cardinals can smell another NCL I South championship.
Rincon Valley Christian 35, Laytonville 6
The Eagles have just one league loss.
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Ranked teams face off Friday
Newman vs. Ukiah, Healdsburg vs. Casa Grande highlight weekend games
By RICH RUPPRECHT
The Press Democrat
Published: Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Press Democrat high school football rankings hint of a couple good matchups with just two weekends left in the regular season.
Casa, winners of three straight SCL games, hosts No. 4 ranked Healdsburg Friday. Casa is ranked No. 5.
No. 1 ranked Cardinal Newman (8-0, 5-0) hosts No. 3 Ukiah (7-1, 4-1) Friday night at 7 p.m.
Newman dismantled Rancho Cotate last week, 42-7, but The Ranch is still ranked No. 2. Rancho Cotate has a three-point victory against Ukiah. Ukiah has one of the top passers in the Empire, senior Kyle Morris.
Newman, still Cal-Hi Sports No. 1 ranked Division III team in Northern California this week, is also ranked 17th in the state by Cal-Hi Sports.
There are playoffs still in the future, but football experts looking into their crystal balls are looking at Newman and St. Bonaventure as the likely matchup for the state bowl game in Div. III.
St. Bonaventure (7-1) lost to the No. 1-ranked team in the state, Poly of Long Beach, in a very close game, earlier this season.
In another big game Friday, No. 4 Healdsburg (7-1, 3-1) visits red-hot No. 5 Casa Grande (5-2-1, 3-1) at Petaluma. Casa has won three straight league games in convincing style.
Healdsburg, Casa Grande and Petaluma, which was upset last week by Sonoma in overtime, are all tied for the Sonoma County League lead at 3-1.
In the small-school rankings St. Vincent, which lost to No. 4 Clear Lake, 8-7, maintains the No. 1 ranking because of wins against No. 2 ranked Middletown and No. 3 Fort Bragg.
St. Vincent lost when they stopped Clear Lake inside their five-yard line, but then had a snap to their punter go over his head and out of the end zone for a safety.
Clear Lake has lost to Middletown and Fort Bragg. Clear Lake, however, has the inside track, on a North Central League I South championship, which the Cardinals also captured last year.
Middletown continues to play outstanding defense and got 100-yard rushing games from Jake Davis and Tyler Ownen and a 100-yard passing game from Matt Outen in its 22-8 win at Fort Bragg. Timberwolves 1,000-yard rusher Jake Cimolino rushed for over 100 yards.
Middletown is in the drivers seat to win the NCL I North.
Kelseyville (4-3-1) is No. 5 ranked and plays at Middletown Friday.
You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@pressdemocrat.com. For more on high school sports, read Rupe's blog at http://prepsports.pressdemocrat.com.
RANKINGS Large schools
1. Cardinal Newman (8-0)
2. Rancho Cotate (7-1)
3. Ukiah (7-1)
4. Healdsburg (7-1)
5. Casa Grande (5-2-1)
Small schools
1. St. Vincent (7-1)
2. Middletown (7-1)
3. Fort Bragg (6-2)
4. Clear Lake (5-2-1)
5. Kelseyville (4-3-1)
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High School Football predictions
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, October 31, 2008
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Cardinal Newman 31, Rancho Cotate 14
Too many weapons for Newman and a precision passing attack.
Ukiah 27, Maria Carrillo 20
Could be a game of big plays; rain could hurt Wildcats passing game.
Montgomery 28, Santa Rosa 20
As bad a season as the Vikes have had, they dont want to lose to their intra-city rival.
Petaluma 21, Sonoma 14
A league championship at stake for the Trojans, but Sonoma is tough at Arnold Field.
Healdsburg 33, El Molino 13
Greyhounds still in the SCL hunt and have played well defensively all season.
Middletown 21, Fort Bragg 14
Should be a dandy. Just hope its not too sloppy at Timberwolf Stadium.
Kelseyville 33, Lower Lake 13
The Knights have shown the ability to score, while Lower Lake hasnt.
St. Vincent 14, Clear Lake 13
It has been that kind of season for the Mustangs, who rely a lot on defense for wins.
Cloverdale 24, St. Helena 22
Cloverdale has come close a few times; tonight the Eagles hold on.
Tomales 40, Anderson Valley 20
Two undefeated teams in NCL II, but the Braves Toss offense is tough to stop.
Calistoga 25, Potter Valley 20
Wildcats have shown more offense of late.
Upper Lake 20, Willits 7
The Cougars get back on the winning track.
Rincon Valley Christian 21, CSD 13
Eagles bounce back from two-point loss to Anderson Valley.
SATURDAY'S GAME
Piner 28, Elsie Allen 6
The Prospectors pick up second win of season.
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Varsity footballers maul Lions, 31-7
Jaguars snap three-game losing streak; host Casa tonight
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
Pride and desperation can be very powerful motivators for a football team.
The varsity football Jaguars had both factors on the line on Friday at El Molino, helping to propel the team to a dominant, 31-7 victory.
The clash in Forestville was a must-win situation for Windsor, entering the game with a disappointing, 1-5 overall record and winless at 0-2 in the Sonoma County League.
It was time to put up or shut up.
The Jaguars responded with one of their best all-around performances of the season, combining an outstanding effort on both sides of the ball to spoil the Lions Homecoming Game.
Junior running back Cameron Erion continued his assault on opposing defenses, churning up 238 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns in another terrific performance. The league-leading Erion reached a big milestone in the game, pushing his rushing total to 1021 yards for the season.
The offensive line played outstanding, opening up some huge holes, noted Jags head coach Jason Fayter. When you rush for 357 yards, you know youre getting good blocking up front.
The Jags served notice on their second possession on Friday, as quarterback Blake Schmidt hooked up with receivers Michael Campbell and Kyle Yung on big gains to move the ball into the El Mo red zone. The drive resulted in a 15-yard touchdown burst by running back Cameron Erion, followed by a Lee Aranda PAT boot for a 7-0 Windsor lead.
The swarming Jaguar defense, led by pass-rushers Kory Langhals, Michael Hutchison, Jacob Welch, Jordan Winkler, Cody Paz, and Chris Michels, forced the Lions third punt of the opening quarter. Erion returned the favor on the next offensive series with a 46-yard scoring dash for a 14-0 Windsor advantage.
The Jags threatened an early blow-out in the second quarter following an Erion interception at the Lions eight yard line. Schmidt, employing an effective mix of run and pass, led the team on a 92-yard march culminating in another six-yard touchdown scamper by Erion for a decisive, 21-0 bulge at the break.
Windsor went to work on the clock in the third quarter, relying on a strong push from its offensive line to keep the chains moving. The Jags effectively squashed any Lion upset hopes late in the third period, ripping off a 50-yard, six-minute drive that ended with a two-yard scoring burst by Steven Hutchison for a 28-0 advantage.
The Lions mounted their best drive of the night early in the fourth quarter, as quarterback Tony DeMarco engineered an 80-yard march, highlighted by long completions to receivers Rhodes Wroth and Joe Douglass. DeMarco capped the drive on an outstanding, 16-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down play to make it a 28-7 ballgame.
The Jags ate up the remainder of the clock with an impressive march, ending with a 35-yard field goal from Aranda en route to a 31-7 victory.
Schmidt turned in a solid night under center, completing 11 of 18 passes for 125 yards, and added 16 yards on the ground. Other top offensive efforts included: Erion (23-238 yards rushing, 3 TDs), Steven Hutchison (17-103 yards rushing, TD), Campbell (3-51 yards receiving), Yung (1-37 yards receiving), C.J. Landwehr (3-24 yards receiving), and Miles Williams (2-12 yards receiving). Aranda was a perfect, 4-4 on PAT kicks, and added a season-best, 35-yard field goal.
Top Windsor defenders included: Michael Hutchison (5 tackles, 2 assists, 2 sacks), Welch (3 tackles, 3 sacks), Winkler (4 tackles, 2 assists, sack), Cody Paz (4 tackles, 2 assists, sack), Yung (4 tackles, assist), Deandre Faaita (3 tackles, 2 assists, INT), Teddy Van Bebber (3 tackles, assist), Landwehr (2 tackles, INT), Michels (tackle, sack), Langhals (tackle, 2 assists, sack), Zach Arvig (tackle, assist), Aaron Fletcher (tackle, assist), Campbell (tackle, assist), Erion (tackle, INT), and one tackle apiece from Jason Langhals, James Reed, Brandon Scott, and Craig Lyman.
The Jaguars will host Casa Grande in a rare Thursday night game tonight (Oct. 30) at 7:30 p.m. The frosh kick off the triple-header at 3 p.m.
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Crista Jeremiason / The Press Democrat, Casa Grande's Matt Nadolski goes up for the ball as Windsor's C.J. Landwehr puts pressure on him during the first quarter of the game held at Windsor High School, Thursday Oct. 29, 2008. Nadolski scored to bring the score to 14-0.
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Gauchos continue on dominant roll
Casa Grande 31, Windsor 7
Casa has outscored foes 95-14 in past three games; defense has yielded 7 points in 11 quarters
Eric Branch
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Thursday, October 30, 2008
Not long ago, the Casa Grande football team, winners of six of the past seven Sonoma County League titles, didnt have the look of a champion.
What a difference two weeks can make.
In its third consecutive dominant performance, the visiting Gauchos throttled Windsor 31-7 on Thursday night as quarterback Matt OBrien tossed two touchdown passes and ran for another.
The victory was the latest bit of evidence that Gauchos have put their 21-14 loss to Petaluma in its SCL opener behind them. Far behind.
In the following three games, the Gauchos (5-2-1, 3-1) have outscored their opponents 95-14. Their defense has allowed just seven points in the past 11 quarters.
Casa Grandes roll began two weeks ago when it trailed Analy 7-6 at halftime. They responded with 23 consecutive second-half points in a 29-7 win and havent looked back.
After the first half at Analy, we challenged the kids at halftime and they responded, Casa Grande coach Rick OBrien said. Practice has been great. They are really focused. We put ourselves in a little bit of a hole as far as the playoffs. So our goal was to win out and every week is another challenge.
Actually, the challenge never materialized Thursday against the overwhelmed Jaguars (2-6, 1-3).
After their first four offensive possessions, the Gauchos led 28-0 with 2:55 remaining in the second quarter and had outgained Windsor 230-49.
Casa Grande took the opening kickoff and scored four plays later on OBriens 24-yard scamper. OBrien capped their next possession a six-play, 55-yard march with a 19-yard strike to wide receiver Matt Nadolski.
Four minutes later, tailback Kahlil Keys finished a nine-play, 55-yard drive with a 2-yard run. Finally, OBrien lofted a 37-yard pass to Teddy Osmundson to give the Gauchos a 28-0 lead.
We thought we had a good game plan, Windsor coach Jason Fayter said. But they are pretty damn good.
OBrien completed 13 of 21 passes for 164 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also added 39 yards on three carries. OBrien has tossed 15 touchdowns six to Nadolski and four interceptions this season.
At halftime against Analy, we all talked about how we had to win every game if we wanted to be one of top teams in the Empire, Matt OBrien said. Every since then, weve kind of turned it on.
The Gauchos led 31-0 at halftime before taking their foot off the gas pedal in the second half.
The Jaguars scored on Blake Schmidts 68-yard pass to D.J. King with 2:22 remaining.
Casa Grande will host Healdsburg (6-1, 2-1) next week in a game that could have SCL title implications. Petaluma (4-3, 3-0) is in first place in the SCL and will host Healdsburg on Nov. 14 in its regular-season finale.
You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.
BOX SCORESCL
AT WINDSOR
Casa Grande 14 17 0 0 31
Windsor 0 0 0 7 7
CG Matt OBrien 24 run (Conner Derby kick)
CG Matt Nadolski 19 pass from OBrien (Derby kick)
CG Kahlil Keys 2 run (Derby kick)
CG Teddy Osmundson 37 pass from OBrien (Derby kick)
CG Derby 24 FG
W D.J. King 68 pass from Blake Schmidt (Lee Aranda kick)
Rushing, CG Keys 18-66, OBrien 3-39, Nadolski 1-33, Kyle Smith 9-31, Conner Waggoner 3-19. W Steven Hutchinson 21-72, Schmidt 4-6, Brandon Scott 2-0. Passing, CG OBrien 13-21-1-164. W Schmidt 2-11-1-71. Receiving, CG Waggoner 5-34, Osmundson 4-74, Matt Gallo 2-27, Nadolski 2-26. W King 2-71.
Records: CG 5-2-1, 3-1; W 2-6, 1-3.
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Run Stopper - El Mo's Buck Skalicky (14) brought down Windsor ball-carrier Steven Hutchison in the Lion's 31-7 loss to the visiting Jaguars on Friday. - Photo by Greg Clementi
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Casa, Windsor in important SCL game tonight.........
Only one high school football game " Casa Grande at Windsor " has been switched from Friday, Halloween night.
The game will be played at Windsor tonight, with the varsity scheduled to start around 7:30. Windsor athletics director Gene Sandwina announced the change over a month ago, saying the Jaguars preferred not to play on Halloween. Casa Grande agreed to the switch.
Both Sonoma County League schools are coming off league victories, Casa Grande defeating Sonoma, 35-0, and Windsor defeating El Molino, 38-7.
Casa Grande is 4-2-1, 2-1 in league and Windsor is 2-5, 1-2.
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Newman-Rancho, status quo in next week's rankings?
No. 2 Fort Bragg hosts No. 3 MIddletown on Friday
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
If ever theres going to be a switch of teams at the top of the large school football rankings, it will be next week.
Thats because the biggest game of the regular season No. 1 Cardinal Newman at No. 2 Rancho Cotate is Halloween night at Rohnert Park.
Both teams are 7-0 and 4-0 in league. Cardinal Newman has been the top-ranked team since the start of the season and solidified its position in the preseason with wins against Central Catholic of Modesto, Del Oro of Loomis and Palma of Salinas.
Rancho Cotate has been ranked No. 2 since the start and is coming off its closest victory, a 35-32 win at previously unbeaten and still No. 3 ranked Ukiah. Rancho Cotate scored on a long pass play in the final minute to pull out the win.
If Newman wins on Friday, the Cardinals, who are the favorite from Northern California to reach the state Division III bowl championship game, keeps its No. 1 ranking. If Rancho wins, the Cougars move to the top.
Petaluma is now ranked No. 4 after a 45-7 romp over Analy. Petaluma (4-3) is the only undefeated team in the Sonoma County League (3-0) and plays at Sonoma Valley Friday.
Tied for fifth in the rankings are Healdsburg (6-1, 2-1) and Casa Grande (4-2-1, 2-1). Healdsburg has lost to Analy and still must play Petaluma. The Greyhounds host El Molino Friday. Casa Grande, coming off a 35-0 win against Sonoma, lost to Petaluma and needs help to win or share its sixth consecutive SCL crown.
The small school rankings also could change after this weekends games.
No. 1 St. Vincent (7-0, 2-0) plays at No. 4 Clear Lake (4-2-1, 1-0) Friday in an NCL I South game.
No. 2 Fort Bragg (6-1, 2-0) hosts No. 3 Middletown (6-1, 1-0) Friday night in a key NCL I North contest.
Kelseyville (3-3-1, 1-1) jumped back into the rankings at No. 5 following its 47-0 win against Willits.
Large School Football Rankings
1. Cardinal Newman (7-0)
2. Rancho Cotate (7-0)
3. Ukiah (6-1)
4. Petaluma (4-3)
T5. Healdsburg (6-1)
T5.Casa Grande (4-2-1)
Small School Football Rankings
1. St. Vincent (7-0)
2. Fort Bragg (6-1)
3. Middletown (6-1)
4. Clear Lake (4-2-1)
5. Kelseyville (3-3-1
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Jaguars fall to Healdsburg Greyhounds, 25-14 at Homecoming
Windsor slips to 1-5; travels to El Molino this Friday
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor,The Windsor Times Sports
The varsity football Jaguars were in a giving mood on Friday in the annual Homecoming Game against visiting Healdsburg. Unfortunately the Jags proved to be a bit too hospitable, dropping a mistake-prone 25-14 decision to the Greyhounds in the 10th meeting between the teams.
The loss pushed Windsors season mark to 1-5, and 0-2 in Sonoma County League play, while the Greyhounds improved to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the SCL.
There was nothing flashy about the annual clash between North Bay rivals now known as the Grape Bowl, as the teams waged a battle in the trenches that featured its fair share of hard hits, but would ultimately be decided by turnovers.
The Jaguars took advantage of an early Hounds miscue when safety D.J. King picked off a pass thrown by Healdsburg quarterback Zach Shippey and returned it to midfield. The Jags mounted a two-minute drive resulting in a five-yard touchdown burst by running back Cameron Erion. Kicker Elias Aranda added the PAT boot and Windsor led 7-0.
Windsor was sniffing blood on its next possession, but Greyhound defensive back Ian Gallagher picked off a pass from Jags signal-caller Blake Schmidt to kill the drive at the Healdsburg three yard line.
The Hounds caught a break early in the second quarter when a mishandled snap on a punt attempt gave Healdsburg the ball at the Windsor 20. The opportunity produced a 24-yard field goal from Colin Brown and a 7-3 ballgame.
Healdsburg cashed in on another miscue on the Jaguars next possession, as Hounds cornerback Tom Belli picked off a pass deep in Windsor territory. The play resulted in a 20-yard scoring strike from Shippey to a leaping Paul Wilson. The PAT kick was good and the Greyhounds led 10-7.
With the defense stiffening, Healdsburg capped a 16-point second quarter explosion when Wilson found pay-dirt again on a nifty, 14-yard run after catch to give the Hounds a 16-7 advantage. The Jaguars made the most of their final possession of the first half, as big runs by Erion and King would set up a one-yard scoring dive by Schmidt to cut the deficit to 16-14 at the break.
The Greyhounds gained separation early in the third period after a sensational, fourth-down grab by receiver Caleb Rummonds gave his team a first down at the Windsor four. Running back Andy Phillips finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown burst and a 23-14 bulge. The Hounds capped the offensive fireworks when a bad snap on a Windsor punt produced a safety.
Neither team could move the ball consistently in the final period, as Healdsburg hung on for a 25-14 win.
Schmidt turned in an impressive night directing the newly employed option offense, churning up 64 rushing yards on 10 carries, while amassing another 41 yards through the air. Other notable offensive efforts included: Erion (12-139, TD rushing), King (3-49 yards rushing, 3-13 yards receiving), Miles Williams (3-15 yards receiving), and James Reed (1-9 yards receiving).
Top defenders were: Kory Langhals (10 tackles, 5 assists, 2 sacks), Michael Hutchison (8 tackles, 6 assists), Kyle Yung (5 tackles, 4 assists), Jordan Winkler (6 tackles, 4 assists), King (6 tackles, assist, Int.), Zach Arvig (3 tackles, 5 assists, sack), Jacob Welch (5 tackles, sack), Erion (5 tackles), Cody Paz (3 tackles, 2 assists), Chris Michels (2 tackles, sack), Teddy Van Bebber (tackle, 2 assists), Craig Lyman (tackle, assist), and one tackle apiece from Steven Hutchison, Brandon Scott, and Schmidt.
The Jaguars will try to re-group this Friday when they take on the El Molino Lions (3-4, 1-2) in Forestville. Kickoff times beginning with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
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High school football previews
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, October 23, 2008
TODAYS GAMES
Rancho Cotate (6-0, 3-0) at Ukiah (6-0, 3-0), 7:30 p.m.
This is the first of some key NBL matchups which should help determine an NBL champion. Rancho Cotate is big and fast and has maybe the top defensive line in the Empire. Ends Jonathon Torres and Anthony Alicea are very active and quick. Rushing the QB is crucial because Ukiahs Kyle Morris is one of the top passers and has 13 TDs throwing in six games. Ranchos triple option offense has also been clicking the last two weeks, led by QB Cody Allen and quick running back Brian Dworkin. Ukiahs defense has given up yardage in the middle of the field, but also has come up with 18 turnovers in six games. Marcos Hernandez has rushed for 700 yards and Kyle Mayfield and Gabe Ott have caught four TDs in a single game.
Cardinal Newman (6-0, 3-0) at Montgomery (1-4-1, 1-2),
7:30 p.m.
The Cardinals were more than a little impressive in last weeks 40-0 win against Santa Rosa, their third consecuitve NBL game in which they didnt allow a point. Newmans offense has been potent all season, but now the defense seems to be fine tuning its game. And its not just a couple of players leading the way. On offense QB Randy Wright has thrown for 19 TDs with just one interception. Receiver Wade Amaral is working on a streak in which hes caught three TD passes in three consecutive games. Montgomery has struggled offensively most of the season, but did score 20 points last week against Ukiah. QB Max Heller threw two TD passes. One wouldnt think this game would be close, but a Newman-Montgomery contest always stirs the competitive juices.
Analy (5-2, 1-2) at Petaluma (3-3, 2-0), 7:30 p.m.
As one can tell by league records, this is a huge game for the Trojans, the only undefeated team in the SCL, and coming off a bye. Analy gave Casa a battle, until the Gauchos went on a fourth quarter scoring tear last week. Analy is trying to get back on the winning track, having lost the previous week to El Molino. Petaluma has played opponents close all season and its option offense appears to be at its best, with scatback Sean Sullivan leading the way. A win by Analy would certainly tighten the SCL.
Sonoma (2-4, 2-1) at Casa Grande (3-2-1, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Another crucial SCL matchup, the loser would pick up a second league loss and in all likelihood fall out of SCL contention. Sonoma defeated El Molino last week as Nick Fedrick rushed for 100 yards and three scores. QB Jake Powers threw for 110 yards. Casa Grande rediscovered its offense in the fourth quarter against Analy, winning 29-7, on the strength of three Matt OBrien TD throws, two of which went to three-sport standout Matt Nadolski. Casas defense held Analy to just one TD and linebacker Makana Garrigan ran back an interception for a TD.
Piner (1-5, 0-3) at Santa Rosa (1-5, 0-3), 7:30 p.m.
Piner is coming off a 28-13 loss to Maria Carrillo, while Santa Rosa fell to Newman, 40-0. Logan Stiles and Japh Burns have both had their moments at QB for Piner, as has running back Jabari Young. Santa Rosa continues to run the single wing, led by Jaden Rosselli and Darryl Thomas. Lineman Chris Smith is also in the backfield and has been used as a blocker of late.
Windsor (1-5, 0-2) at El Molino (3-4, 1-2), 7:30 p.m.
The Jaguars trailed by just two points at halftime against Healdsburg last week, but didnt score thereafter and lost 25-14. A highlight for Windsor was Kory Langhals with 16 tackles and two sacks. El Molino fell behind early at Sonoma, scored in each of the last three quarters and lost 30-20. El Molino QB Tony De Marco threw for a pair of TDs.
Fort Bragg (5-1, 1-0) at Lower Lake (0-6, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.
Jake Cimolino and Cody Lowe each rushed for two TDs in Fort Braggs NCL I North opening 62-19 home win against Kelseyville last week, coach Jack Moyers career 200th win. Offensive linemen Josh House and Antonio Renteria have helped open holes for the Wolves potent running game. Lower Lake, defending NCL I North champs, has lost its offense in recent weeks, being shut out in its last three games.
Middletown (5-1) at St. Helena (4-2), 7:30 p.m.
The Mustangs have shut out their last three opponents while scoring 125 points in the same span. Tyler Owen and Eric Tomko have proven an effective 1-2 ground attack. QB Matt Outen attempted just four passes last week and still threw for 101 yards, including two TDs to Dillon Galusha. St. Helena also favors the run and is coming off consecutive wins against Willits and Upper Lake.
Cloverdale (3-3, 0-1) at Clear Lake (3-2-1, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.
This looks like a good NCL I South contest. Cloverdale gave unbeaten St. Vincent a run last weekend, before being shut out in the second half and losing 20-14. Casey Berry led the Eagles with a TD reception, 10 tackles and a fumble recovery. Clear Lake handled Lower Lake 47-0 and junior QB Ryan Richardson threw for two TDs and Jared Ashworth had two TD receptions.
Willits (0-6, 0-1) at Kelseyville (2-3-1, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Wolverines got manhandled by Middletown in a league opener last week and has had trouble finding the end zone. Kelseyville lost at Fort Bragg, 62-19, but Mike Duman had a rare triple, running for a TD, passing for one and catching a TD pass.
RV Christian (3-1, 3-0) at Anderson Valley (4-0, 4-0),
7:30 p.m.
This is an important game in the NCL II. RV Christian lost its first game last week to St. Bernard of Eureka, 34-16. The Panthers had its closest game of the year, a 30-28 win at Point Arena, in which Anderson Valley trailed 22-6 at the half. Jordan Bright ran for three TDs after intermission.
Tomales (3-2, 2-0) at Potter Valley (2-4, 2-2), 7:30 p.m.
The Braves, coming off a bye, own two one-sided league wins. In a win against Calistoga, Stan Moody ran 12 times for 251 yards and four TDs, including a 75-yarder. Potter Valley didnt play last week, but the previous week it edged Point Arena 13-6 on two TD runs by Matthew Moore.
Point Arena (0-4, 0-4) at Laytonville (1-5, 0-4), 7:30 p.m.
The Pirates played one of their best games against Anderson Valley last week, but couldnt hold the lead. DJ Egger ran for three TDs and passed for another. Laytonville lost to Calistoga last week, 42-26, despite four TDs by Granville Fox (two rushing and two receiving).
SATURDAYS GAMES
Maria Carrillo (4-2, 2-1) vs. Elsie Allen (1-5, 0-3) at SRHS,
7:30 p.m.
The Pumas havent been at full strength in weeks, but have still managed to post a couple of NBL wins. Last week, with Matt Hart running for 95 yards and two TDs and Terry Reid adding 92 yards and a TD, Carrillo defeated Piner 28-13. Elsie Allen has endured a rough opening three weeks of league, having been outscored 184-0.
Upper Lake (3-3, 0-1) at St. Vincent (6-0, 1-0), 2:30 p.m.
After beating Lower Lake and Kelseyville, the Cougars have lost consecutive games to Middletown and St. Helena. The Mustangs defense came up big again last week, shutting out Cloverdale in the second half and overcoming a 14-0 halftime deficit. Kris Farinha had a 75-yard fumble return for a TD and Cullen Carroll had 14 tackles.
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High school football roundup
High school football roundup
Greyhounds improve to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the SCL with victory over rival
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, October 17, 2008
Healdsburg gets past Windsor, 25-14
Healdsburg improved to 6-1, and 2-1 in the Sonoma County League, with a 25-14 victory at Windsor (1-5, 0-1).
The Jaguars jumped to a 7-0 lead on Camerion Erions 7-yard run in the first quarter. But after Colin Brown kicked a 24-yard field goal to get the Greyhounds on the board, the Healdsburg combination of quarterback Zach Shippey and Paul Wilson combined for two touchdown passes in the second quarter.
Windsors Blake Schmidt scored on a short run to cut the score to 16-14 at halftime, but the Jaguars would not score again. Healdsburgs Andy Phillips went in from a yard out, and the Hounds wrapped up their scoring with a safety when an errant snap flew over the punters head and into the end zone.
Erion ran for 134 yards on 12 carries. Dillon Cattalini had 91 on 19 attempts for Healdsburg, while Shippey completed 12 of 21 passes for 125 yards.
AT WINDSOR
Healdsburg 0 1 6 9 0 25
Windsor 7 7 0 0 14
W Cameron Erion 7 run (Lee Aranda kick)
H Colin Brown 24 FG
H Paul Wilson 17 pass from Zach Shippey (Brown kick)
H Wilson 14 pass from Shippey (kick failed)
W Blake Schmidt 1 run (Aranda kick)
H Andy Phillips 1 run (Brown kick)
H safety, bad snap in end zone
Records: H 6-1, 2-1; W1-5, 0-2
Rushing: WCameron Erion 12x134, Schmidt 10x64, DJ King 3x49. HDillon Cattalini 19x91.
Passing: HZach Shippey 12-21, 125.
Notable: WKory Langhals 10 tackles, 6 asst, 2 sacks.
SONOMA 30, EL MOLINO 20
Sonoma jumped out to a 16-0 lead in the first quarter, then hung on for the win. Nick Fedrick had three touchdown runs for the Dragons. Tony DeMarco threw a pair of scoring passes for the Lions.
AT SONOMA VALLEY
El Molino 0 6 6 8 20
Sonoma 16 7 0 7 30
S Nick Fedrick 2 run (kick failed)
S Sam Wallace 32 field goal
S Fedrick 3 run (Wallace kick)
EM Tony DeMarco 15 pass to Chaz Mathias (kick failed)
S Jake Powers 25 pass to Jessie Bojarsky (Wallace kick)
EM DeMarco 5 pass to Rhodes Wroth (pass failed)
SFedrick 1 run (Wallace kick)
EM Mike Pierson 20 pass to Cole Parmeger (Pierson pass to Rick Franchesei)
Records: El Molino 3-4, 1-2; Sonoma 2-4, 2-1
SPassing: Jake Powers 10-16-110 yards; Rushing: Nick Fedrick 20-100, 3 TD; Receiving:Steve Fillippi 9-95; Leading Tackler: Michael Mulas 13.
UKIAH 37, MONTGOMERY 20
At Ukiah, Ukiah remained unbeaten and senior quarterback Kyle Morris threw for four touchdowns, all four to Kyle Mayfield as the Wildcats won on homecoming.
Ukiah, ranked No. 3, is now 3-0 in the NBL and 6-0 overall.
Montgomery (1-4-1, 1-2) took a 6-0 lead on a 64-yard TD run by Alex CuidadReal, but Ukiah answered with a 15-yard TD pass from Morris to Mayfield and kicked the PAT.
Ukiah scored the next two TDs on Morris throws. Mayfield also had TD catches of 10 and 30 yards. Gabe Ott added a 20-yard field goal for the Wildcats.
Max Heller threw a pair of TD passes for Montgomery, 30 yards to James Berthinier and 16 yards to Josh LaFontaine.
Marcos Hernandez also had a rushing TD for Ukiah.
AT UKIAH
Montgomery 6 7 0 7 20
Ukiah 7 14 9 7 37
M CuidadReal 64 run (pass failed)
U Mayfield 15 pass from Morris, (Ott kick)
U Mayfield 38 pass from Morris (Ott kick)
U Mayfield 10 pass from Morris (Ott kick)
M James Berthinier 30 pass from Max Heller (Spann kick)
U Marcos Herndandez 1 run (kick failed)
U Ott 20 field goal
U Mayfield 30 pass from Morris (Ott kick)
M LaFontaine 16 pass from heller (Spann kick)
JV Ukiah 33, Montgomery 7
Rancho Cotate, also undefeated, plays at Ukiah next Friday.
RANCHO 58, ELSIE ALLEN 0
It was all Cougars as they improved to 6-0 on the year, 3-0 in the NBL. Rancho Cotate scored eight rushing touchdowns, including three by Brian Dworkin and two by Anthony Bernard.
AT RANCHO COTATE
Elsie Allen 0 0 0 0 0
Rancho Cotate 7 21 9 21 58
RC Brian Dworkin 6 run (Eduardo Farias kick)
RC Anthony Bernard 3 run (Eduardo Farias kick)
RC Dworkin 11 run (Farias kick)
RC Cody Allen 15 run (Farias kick)
RC Eduardo Farias 38 FG
RC Dworkin 37 run (kick failed)
RC Wayne Capers 17 run (Farias kick)
RC Bernard 4 run (Farias kick)
RC Steven Morales 20 run (Farias kick)
Records: EA 1-4, 0-3; RC 6-0, 3-0
RC Rushing: Dworkin 11-122, 3 TD; RC Passing: Allen 5-10 86 1 Int; RC Receiving: Dworkin 2-59
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Jaguars to host hounds for homecoming
Windsor hungry for victory in 10th annual Grape Bowl
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
Local football bragging rights will be on the line this Friday, Oct. 17 when North Bay Rival Healdsburg invades the Jungle in the annual Homecoming Game.
Kickoff times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
The much-anticipated clash, also known as the Grape Bowl, is the 10th meeting between the teams, with the Greyhounds leading the series 8-1.
Last year, the Hounds pulled off a miracle finish to notch a 23-19 victory at Recreation Park. Windsors lone win in the series came in 2006 when they cruised to a 27-7 win.
The Jaguars enter this years game fresh off a bye week, with an overall record of 1-4, and 0-1 in the Sonoma County League. Windsor, led by head coach Jason Fayter, features a strong offensive unit that includes senior quarterback Blake Schmidt and talented juniors; running back/DB Cameron Erion, and receivers/DBs D.J. King and Michael Campbell. Lineman Kory Langhals is a force on both sides of the ball for the Jags.
The Hounds will be led by senior quarterback Zach Shippey, senior running back/LB Andy Phillips, and senior receivers/DBs Dante Fountain and Caleb Rummonds. Travis Paasche and Placido Lopez are the leaders in the trenches for Healdsburg.
The Greyhounds come in with a 5-1 mark on the season and 1-1 in the SCL, having posted a 29-22 win over Sonoma last week.
A packed house is expected in Windsor this year, with Kaiser Park also available to handle overflow parking. To avoid traffic congestion, fans are strongly encouraged to arrive early.
The halftime ceremony will feature the crowning of Homecoming royalty from each class.
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Rankings..................
Newman, Rancho, Ukiah remain 1-2-3 in rankings
Undefeated St. Vincent still No. 1 in small schools
By RICH RUPPRECHT
Published: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The top-three of both the large-school and small-school football rankings remained the same this week. Its the bottom of the rankings that have seen a bit of movement of late.
LARGE SCHOOL RANKINGS
1. Cardinal Newman (5-0)
2. Rancho Cotate (5-0)
3. Ukiah (5-0)
4. Analy (5-1)
T5. Healdsburg (5-1)
T5. Petaluma (3-3)
SMALL SCHOOL RANKINGS
1. St. Vincent (5-0)
2. Fort Bragg (4-1)
3. Middletown (4-1)
4. Kelseyville (2-2-1)
5. Cloverdale (3-2)
Cardinal Newman (5-0), whose toughest league games should be in the final three weeks of the season, posted its second consecutive shutout, 49-0 over Piner, and remained No. 1 ranked.
Newman is also the top-rated Division III school in Northern California by Cal-Hi Sports, ahead of two schools it defeated, Palma of Salinas and Central Catholic of Modesto.
Rancho Cotate (5-0), which played well in a 41-19 win against Maria Carrillo, remained the No. 2 ranked large school and Ukiah (5-0), which prevented a two-point conversion near the end of the game and edged Santa Rosa 21-10, holds the No. 3 spot.
Upset wins by Petaluma against Casa Grande and El Molino against Analy shook up the bottom of the rankings.
Analy (5-1) stayed at No. 4, but Healdsburg (5-1) and Petaluma (3-3) are now tied at No. 5.
El Molino defeated Analy, 21-19, in the Golden Apple Game and Petaluma came from behind to knock off Casa, 21-14.
The upsets also tightened the race in the Sonoma County League. Petaluma, which has its bye week, is the only undefeated school in the SCL and is 2-0. Analy, Healdsburg, Sonoma and El Molino are all 1-1 and Casa Grande and Windsor are 0-1.
The top of the small school rankings also remained the same.
St. Vincent (5-0) stayed at No. 1, Fort Bragg at No. 2 and Middletown No. 3. Following a win over Cloverdale, Kelseyville moved up to No. 4 and Cloverdale is No. 5.
St. Vincent blanked Lower Lake 28-0 and opens North Central League I South plays Cloverdale (3-2) Saturday afternoon at home.
Fort Bragg (4-1), with coach Jack Moyer going after his 200th career win, hosts Kelseyville (2-2-1) Friday night in an NCL I North opener.
Fort Bragg defeated Clear Lake, 28-6, last week and Kelseyville defeated Cloverdale, 22-16.
Middletown (4-1), which shut out Upper Lake, 35-0, hosts Willits Friday night in another NCL I North opener.
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High school football weekend predictions
October 17, 2008 --
Rancho, Newman should both win as Halloween matchup nears
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, October 17, 2008
Each Friday, Press Democrat Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht predicts the weekend's Empire football games. Disagree with his picks? Let us know about it at sports@pressdemocrat.com
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Cardinal Newman 38, Santa Rosa 13
Dont see a repeat of last years close game. Newman has way too many weapons.
Rancho Cotate 49, Elsie Allen 0
Rancho rolls and Halloween night matchup with Newman draws closer.
Ukiah 21, Montgomery 13
Wildcats get it done, but wont be easy. Still some life in the Vikings.
Casa Grande 27, Analy 14
It has been four weeks since Gauchos last win. Matt OBrien steps up.
Windsor 28, Healdsburg 21
Yes, Healdsburg beat Sonoma and Sonoma beat Windsor, but the home team gets the nod in this rivalry game.
Sonoma Valley 28, El Molino 21
Dragons are better than record shows. Lions woke up in a big way last week in Golden Apple Game.
Fort Bragg 33, Kelseyville 12
Timberwolves appear to have a date with Middletown for NCL I North crown.
Middletown 35, Willits 0
Its the same result as the Mustangs last two games.
Clear Lake 18, Lower Lake 14
Two of the best small school teams, hit hard by graduation. Lower Lake hit harder.
Calistoga 27, Laytonville 13
Warriors getting better, but so are the Wildcats.
SATURDAY'S GAMES
Maria Carrillo 33, Piner 14
Pumas banged up, but still a lot of firepower.
St. Vincent 22, Cloverdale 8
Eagles seem dangerous, especially in a league opener, but Mustangs defense has been among the best in Empire.
Upper Lake 27, St. Helena 21
Yes, the Cougars were shut out by Middletown last week, but they surprised Kelseyville the week before.
Potter Valley 26, Point Arena 12
Bear Cats steal one on the road.
Rincon Valley Christian 28, St. Bernard 27
Very good matchup and RVC hoping to stay unbeaten.
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SCOTT MANCHESTER / The Press Democrat
Windsor's DJ King intercepts a Redwood pass and returns it for a touchdown on Sept. 6. Rich Rupprecht gives the nod to Windsor on Friday night, at home against Healdsburg.
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High school football weekend predictions
RUPE'S PICKS
Each week, Rich Rupprecht picks the winners for the weekend's Empire football games
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, October 10, 2008
FRIDAY'S PICKS
Rancho Cotate 31, Maria Carrillo 13
The Ranch has only given up 23 points in four games.
Montgomery 27, Elsie Allen 6
The Vikings’ offense comes alive.
Cardinal Newman 48, Piner 7
No one has come close to shutting down the Cardinals.
Ukiah 28, Santa Rosa 12
Wildcats can pass and run, although Panthers have only been out of one game.
Casa Grande 23, Petaluma 17
Gauchos have won the last five Egg Bowls. Don’t overlook the Trojans.
Sonoma 21, Healdsburg 20
Dragons’ offense had its best game last week against Windsor.
Analy 33, El Molino 13
Tigers have won the last 11 Golden Apple Games.
Fort Bragg 31, Clear Lake 7
The Timberwolves’ Power I running game looking pretty good.
Cloverdale 27, Kelseyville 14
Eagles’ only loss to Middletown; hard to stop Cloverdale’s ground game.
St. Helena 28, Willits 12
Saints have shown ability to score; Wolverines haven't.
Tomales 38, Calistoga 17
Braves still the favorites of the NCL II and tough at home under the lights.
Anderson Valley 40, Laytonville 6
Panthers have two league wins already
SATURDAY'S PICKS
St. Vincent 27, Lower Lake 12
No. 1 Mustangs play well at home, especially on defense.
Middletown 38, Upper Lake 7
Two 3-1 teams, but Middletown has been putting away opponents.
Point Arena 22, Potter Valley 13
Pirates at home and looking for first win.
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Jaguars torched by Dragons, 35-21 in SCL grid opener
Jaguars torched by Dragons, 35-21 in SCL grid opener
Jags in bye week; host Healdsburg on Oct. 17 in Homecoming Game
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
The varsity football Jaguars opened the Sonoma County League campaign on a sour note on Friday, falling to the Sonoma Dragons, 35-21 on a mud-soaked Arnold Field.
The league-opening match-up at Sonoma figured to be a good one, as the Dragons entered the game with a winless, 0-3 mark on the season, while the Jags came in at 1-3 overall. As it turned out, Sonoma had Windsor right where it wanted them-laying in the weeds and ready to ambush.
The Jaguars had no answer for the Dragon’s potent ground attack, as running back Nick Fedrick scored four touchdowns, churning up a whopping, 206 yards on the night. Sonoma used the rushing success to control the clock and the scoreboard, on a night when deteriorating field conditions would dictate offensive strategy.
The Dragons drew first blood in the opening quarter, capping a solid drive with a one-yard scoring plunge from Fedrick for a 6-0 lead. Sonoma went up by two scores early in the second period when Fedrick scampered in from three yards out, adding a run for the two point conversion and a 14-0 advantage.
The Jags got on the board midway through the second quarter when quarterback Blake Schmidt finished off a Windsor drive with a one-yard touchdown dive. Lee Aranda followed with a successful PAT boot to cut the deficit to 14-7. Sonoma capped the first-half fireworks with another five-yard touchdown burst by Fedrick for a 21-7 bulge at the break.
With field conditions worsening by the minute, the Dragons effectively put the game away in the third quarter when Fedrick found pay-dirt for the fourth time on a 29-yard scoring dash to put Sonoma up by three touchdowns. The Dragons later added a 28-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Jake Powers to receiver Andrew McGunagul for a 35-7 bulge at the end of three.
To their credit, the Jags clawed back in the final period to score on a 59-yard lightening bolt from Schmidt to slot receiver D.J. King to make it 35-14. Schmidt later hooked up with wide-out Michael Campbell on a 60-yard bomb for the eventual final score of 35-21.
The Jaguars (1-4, 0-1) have a bye this Friday before resuming league action at home on Oct. 17 against Healdsburg in the Homecoming Game. Kickoff times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
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High school football weekend previews
October 9, 2008 --
By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Thursday, October 9, 2008
Rancho Cotate (4-0, 1-0) at Maria Carrillo (3-1, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.
High school football weekend predictions
Defensive quartet sparks Ranchos success
A key league game between two of the upper-echelon NBL schools. Rancho Cotate rediscovered its option offense last week in a 33-0 win against Montgomery. The Cougars defensive line of Anthony Alicea, Jonathan Torres, Adam Murray and Budd Guinn spent much of the night in the Vikings backfield. Ranchos strength has been stopping the run. Eduardo Farias broke his own school record with a 53-yard field goal. Maria Carrillos defense also came up with key plays in its 26-14 comeback win against Santa Rosa. Two backs Zack Sheets (100 yards) and Sam Atoe (130 yards) showed the running strength of the Delaware Wing-T. Sheets also came up with a 75-yard interception return for a TD and Matt Hart scored on a 22-yard fumble recovery and a run.
Analy (5-0, 1-0) at El Molino (2-3, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.
Although there have been some close scores in the game for the Golden Apple, Analy has won the last 11 contests in the series. The Tigers defense came up big again last week in shutting out Healdsburg in rain and mud at home. Analy has cut down markedly on turnovers from last year and it has paid off with the defense not spending an exorbitant amount of time on the field. El Molino has been hit recently by injuries, although soph QB Mike Pierson continues to throw well.
Petaluma (2-3, 1-0) at Casa Grande (2-1-1, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.
Casa Grande owns a five-game winning streak in the Egg Bowl, which is now 8-8 since the two Petaluma schools started playing for the Golden Egg Trophy. The cross-town rivals have actually played one another since 1974. Casa, a five-time defending champ of the SCL, is coming off its first loss, 28-10, to a very good Napa team. Petalumas triple option rolled in a 57-0 win against El Molino last week. Casa likes to throw the ball, while the Trojans have stayed with the ground game most of this season.
Piner (1-3, 0-1) at Cardinal Newman (4-0, 1-0), 7 p.m.
The early part of Newmans NBL schedule wasnt expected to be nearly as difficult as the Cardinals preseason. Quarterback Randy Wright threw for five TDs against Elsie Allen, including three to Wade Amaral. Newman remains the top-ranked Division III team in Northern California, ahead of Palma and Central Catholic, teams it has beaten. Piner lost 47-7 to visiting Ukiah last week after winning at El Molino.
Ukiah (4-0, 1-0) at Santa Rosa (1-3, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Wildcats continue to improve, showing a balanced offense with QB Kyle Morris (6 TD passes in two games) and RB Marcos Hernandez (averaging over 100 yards a game). Ukiahs defense, while not physically big, has shown an ability to stop opponents inside the 20. Santa Rosa has been wracked by injury but still play hard. The Panthers held a 14-0 lead against Carrillo before fading in the second half.
Sonoma (1-3, 1-0) at Healdsburg (4-1, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Dragons picked up their first win last week against Windsor, 35-21, while Healdsburg lost its first against Analy, 17-0. Sonoma back Nick Fedrick rushed for 206 yards and four TDs. Healdsburgs defense continues to play well. This is a key SCL contest.
Elsie Allen (1-3, 0-1) at Montgomery (0-3-1, 0-1), 7:30.
Elsie Allen ran into a buzzsaw named Cardinal Newman last week, a week after snapping a 21-game losing streak against Richmond. Montgomery has had trouble scoring out of its Pistol Offense, and was shut out last week at Rancho Cotate. Monty is hungry for a win, its best game to this point being a 0-0 tie with Casa Grande.
Clear Lake (2-1-1) at Fort Bragg (3-1), 7:30 p.m.
Clear Lake absorbed its first loss, decisively last week (34-0) to Middletown. Fort Bragg is ranked No. 2 among small schools and has displayed a very effective power running game so far. Last week, in a 35-7 win at St. Helena that the Timberwolves broke open late, back Jake Cimolino rushed for 304 yards and three TDs on 22 carries.
Cloverdale (3-1) at Kelseyville (1-2-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Eagles bounced back from their only loss (Middletown) and defeated Lower Lake, 35-0. Chayton Osmon rushed for 114 yards on 15 carries and scored two TDs. Kelseyville squandered an 18-0 lead and lost at Upper Lake 30-18. Troy Davis had 150 rushing yards at the half and finished with 176.
St. Helena (2-2) at Willits (0-4), 7:30 p.m.
St. Helena has lost to Kelseyville and Fort Bragg after opening the season with wins against Calistoga and Lower Lake. Morgan Densberger accounted for the Saints only TD against Ft. Bragg with a 70-yard run. Willits dropped a 14-2 game to No. 1 St. Vincent in the rain and muck at Willits. The Wolverines have scored only 10 points in four games, and four of those have come on safeties.
Calistoga (1-4, 0-1) at Tomales (2-2, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Calistoga couldnt hold a lead and lost to league foe Rincon Valley Christian, 28-13. Tomales easily won its NCL II opener at Laytonville, 40-0.
SATURDAY
Lower Lake (0-4) at St. Vincent (4-0), 2:30 p.m.
What a difference a year has made for the Trojans, who posted their first winning season in 10 years last season, won the NCL I North and made the 2A playoffs. The Trojans are young and coming off that 35-0 loss to Cloverdale. The Mustangs are doing everything right so far this year, including scoring twice in terrible weather conditions at Willits and winning 14-2. Kris Fainha rushed for 149 yards on 29 carries and scored two TDs. The Mustangs are off to their best start since a 10-2 league championship season in 2005.
Middletown (3-1) at Upper Lake (3-1), 2:30 p.m.
Middletown would appear to be the better team on paper, but theres something about this Cougars team that keeps surprising. Middletown had two runners Eric Tomko and Tyler Owen rush for over 100 yards last week in a shutout of Clear Lake. A solid offensive line has helped make the running game work. Upper Lake fell behind Kelseyville 18-0 and won 30-18. Turnovers helped spark the win as well as back Joe Barnes, who rushed for 111 yards and had a touchdown. QB Brandon Mendoza threw for 128 yards.
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I Sincerely Apologize......
September 28, 2008 --
I apologize for not removing an inappropriate posting from the message board. Due to concerns from several parents we will no longer be hosting a message board on this site. The message board was intentionally meant for players and fans to communicate. The site was made by Bart Buckner and not the coaching staff or Windsor High School. The website was created so fans and players could look up stats, game results, football info and anything else related to football...
Sincerely , Bart Buckner..
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Newman, Rancho, Analy open league with shutout wins...
By RICH RUPPRECHT
The Press Democrat
Published: Monday, October 6, 2008
The opening weekend of the North Bay League and Sonoma County League in high school football showed that Cardinal Newman, Rancho Cotate, Ukiah and Maria Carrillo are in the hunt for a league championship, while Analy’s big win against Healdsburg has projected the Tigers into the running for an SCL crown.
Cardinal Newman (4-0) easily defeated Elsie Allen, 63-0, as quarterback Randy Wright threw for five touchdowns, three to Wade Amaral.
Rancho Cotate (4-0) blanked Montgomery, 33-0, in its NBL opener at home. Brian Dworkin had TD runs of 23 and 22 yards and Eduardo Farias kicked a 53-yard field goal.
Maria Carrillo (3-1) overcame a 14-0 deficit to defeat Santa Rosa, 26-14, in the first night game ever at the Rincon Valley school with Matt Hart scoring two TDs, one on a 22-yard fumble return, and Zack Sheets returned an interception 75 yards for a TD and rushed for 100 yards.
On Saturday, Ukiah (4-0) won its NBL opener, 47-7, at Piner. Quarterback Kyle Morris threw for 266 yards and three TDs, Marcos Hernandez caught a TD pass and rushed for another and safety Gabe Ott returned an interception 70 yards for a score.
In the SCL, Analy (5-0) won the battle of the unbeatens with Healdsburg (4-1), 17-0, on a sloppy Karlson Field in Sebastopol Friday. Analy’s defense came up big yet again and Isias Alcantar rushed for a TD and QB David Glass passed for another.
Sonoma Valley opened SCL play by picking up its first win of the season, 35-21, over Windsor. Nick Fedrick rushed for four TDs and wound up with 206 yards rushing on 26 carries for the Dragons. Linebacker Michael Mulas also had 13 tackles.
Petaluma won its SCL opener with a 57-0 blanking of El Molino at Durst Field Friday. Sean Sullivan rushed for three TDs, including scoring runs of 41 and 51 yards and finished with 173 yards on the ground on just 13 carries. Sophomore QB Mike Pierson threw for 146 yards for El Molino.
Casa Grande (2-1-1) lost at Napa, 28-10, and opens SCL play Friday night when it hosts Petaluma. Matt O’Brien threw for 142 yards for Casa and came up with his fifth interception of the season on defense.
The top-three ranked teams in small school all won, St. Vincent (4-0) defeating Willits, 14-2, Fort Bragg (3-1) won at St. Helena, 35-7, and Middletown (3-1) blanked Clear Lake, 34-0.
Kris Farinha rushed for both St. Vincent scores and finished with 149 yards on 26 carries on a muddy Willits field.
Jake Cimolino rushed for an Empire season-high 304 yards on 22 carries and had TD runs of 72, 36 and 41 yards for Fort Bragg.
Eric Tomko rushed for 161 yards on 20 carries and Tyler Owen added 121 yards on the ground for Middletown.
Chayton Osmon rushed for 114 yards in Cloverdale’s 30-0 win against Lower Lake and Upper Lake overcame an 18-0 deficit to defeat Kelseyville Saturday at the Cougars’ homecoming. Cloverdale and Upper Lake are both 3-1.
Upper Lake tailback Joe Barnes rushed for 170 yards and QB Brandon Quetza-Mendoza had a big second half throwing.
All the NCL I games continue as interlock, not league games.
In North Central League II play, Tomales and Rincon Valley Christian remained unbeaten in league. Tomales topped Laytonville, 40-0, Friday and RVC scored all its points in the second half to overcome a 13-0 halftime deficit and defeat Calistoga, 28-13.
Jordan Bright ran for three TDs and two 2-point conversions to lead Anderson Valley to a 42-0 win against Potter Valley.
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Jaguars fall to Maria Carrillo, 30-24 in pigskin clash
Windsor falls to 0-2 in pre-season; travel to Santa Rosa Saturday
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
The varsity football Jaguars remain in search of their first win of the fall campaign this week after dropping a hard-fought, 30-24 decision to visiting Maria Carrillo on Saturday. The loss left Windsor with a record of 0-2.
The Jags will be looking for redemption this Saturday, Sept. 20 when they travel to take on the Santa Rosa Panthers. Kickoff times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s home opener with Maria Carrillo was a lesson in frustration for the Jaguars, with their offense displaying a quick strike capability, but whose special teams and defense has struggled mightily in each of the team’s first two games.
The Pumas took full advantage of poor Windsor kickoff coverage again Friday, utilizing good field position to start multiple scoring drives.
The game started well enough for the Jags, as quarterback Blake Schmidt used a good mix of run and pass to direct a 79-yard scoring march on Windsor’s opening drive. A completion to wide-out Michael Campbell and long runs by running back Cameron Erion set up a seven-yard scoring pass from Schmidt to Erion. An Elias Aranda PAT boot gave the Jags a 7-0 lead.
The Pumas came right back just two minutes later when they used a short field to mount a six-play, 58-yard drive, capped by a 27-yard scoring run from running back Sam Atoe. Windsor’s Steven Hutchison blocked the PAT kick and Windsor led, 7-6.
Maria Carrillo took a lead they would not relinquish late in the first quarter on another scoring march resulting in a 19-yard burst from Zach Sheets. The Jags stuffed the try for the two-point conversion and the Pumas led, 12-7 at the end of one.
The Jaguars were on the march early in the second period when Schmidt hooked up with Campbell on a long pass to the Puma six yard line. The Jags were forced to settle for a 22-yard Aranda field goal, cutting the deficit to 12-10. The Pumas capped the first-half scoring with another five-yard scoring burst from Atoe to put Carrillo up 18-10 at the break.
The Pumas gained separation in the third quarter, using a strong push from their offensive line to score on a three-yard run by Sheets. The PAT kick failed and the Jags trailed 25-10. Windsor stayed within striking distance on its next possession, as Schmidt found Campbell on a 29-yard scoring strike to make it a 24-17 ballgame at the end of three.
The Pumas effectively put the game on ice late in the fourth quarter when Sheets found pay-dirt on an 11-yard run. The PAT kick was blocked by Jacob Welch, but Carrillo led 30-17. Windsor answered quickly on the next series on a short drive resulting in a 16-yard scoring pass from Schmidt to DJ King. The Pumas held off a Windsor come-back bid to escape with a 30-24 win.
Schmidt turned in a solid game for the Jags, connecting on 20 of 39 pass attempts for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Other strong offensive performances were had by: Erion (20-114 yards rushing, 4-42 yards receiving, TD), Campbell (3-101 yards receiving, TD), King (7-51 yards receiving, TD, 1-1, 53 yards passing), Miles Williams (5-40 yards receiving), and James Reed (1-29 yards receiving).
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Varsity footballers power past Santa Rosa, 49-7
Jags get first season win; host Castlemont this Friday
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
The varsity football Jaguars left little to chance on Saturday in their pre-season clash at Santa Rosa, pounding the host Panthers into submission, 49-7 before a packed house at Ernie Nevers Field.
Windsors convincing victory came on the heels of two close pre-season losses to Redwood and Maria Carrillo, providing a huge relief to a team with playoff aspirations.
We werent that far away the first couple of games and it was nice to finally put it all together, said Jags head coach Jason Fayter. Santa Rosa is not a bad team, but we were just hitting on all cylinders on offense.
Windsor senior quarterback Blake Schmidt orchestrated the offensive fireworks against the Panthers, amassing 181 yards through the air, including three touchdowns. Junior all-purpose back D.J. King also turned in his best outing of the season, hauling in five passes for 128 yards and three scores.
Junior running back Cameron Erion continued to churn up big chunks of real estate, gaining another 198 yards on the ground on 13 carries and a pair of touchdowns. In three games, the durable Windsor back has racked up 546 yards rushing, easily the best in the Redwood Empire this season.
The Jags wasted no time in establishing dominance on Saturday, scoring five touchdowns in a first-half offensive explosion. Windsor got the party started on their third possession of the game when Schmidt found King on a 14-yard scoring strike, followed by a Morgan Rennie PAT boot. The Jags continued the assault when Schmidt hit wide-out Michael Campbell with a 12-yard scoring pass, with King running in the two-point conversion.
Erion capped an early second-quarter drive with an 18-yard burst, followed by a reception by James Reed for the two-pointer. Erion added another 16-yard touchdown scamper, and later ripped off a big gain to set up a 35-yard scoring pass from Schmidt to King for a commanding, 35-0 lead at the break.
There was no let-up after intermission, as Erion raced 75 yards to the house for another Windsor score early in the third quarter. King replaced Schmidt in the fourth period and finished off the scoring with a nine-yard keeper en-route to a 49-7 win.
In addition to Windsors big three (Schmidt, Erion, and King) on offense, other strong efforts were had by: Campbell (4-40 yards receiving, TD), Reed (2-21 yards receiving) and Michael Hutchison (1-11 yards receiving).
Top defenders were: Zach Arvig (11 tackles), Edgar Canchola (10 tackles), Kyle Yung (10 tackles), Kory Langhals (8 tackles), Jacob Welch (8 tackles, sack), Chris Michels (6 tackles), Jordan Winkler (5 tackles), Campbell (2 tackles, 2 INTs), Deandre Faaita (5 tackles, INT), Michael Hutchison (4 tackles), Erion (4 tackles), Zach Schlief (4 tackles), King (3 tackles), Steven Hutchison (3 tackles), Rosendo Castro (3 tackles), Aaron Fletcher (2 tackles), Craig Lyman (2 tackles), Brandon Scott (2 tackles) and one tackle from Brennen Duke.
The Jags (1-2) host Castlemont of Oakland this Friday, Sept. 26 in the final pre-season game. Kickoff times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Jags frosh beat Trojans, 35-15 in season grid opener
By T.J. Van Bebber, Special to the Times
The game did not start off too well for Windsors returning defensive coordinator Brad Whitmore, but it ended well enough for the Jaguar offense on Sept. 18 in a 35-15 frosh football win over Petaluma.
The Trojans scored on their first possession on a 61-yard run and added the extra point. The Jaguars then mounted a seven-minute drive, but coughed up a fumble. The first quarter ended with Petaluma up by seven points.
Windsor forced a punt and went to work with the offense led by quarterback Christian McAlvain. With less than one minute to go in the first half Jerad Leon busted a 12-yard run for Windsors first score of the season. The Jags were unable to get across the line for the two-point conversion. With only seconds left on the half time clock, the Trojans went to the air and Windsors Stevie Delucchi picked it off, jetted into the end zone for a defensive touchdown. The Jags completed the two-point conversion and the first half ended with Windsor ahead by seven points.
The Jags marched down after the kick-off and scored on a six-yard pass to receiver Taylor Biaggi. Windsor then got the two-point conversion. Petaluma quickly responded with a touchdown of their own with a couple of minutes left in the third quarter.
Windsor kept rolling in the fourth quarter, scoring two rushing touchdowns; one from Leon and the other from McAlvain from 14 yards out. Windsor went for the one point conversion and made one out of two.
Im proud of these 43 boys, theyve been working hard during the summer and kept it up when we got pads on, said head coach T.J. Van Bebber. We got to play the 5th quarter and got to look at a lot of players that are up and coming.
Next up for the frosh Jags is a game at Sonoma on Oct. 2.
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September 19, 2008 --
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Each Friday, Press Democrat Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht makes his predictions for the weekend's football games. Agree or disagree? Let us know about it at sports.pressdemocrat.com.
FRIDAY'S PICKS
Rancho Cotate 35, Jesse Bethel 21 A reverse of last years game. Rancho should come closer to matching up in quickness.
Petaluma 24, Ukiah 21 Call it an upset special. Cant see the Trojans offense sputtering three straight weeks.
Sonoma 20, Vallejo 19 Two teams from different sections, but Dragons defense comes alive.
Fort Bragg 44, Upper Lake 12 The Timberwolves are drawing raves from area coaches.
Lower Lake 33, St. Helena 21 The Trojans scored against John Swett; just couldnt stop them.
Tomales 34, Emery 12 Braves get Toss offense untracked this week.
Cloverdale 28, Willits 8 Eagles looked good in opener against Elsie Allen.
Clear Lake 23, Kelseyville 12 Cardinals lost a lot to graduation, but rolled over Pierce.
Woodland Christian 33, Laytonville 7 The Warriors improved in loss to Potter Valley, but still looking up.
Point Arena 13, Anderson Valley 12 Pirates are young, but Panthers didnt even field a team last year.
SATURDAY'S PICKS
Del Oro 31, Cardinal Newman 28 Newman will find a way to keep it close and may even pull off the upset.
Casa Grande 27, Maria Carrillo 24 Could be a lot of offensive firepower in this one and remember Carrillo plays well at home.
Healdsburg 28, Piner 18 The Greyhounds pulled off a stunner last week against Riordan. Piner still looking to get untracked.
Windsor 33, Santa Rosa 21 Jaguars running game has been very good; Santa Rosa still untested following Richmond game.
El Molino 38, Elsie Allen 14 Lions missing Tony DeMarco, but looked good in close loss to Fortuna.
Analy 44, Burton 12 Tigers whipped the San Francisco school last year and had just two wins. Already have two wins this season.
Middletown 14, St. Vincent 13 Usually a defensive struggle when the two meet. I will say the Mustangs win.
Calistoga 21, Millennium Charter 6 Wildcats get first win in third game
Rincon Valley Christian 33, Potter Valley 13 After unable to play last week, the Eagles come out running and throwing.
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Jags fall to Redwood, 28-21 in grid season opener
The Windsor Times Sports
Erion runs for 234 yards; Windsor hosts Maria Carrillo Friday
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
The varsity football Jaguars did everything but declare victory in their 2008 debut on Saturday, dropping a 28-21 decision to the host Redwood Giants.
The season opener in Larkspur was contested on a brutally hot day, testing the will and stamina of both teams. Despite the 100-degree field temperature, the combatants combined for over 750 yards in total offense- including 416 for Windsor.
Jaguar junior running back Cameron Erion did the bulk of the damage for the Jags, ripping off 234 yards on 24 carries against the top-ranked defense in the Marin County Athletic League. Unfortunately for the Jags, Redwood’s Joe Klemme was nearly as impressive, gaining 187 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in a duel of two outstanding backs.
Despite the loss, there was no shortage of great offensive efforts for Windsor, including that of senior quarterback Blake Schmidt, who threw for 176 yards and a pair of scores. Junior receiver Miles Williams added 98 yards on five receptions, while junior slot receiver DJ King hauled in four catches for 38 yards.
“Cameron ran tough and our O-line did a pretty good job, but we made too many mistakes in the game,” said Jags coach Jason Fayter. “We had over 400 yards in offense and only scored two offensive touchdowns- and that’s just not good enough.”
The Jags drew first blood midway through the opening quarter when defensive back DJ King stepped in front of Redwood quarterback Ryan Russell’s pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. The PAT kick failed and Windsor led 6-0.
Windsor dodged an early bullet when the Giants blocked a punt to give them the ball at the Jag’s 10 yard line, but Redwood would cough up a fumble on the ensuing series (recovered by Chris Lowe) to kill the threat.
The Giants got on the board early in the second period when Klemme broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown scamper. The successful PAT boot gave Redwood a 7-6 lead at the break.
Redwood used another in a series of long kickoff returns to start the third quarter, setting up a short drive to grab a 14-6 lead. But Erion put the Jaguars back in business on the next series, bouncing to the outside on a 92-yard scamper to the Giant’s one. The run set up a four-yard scoring pass from Schmidt to junior wide-out Michael Campbell. King hauled in the pass for the two-point conversion and the game was knotted at 14-apiece.
The Giants took advantage of another short field to regain the lead, as Klemme capped the drive with a seven-yard scoring burst for a 21-14 lead. A Redwood interception early in the fourth quarter would eventually lead to a five-yard touchdown run by Andrew O’ Dorisio for a 28-14 bulge.
The Jags refused to go quietly however, using Schmidt’s arm and Erion’s legs to methodically drive for the game’s final touchdown. A leaping grab by Williams would keep the chains moving, leading to an 18-yard scoring strike from Schmidt to King for the eventual, 28-21 Redwood victory.
In addition to the outstanding numbers put up by Erion, Schmidt, Williams, and King, other offensive leaders included: Campbell (3-16 yards receiving, TD), and James Reed (1-18 yards receiving). .
Defensive standouts included: Cody Paz (7 tackles, 4 assists), King (3 tackles, 3 assists, INT, TD), Kory Langhals, (5 tackles, 4 assists), Kyle Yung (4 tackles, 3 assists), Teddy Van Bebber (2 tackles, 4 assists), Jacob Welch (2 tackles, 4 assists), Zack Arvig (4 tackles, assist), Lowe (2 tackles, 3 assists, FR), Campbell (4 tackles), Erion (2 tackles, assist), Michael Lopez (tackle, 2 assists), Reed (tackle, assist), Michael Hutchison (tackle, assist), Jordan Winkler (tackle, assist), Rosendo Castro (2 tackles), Aaron Fletcher (tackle, assist), CJ Landwehr (2 assists), and a tackle apiece from Zack Schlief, Edgar Canchola, Deandre Faaita, and Craig Lyman.
The Jags will host visiting Maria Carrillo this Friday, Sept. 12 in the home opener. Kickoff times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
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Silver linings found in Windsors loss
September 7, 2008 --
REDWOOD 28, WINDSOR 21
Erion rushes for 234 yards on 24 carries; Schmidt throws two touchdowns
By Eric Branch
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
LARKSPUR They couldnt find a way to win, but the Windsor Jaguars discovered several reasons for optimism Saturday afternoon.
In a stifling season opener played in temperatures hovering near 100 degrees, Windsors defense melted in the second half en route to a 28-21 non-league loss to Redwood.
The sting of defeat, however, was dulled by a few promising varsity debuts against the Giants, a program returning plenty of experience from last years run to the Class 3A playoffs.
Windsor junior tailback Cameron Erion rushed for 234 yards on 24 carries and junior wide receiver Miles Williams had five catches for 98 yards.
But their contributions werent enough to overcome Redwoods fearsome rushing attack.
Windsor had just one turnover and five penalties impressive numbers for a season opener but coach Jason Fayter pointed to several subtle breakdowns as the difference in the game.
I felt good about a lot of stuff we did on offense, Fayter said. We just had some bad timing on blown assignments on critical third- and fourth-down plays. We had an opportunity to win the game, but it just didnt happen.
Trailing 14-6 early in the third quarter, the Jaguars rallied on Erions 92-yard run, which set up a 4-yard scoring pass from Blake Schmidt to Michael Campbell. Schmidt then connected with King on a two-point conversion to tie the score at 14.
The Giants response was powerful.
Led by tailback Joe Klemme (23 carries, 186 yards, 3 TDs), Redwood scored on its next two drives, a pair of odes to power football.
The drives covered 107 yards and featured 13 plays, 12 of them runs. After tailback Andrew ODorisio scored on a 5-yard blast, Redwood led 28-14 with 7:29 left and had left no doubt about who controlled the line of scrimmage.
When our linemen are doing their job, theyre fun to watch, Redwood coach Jim Nelson said. We call them Kahunas.
Equally fun to watch was Erion, a shifty runner who ripped off three gains of at least 20 yards against a defense returning seven starters from a unit that allowed an average of 204.9 yards a game last year.
Erion, who had 143 yards in the second half, held up in the heat. And he credited his post-practice routine for his stamina.
After the rest of the team leaves practice, Windsors offensive linemen must stay to run wind sprints for 30 minutes. During summer practices, Erion began joining his linemen for the extra half-hour of exhaustion.
I just decided Id run with the line, Erion said. I know the lines got my back and I wanted them to know Ive got theirs.
In his second year as a starter, Schmidt completed 15 of 29 passes for 176 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Schmidt connected with King on an 18-yard scoring pass with 35 seconds left to trim the deficit to 28-21. King opened the scoring with a 43-yard interception return.
Schmidt also found Williams for completions of 30 and 39 yards, the last of which Williams leaped high for and landed hard on his left shoulder. Fayter said Williams might have dislocated the shoulder, but didnt know about the extent of the injury.
Box ScoreNon-league
AT LARKSPUR
Windsor 6 0 8 7 21
Redwood 0 7 14 7 28
W D.J. King 43 interception return (kick failed)
R Joe Klemme 63 run (Jake Anderson kick)
R Klemme 6 run (Anderson kick)
W Blake Schmidt 4 pass to Michael Campbell (Schmidt pass to King)
R Klemme 7 run (Anderson kick)
R Andrew ODorisio 5 run (Anderson kick)
W Schmidt 18 pass to King (Morgan Rennie kick)
Rushing, W Cameron Erion 24-234, Schmidt 1-(-3). R Klemme 23-186, ODorisio 5-36, Tony Bricca 1-4, Ryan Russell 7-(-4).
Passing, W Schmidt 15-29-1-176. R Russell 4-9-1-76.
Receiving, W Miles Williams 5-98, King 4-38, Campbell 3-17, James Reed 1-19, Erion 1-5, Landwehr 1-(-3).
Record: W 0-1, R 1-0
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Windsor's Cameron Erion dives for extra yardage against Redwood in first half action at Redwood High School in Larkspur on Saturday September 6, 2008.
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Windsor's DJ King interceps a Redwood pass and run it in for a touchdown to put Windsor ahead 6-0 in the first quarter at Redwood High School in Larkspur on Saturday September 6, 2008.
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High school football previews
Press Democrat Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht takes a look at some of this weekend’s most intriguing football matchups:
SCOTT MANCHESTER / PD Vikings' fans had a lot of cheer about last season. Will they be cheering after Friday night's home opener against Grant?TONIGHT
Grant at Montgomery, 7:30 p.m.
Grant would be an excellent test for any school, but a season opener against a Montgomery team switching to a new offense would seem to favor the Pacers, who averaged over 40 points a game last season, while going 7-4. Just about all Grant’s skill players are returning, including quarterback Kipelli Koniseti and receiver Howard Warren. Montgomery returns running back/defensive back James Berthinier and has switched receiver Derek Klomhaus to quarterback.
Terra Linda at Analy, 7:30 p.m.
Terra Linda lost 18 to graduation from a team that went 6-6 and reached the NCS 2A title game (a loss to Novato). This year’s team is inexperienced, but has skill at quarterback (Chris Migdal) and wide receiver (Casey Maloney). Maloney should be a name called frequently by the Karlson Field PA announcer. Joe Maloney caught 49 balls last year from returning quarterback David Glass (nearly 2,500 yards passing). Analy is looking to improve on last year’s 2-8 record under new head coach Dan Bourdon.
Healdsburg at McKinleyville, 7:30 p.m.
These two teams had polar opposite seasons in 2007. Healdsburg went 10-2 and tied for the SCL championship. McKinleyville went 0-9 and finished last in the Humboldt-Del Norte Little Five. Healdsburg returns its entire offensive line and hopes to unleash its running game. Travis Paasche was a two-way all-league lineman for the Greyhounds last season.
SATURDAY
Windsor at Redwood (Larkspur), 1 p.m.
The Jaguars lost a lot to graduation, but do return QB Blake Schmidt. Windsor finished 5-5 and didn’t make the playoffs last year, in part because Redwood defeated the Jaguars 21-20. Redwood lost its first three games last season and then went 7-1, losing to Cardinal Newman in a 3A playoff opener.
Petaluma at Washington (Fremont), 7 p.m.
Washington plays in the tough Mission Valley League and went 5-6-1 last season, deceiving, because the Huskies managed two playoff games, losing to a strong Pinole Valley team, 35-28. Washington also tied San Ramon Valley and defeated Newark Memorial. Petaluma went 5-6 last year, but returns 1,000-yard rusher Sean Sullivan and looks to have a sold corps of running backs and receivers for its triple-option offense.
El Molino at Berean Christian (Walnut Creek), 1 p.m.
Berean Christian went 4-6 last season, but lost its last four games to good teams — Salesian, Sacred Heart Prep, Kings Academy and St. Elizabeth. El Molino went 2-8, winning preseason games against Elsie Allen and Piner. The Lions return 1,000-yard running back Tony DeMarco.
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Byrnes (S.C.) opens season atop Super 25 rankings
2008 SUPER 25 RANKINGS
Super 25: Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) opens the season at No. 1 in USA TODAY's prep rankings
1. Byrnes, Duncan, S.C. (15-0)
Returning starters: 17. Outlook: The Rebels, coming off their fifth 5A title in six years, have 38 seniors returning but two key players are juniors, running back Marcus Lattimore and quarterback Chas Dodd. Lattimore rushed for 1,884 yards and 26 touchdowns last season while Dodd threw for 3,202 yards and 32 TDs. Tough schedule includes games with Georgia runner-up North Gwinnett (Suwanee), Lincoln (Tallahassee) and defending Florida 2B champion Pahokee. Next: Opens Aug. 29 at North Gwinnett.
2. Trinity, Euless, Texas (15-1)
Returning starters: 11. Outlook: The defending 5A champions return RB Dontrayevous Robinson (17 rushing TDs, 6.5 yards a carry), QB Denarius McGhee 1,800 yards passing) and their top tackler, LB Elikena Fieilo. They've gone 40-3 the past three seasons. Tough games include John Curtis (River Ridge, La.) and Allen. Next: Sept. 1 vs. John Curtis.
3. Gateway, Monroeville, Pa. (11-2)
Returning starters: 15. Outlook: Has most of its offensive and defensive lines intact. Top players include two who have committed to Ohio State, WR Corey Brown and LB Dorian Bell, and OL Colin Rodkey, who has committed to Indiana. The Gators also have a three-year starter at QB, Rob Kalkstein, and three juniors who are Division I prospects — G Mitch DeVall, LB Delbert Tyler and CB Dayonne Nunley. Next: Aug. 29 vs. Penn Hills (Pittsburgh).
4. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (12-0)
Returning starters: 12. Outlook: The Ironmen are loaded on offense, with eight returning starters, including all-state QB Brett Knief, along with RBs Tony Jones and Dillon Romain, plus three offensive linemen. Will face one of the toughest schedules in the country with games at No. 18 St. Xavier (Cincinnati) and No. 7 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.). Next: Sept. 13 at No. 18 St. Xavier (Cincinnati).
5. Long Beach Poly, Long Beach (13-1)
Returning starters: 11. Outlook: The Jackrabbits won the CIF Southern Section last season and open at last year's top-ranked team, Miami Northwestern. Top players include RB Melvin Richardson, who ran for 1,316 yards and 15 TDs, and QB Morgan Fennell. Next: Aug. 30 at Miami Northwestern.
6. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale (14-1)
Returning starters: Seven. Outlook: The defending 5A champs are in a good position to repeat with plenty of incoming talent. Because the Saints outscored opponents by an average of 28 points, reserves saw plenty of playing time last season. Returnees include senior QB Ryan Becker, Junior RB Giovanni Bernard and TE Gabe Holmes. Aquinas also has two returning players who are sons of former NFL players, WR Duron Carter, son of Chris Carter and DB Cody Riggs, son of Gerald Riggs. Next: Aug. 30 vs. Elder (Cincinnati) in Cincinnati.
7. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (13-0)
Returning starters: Seven. Outlook: The Spartans are looking to win their third consecutive California Division I title. Will play host to No. 4 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.). Arizona recruit RB Kylan Butler rushed for 1,006 yards and 20 TDs while Blake Wayne, a part-time starter at QB, also returns. Next: Sept. 13 at Junipero Serra (San Mateo).
8. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (13-1)
Returning starters: Nine. Outlook: State 4A runner-up has nine players who have been offered Division I or I-AA scholarships, including DL Ryne Giddens, who had 21 sacks last season, LB Petey Smith and DB Angelo Hadley. Will face early test on Sept. 5 at Plant (Tampa). Next: Aug. 29 vs. Lake Gibson (Lakeland).
9. Carmel, Ind. (13-2)
Returning starters: 12. Outlook: Led by 6-4, 215-pound QB Morgan Newton, the defending 5A champion Greyhounds will be tested early by Cathedral (Indianapolis) and Center Grove (Greenwood). Last season, Newton passed for more than 2,000 yards and ran for more than 900. Other key players include RB Kurt Freytag and DB Joe Rippe and C Joey Barnes. Next: Saturday vs. Cathedral (Indianapolis).
10. Brentwood Academy, Brentwood, Tenn. (11-2)
Returning starters: 12. Outlook: The spread offense should improve with the return of QB Cody Nelson, who threw for 1,500 yards on a state runner-up team, along with heavily recruited DE/TE Thad McHaney and OT Alex Bullard, a Notre Dame commit. Plays a tough game at Prattville, Ala., on Sept. 26. Next: Friday vs. Independence (Thompsons Station).
11. Rockhurst, Kansas City, Mo. (13-0)
Returning starters: Nine. Outlook: The defending 6A champions have plenty of talent back, including Illinois recruit QB Nathan Scheelhaase, who passed for 1,861 yards and 20 TDs and ran for 917 yards and 14 TDs last season, and WR Keith Langtry, who had 11 TD catches. Rockhurst has a tricky schedule that includes Kansas 6A champion Hutchinson, which has won 28 in a row, Blue Springs South (Blue Springs), the Missouri 6A champ two seasons ago, a game at Mullen Prep (Denver) and a game vs. Minnetonka, Minn. Next: Aug. 31 at Blue Springs South (Blue Springs).
12. River Hill, Clarksville, Md. (14-0)
Returning starters: 13. Outlook: The defending 2A champions are 48-4 during the past four years and have two 1,000-yard rushers returning, Michael Campanaro and Malek Redd. Luke Hostetler, nephew of former NFL QB Jeff Hostetler, is the starting QB. Next: Sept. 5 at Atholton (Columbia).
13. Lowndes, Valdosta, Ga. (14-1)
Returning starters: 14. Outlook: The Vikings, who have won three of the past four 5A titles, are now are in the same 5A region as 4A champion No. 22 Northside (Warner Robins). QB Khary Franklin, DB Gerald Demps, a FSU commit, and senior RB Greg Reid, a Florida commit, will help the Vikings compete. Next: Aug. 29 vs. Woodland (Stockbridge).
14. Madison County, Madison, Fla. (13-1)
Returning starters: 16. Outlook: The defending 2A state champions return almost fully loaded, led by Florida State commit RB Chris Thompson and RB Cory Akins. The two combined to rush for 50 TDs and more than 3,600 yards last season. The return of two-way lineman Jacobbi McDaniel, an FSU commit and the No. 2 DT in the class of 2009, according to rivals.com, and LB Cortez Akins mean the Cowboys are strong on both sides of the ball. Next: Sept. 5 vs. Independence (Charlotte).
15. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (13-1)
Returning starters: 15. Outlook: The Tigers averaged 43 points a game last season and have junior QB Phillip Sims, who passed for 3,000 yards and 33 TDs, returning. Oscar Smith's defense, which allowed only four points a game, has eight starters returning, including all-state players LB Jerod Askew, Virginia commit LB Perry Jones and DT Evan Hailes. Next: Aug. 29 vs. Booker T. Washington (Norfolk).
16. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (8-3)
Returning starters: 13. Outlook: With nine offensive starters back, including the entire offensive line, QB Andy Holland should have it easy finding WR Mike Myers and TE Brendan Carozzoni. The Wildcats will be tested early vs. Glenville (Cleveland) and late October by No. 18 St. Xavier (Cincinnati). Notre Dame commit WR/DB Dan Fox anchors St. Ignatius' defense Next: Saturday vs. Glenville.
17. Skyline, Issaquah, Wash. (14-0)
Returning starters: 12. Outlook: The defending 3A champions open with the Oregon 6A champion, Sheldon. The Spartans won six state titles under Steve Gervais but have a new coach in Mat Taylor. They should be in good shape offensively with junior Jake Heaps, possibly the top underclassman QB in the country, and all-state WR Gino Simone along with WR Kasen Williams. The defense, which led the state in fewest points allowed last season, is led by DT Rob Tramonte. Next: Sept. 6 at Sheldon (Ore.).
18. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (15-0)
Returning starters: Four. Outlook: The Bombers lost a lot of key players but have Luke Massa back at QB and plenty of talent in the wings. DE Patrick Muldoon, LB Pete Lees and LB Luke Kuechly lead the defense while OT Matt James anchors the offensive line. The Bombers have a tough schedule that includes No. 4 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), Cathedral (Indianapolis), No. 16 St. Ignatius (Cleveland), Prattville, Ala., and Trinity (Louisville). All but the Trinity game will be in Cincinnati, however. Next: Friday vs. Colerain (Cincinnati).
19. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (13-2)
Returning starters: Nine. Outlook: State Division I runner-up last season may be even better with the addition of transfers, junior LB Brandon Brown, OL Elijah Baltavich and QB Taylor Martinez. The Huskies have plenty of D-I talent, including LB Vontaze Burfict, a USC commit, WR Ricky Marvray and DL Will Sutton, son of ex-Los Angeles Ram Mickey Sutton. Will play at Mater Dei (Anaheim) on Sept. 19. Next: Sept. 12 at Chaparral (Temecula).
20. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (14-1)
Returning starters: 12. Outlook: The 3A champion Bulldogs return key talent from the defensive line. Stone Bridge has four players who have committed to ACC schools. DL/TE Zach Thompson and LB Mike Olson are expected to sign with Wake Forest while DL/OL Brian Slay has committed to N.C. State and DL/OL David Wang has committed to Virginia Tech. QB Patrick Thompson, who threw for 2,500 yards and 30 TDs, and DB/RB Daniel Allen, hurt for much of last season, also are highly coveted recruits. Matt Custer, a talented lineman, transferred from Loudoun Valley (Purcellville). Next: Aug. 29 vs. West Springfield (Springfield).
21. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (15-0)
Returning starters: 10. Outlook: Yes, the Tigers lost some key players, including RB Tig Barksdale, a program that has won 75 consecutive games and five consecutive 5A titles can't be easily dismissed. South Panola will be tested by a schedule that includes Apopka, Fla., Tupelo and Olive Branch. LB David Conner, an Auburn commit, anchors the defense along with LB Marvin Burdette and DE Kendrick Strong. Next: Aug. 29 at Vicksburg.
22. Northside, Warner Robins, Ga. (15-0)
Returning starters: 10. Outlook: The 4A state champs jump to 5A but have two of the most recruited players in the state, DE Abry Jones and LB Eric Fields. DB K.J. Morton, LB Darius Ivey, QB Joe Scott and TE Evan Arthur lead the rest of the returnees. The Eagles will have a difficult schedule, including Florida 4A champion Booker T. Washington (Miami) and 5A champion and No. 13 Lowndes. Next: Aug. 29 vs. Perry.
23. Highlands, Fort Thomas, Ky. (15-0)
Returning starters: Six. Outlook: The defending 5A champs have their nucleus intact, including RB/DB Josh Conner, who rushed for 1,700 yards last season, all-state WR/DB Austin Collinsworth, son of NFL great Chris Collinsworth, DT Brandon Roller and QB Tony Guidugli, an all-state player as a sophomore last season. Next: Aug. 29 vs. Ryle.
24. Lake Travis, Austin (15-1)
Returning starters: 11. Outlook: The defending 4A champions have plenty of firepower back on offense, led by two Texas commitments — senior QB Garrett Gilbert, who passed for 52 TDs and almost 5,000 yards last season and 6-5, 275-pound OT Paden Kelly. Another big returnee is WR Cade McCrary. Chad Morris, who was 49-10 at Stephenville, replaces Jeff Dicus as coach. Next: Aug. 29 vs. Westwood (Austin) in San Antonio.
25. Parkland, Allentown, Pa. (15-1)
Returning starters: 15. Outlook: State 4A runner-up has nine starters back on a defense that had seven consecutive shutouts last season. Jaleel Clark, a DB-WR, is a returning all-state player, as is DE/TE Clint Miller. The team's offensive line averages 260 pounds. Tough schedule includes St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) and Liberty (Bethlehem, Pa.) in the first two weeks. Next: Aug. 29 vs. St. Joseph's Prep.
***
USA TODAY's Super 25 football rankings were compiled by Jim Halley. Among criteria considered are a team's strength of schedule, quality of wins and quality of players.
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Jags ready to challenge for SCL title
September 5, 2008 --
The Windsor Times Sports
Windsor opens pre-season campaign at Redwood on Saturday
By Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
The varsity football Jaguars should return to the upper-echelon of Sonoma County League teams this fall, if early projections hold up.
Windsor will field one of its largest and most athletic teams ever, with outstanding team speed and talent at the skill positions.
Head coach Jason Fayter returns for his sixth year at the helm, hopeful of improving on last years 5-5 varsity team. A solid core of returnees and the addition of 20 more athletes from last seasons undefeated JV squad, should spell success for the Jags.
This is a very tough league, but we definitely expect to be in the hunt for the SCL title, said Fayter. We might not be quite as strong on the O-line as last year, but Id say our overall speed and athleticism is better.
Key skill-position players include senior quarterback Blake Schmidt, junior running backs Cameron Erion and Steven Hutchison, junior receivers; DJ King, Michael Campbell, Miles Williams, and CJ Landwehr.
Manning the offensive line are: left guard Kory Langhals, center Rosendo Castro, right guard Chris Lowe, right tackle Michael Lopez, and left tackle Jordan Winkler.
The Jags have suffered a rash of recent injuries to their defensive line, but hope to have most of their kids back by mid-season. Senior defensive end Chris Michels will be a key pass-rusher when he returns from a broken hand.
The linebacking corps will feature a combination of Winkler, senior Kyle Yung, Michael Hutchison, juniors Teddy Van Bebber, Cody Paz, and Zach Arvig. The defensive backfield will consist of cornerbacks; senior Aaron Fletcher, Landwehr, Erion, and safeties; senior Deandre Faaita, King, Williams, Campbell, and Steven Hutchison.
Junior Morgan Rennie returns to handle the kicking chores.
The Jaguars kicked off the pre-season on Saturday with a scrimmage at Sir Francis Drake in San Anselmo, flashing signs of brilliance on both sides of the ball. Windsor used a balanced offensive attack to score six touchdowns- three rushing and three receiving. The Jags also had another pair of scores nullified by penalties.
We looked pretty good, but its hard to say because we dont know how strong Drake is this year, said Fayter. One big positive was that we came out of the scrimmage healthy.
The Jaguars will begin the season in earnest this Saturday, Sept. 6 in the pre-season opener at Redwood in Larkspur. Game times for the JV and varsity are 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Windsor will host Maria Carrillo in the home opener on Friday, Sept. 12.
2008 Jaguar JV/
varsity football
schedule
Sept. 6- Windsor @ Redwood, 10 a.m./ 1 p.m.
Sept. 12- Maria Carrillo @ Windsor, 5/7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19- Windsor @ Santa Rosa, 5/ 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 26- Castlemont @ Windsor, 5/7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3- Sonoma @ Windsor, 5/7:30 p.m.
Oct. 10- Bye
Oct. 17- Healdsburg @ Windsor, 5/7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24- Windsor @ El Molino, 5/7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30- Casa Grande @ Windsor, 5/7:30 p.m.
Nov. 7- Windsor @ Petaluma, 5/7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14- Analy @ Windsor, 5/7:30 p.m.
Nov. 21- NCS playoffs
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Record-setting season for four Casa Gauchos
Published: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Going into the North Coast Section playoffs, three members of the Sonoma County League champion Casa Grande High School varsity football team have already established school records and one is within a couple of plays of a school mark.
Quarterback Matt OBrien has broken the career passing record with 3,157 yards. His mark surpasses the 2,560 yards established by Chris Forni.
OBriens 1,441 yards this season surpasses the single-season passing yardage record of 1,340 yards thrown for by Forni in 2005.
OBrien has also surpassed Fornis single-season and career touchdown passes records. OBriens total this season is 19. For his high school career, he has 34. Forni passed for 26 touchdowns in his career and 15 in 2005.
Matt Nadolski has established a new Casa Grande career record with 100 catches and is closing in on Justin Elseys career best of 1,679 yards. Going into the playoffs, Nadolski has caught passes for 1,667 yards.
Conner Derby has broken the career field goal record, making 14 of 24 kicks during his varsity career. Derby tied the single season record last year by making nine of 13 field goal attempts.
Linebacker Blaine Peterman is one tackle away from tying, and two tackles away from breaking the Casa Grande career record of 229 set by Adrian Barajas in 2002-2003.
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Sonoma West Sports
Lions and Tigers fall in lopsided league pigskin finales
Despite five-game losing skid, Analy lands playoff berth
by Greg Clementi
Sports Editor
The Lions and Tigers wrapped up their respective league football campaigns on Friday, as the Lions fell to SCL champion Casa Grande, 45-7, while the Tigers dropped their fifth straight in a 42-7 drubbing at Windsor.
Despite the losing skid, Analy (5-5) was awarded the 12th-seed in the 15-team North Coast Section division-three playoff tournament, and will face fifth-seeded Marin Catholic this Saturday, Nov. 22 in Kentfield. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Tigers wild ride lands NCS playoff spot Unusual doesnt begin to describe Analys 2008 season, a year that began with five straight wins. The Tigers havent been the same since dropping a 21-19 decision to El Molino in the Golden Apple Bowl on Oct. 10, which started the aforementioned five-game slide.
I told the kids this week that our season hasnt been a roller-coaster ride, its been more like the Drop Zone, said Analy head coach Dan Bourdon. Straight up and straight down.
The Tigers entered the SCL finale at Windsor with high hopes of righting the ship, but had no answer for a powerful Jaguar ground attack led by 1641-yard rusher Cameron Erion. Windsor (4-6) chalked up another 323 yards on the ground on Friday, effectively controlling the clock and the scoreboard.
The Jaguars served notice on their first possession, as Erion returned a Tiger punt to the Analy five yard line. The play set up the first of four eventual rushing touchdowns by Erion, this one a five-yard burst to give Windsor an early, 7-0 lead.
The Tigers showed promise on their third possession of the opening period, as quarterback David Glass directed a 66-yard march highlighted by a 20-yard pass to Jimmy McCann and capped by a three-yard scoring run by Anthony Giacobbe. Eric Bolen made good on the PAT kick to knot the contest at 7-7.
The Jaguars took charge early in the second quarter, mounting a 68-yard drive fueled by big runs from Erion and Schmidt, and culminating in an 11-yard touchdown dash by Erion for a 14-7 advantage.
Windsors defense forced the third Analy punt of the half, and the Jags returned the favor with another march resulting in a 10-yard scoring burst by Erion for a 21-7 lead.
Jaguar defensive back D.J King picked off an Analy pass on the ensuing series and returned it to the Tiger 25. The play set up a seven-yard Erion touchdown scamper for a 28-7 bulge at the break.
The carnage continued early in the third period when King hauled in a pass from Schmidt and raced 50-yards to the house for an insurmountable, 35-7 advantage.
The Tigers battled back on their next possession with a pair of pass completions to sophomore Julian Titus-Patino, but Kings third interception of the game would kill the threat. The Jaguars ended the madness with 4:47 left in the fourth quarter when Schmidt called his own number on a one-yard scoring dive for the eventual, 42-7 victory.
Glass finished off a tough night with 14 completions on 22 pass attempts for 182 yards and three picks. Other offensive standouts included leading rushers: Alex Mora (8-26), Giacobbe (5-14), (Titus-Patino (2-8), Isias Alcantar (3-3), and Jeremy Van Riet (2-2). Top receivers were: Titus-Patino (5-61), Jimmy McCann (2-30), Jack Doran (2-28), Ben Doran (2-29), Alcantar (1-12), Giacobbe (1-10), and Chris Bostock (1-4).
Top Tiger defenders included: Levi Mills (5 tackles, 5 assists), Van Riet (4 tackles, assist), Nathan Fox (3 tackles, 3 assists), Jack Doran (3 tackles), Nick Calkins (2 tackles, 3 assists), Robert Leon (2 tackles, 2 assists), Giacobbe (tackle, 4 assists), Ryan Beretta (tackle, 2 assists), Malcolm Townsend (3 assists), Matt Michelsen (2 assists), Glass (2 assists), Alcantar (2 assists), and a tackle apiece from Brandon Riebli, and Cameron Dotti.
Lions fall to Gauchos to end rebuilding campaign
Despite suffering a 45-7 shellacking at Casa, the Lions wrapped up their most successful season in four years to finish the year at 3-7.
The Apple Bowl was obviously the highlight of the season for us, and Im thrilled for the kids to have that memory, said head coach Mike Roan. We knew coming in that it would be a tough year with an inexperienced line, but weve got a good group coming up from the JV team that should really help us next season.
The Gauchos demonstrated why theyve won six league titles in the past seven years, dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Casa held the Lions to under 20 yards rushing on the night, making it tough to move the chains.
The Gauchos opened the scoring barrage with a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt OBrien to receiver Matt Nadolski in the first quarter, and then ignited a 31-point, second-quarter explosion to put the game away. Casa found pay-dirt on a runs of four, six, and one yard, and added a 20-yard pass and 33-yard field goal to grab a commanding, 38-0 bulge at the break.
The Lions avoided the shutout early in the fourth period when second-half quarterback Michael Pierson directed a solid drive culminating in a 15-yard scoring pass to H-back Cole Parmeter for the eventual, 42-7 Casa victory.
Senior quarterback Tony DeMarco finished off a strong high school football career with nine completions in 21 pass attempts for 93 yards. Pierson capped his sophomore campaign with 10-15 passing accuracy for 94 yards and a touchdown. Leading receivers included: Rhodes Wroth (7-79 yards), Parmeter (4-40, TD), Ricky Franceschi (4-35), and Miles Chenoweth (2-15).
Top defenders were: Wroth (11 solo tackles, 3 assists), Chaz Mathias (5 tackles, 3 assists), Chenoweth (5 tackles, FR), and Buck Skalicky (5 tackles, FR).
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The Healdsburg Tribune Sports
Greyhounds pounded by Petaluma, 41-6 in SCL grid finale
7th seeded Hounds host McKinleyville Saturday in NCS playoffs
By GREG CLEMENTI
Sports Editor
Good news for Greyhound football fans this week- there are no more Petaluma teams left on the schedule.
The Hounds suffered their second blowout loss in as many weeks on Friday, this one a forgettable, 41-6 drubbing at the hands of the Petaluma Trojans in the league finale. The loss comes on the heels of a 38-0 pounding administered by Casa Grande a week earlier in what has been a very tough finish to the SCL season.
Despite the setbacks, Healdsburg wrapped up SCL play with a very respectable record of 3-3 and 7-3 overall.
The North Coast Section committee was dually impressed on Sunday, awarding the Hounds the number-seven seed in the 15-team division-three playoff tournament this week. This years playoff format includes teams from the East Bay, making for a very tough road to the title game.
The Greyhounds will host 10th-seeded McKinleyville in the playoff opener this Saturday, Nov. 22 at Recreation Park. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The winner will advance to play second-seeded Miramonte the following Friday in Orinda. Check the NCS website at www.cifncs.org for complete bracket information.
Saturdays playoff game will mark the second meeting this season with the Panthers, who fell to the Hounds, 31-22 in the season opener on Sept. 5. All things considered, its a good draw for a Healdsburg team reeling from two straight losses.
Its nice that well get to play somebody our size, said Hounds coach Tom Kirkpatrick. Out of the 15 teams in the playoffs, five are really good, so I think were about where we should be in terms of seeding.
The complete list of NCS division-three teams in order of seeding is: Encinal (10-0), Miramonte (8-2), Novato (8-2), Bishop ODowd (9-1), Marin Catholic (7-3), Piedmont (8-2), Healdsburg (7-3), El Cerrito (6-4), J.F. Kennedy (5-5), McKinleyville (7-3), Fortuna (6-4), Analy (5-5), Tamalpais (5-5), Drake (5-5), and Del Norte (5-4).
Fridays game against the visiting Trojans did have a silver lining with the return of star senior running back David Balestrieri, who missed the past seven weeks with a broken leg.
The Trojans wasted no time in establishing control, mounting a pair of drives culminating in scoring runs of 20 and three yards by quarterback Taylen Hinks to grab a 14-0 lead by the end of one.
Petaluma gained separation in the second quarter, finding pay-dirt on a 43-yard run by Sean Sullivan and a three-yard plunge by Ricky Sims for a commanding, 28-0 bulge at the break.
The Trojans opened up a 31-0 lead with a 29-yard field goal from kicker Nick Marsh before the Hounds finally hit the scoreboard late in the third quarter.
Running back Andy Phillips busted loose on a 52-yard scoring dash for a 31-6 ballgame, providing local fans with the lone offensive highlight of the night.
The Trojans put the wraps on a dominant performance in the final period with another 38-yard field goal from Marsh, adding a late, two-yard scoring run from Colby Reece to post a 41-6 victory.
Ironically, the Trojans were snubbed by the NCS division-two playoff seeding committee on Sunday.
Quarterback Killian Collins finished the night with three completions in seven pass attempts for 18 yards. Other offensive leaders were: Phillips (11-85 yards rushing, TD), and Balestieri (5-18 yards rushing).
Leading tacklers included: Placido Lopez (12), Phillips (10, sack), Travis Paasche (9), Caleb Rummonds (8), Anthony Barnes (8, sack), Tom Belli (7), Trey Davis (5, sack), Colin Brown (5), Dillon Cattalini (5), Elliot Fritz (4, sack), Dante Fountain (3, INT), Tyler Whitmore (2), Justin Furia (2), Quaid Mancini (2), Carlos Basurto (2), Zach Zeiger (2), and a tackle apiece from Thomas Kozel, Alex Espinosa, Balestrieri, Tanner Walker, Devin Bryant, Anthony Ruiz, Josh Steffen, and Cele Fernandez.
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Gauchos playing at championship level
The following blog entry is from Press Democrat Staff Writer Eric Branch:
An upset loss in its league opener to its cross-town rival would have a way of crushing some team's spirit.
In the case of Casa Grande, it has only appeared to make the Gauchos very, very angry.
Casa Grande has followed its 21-14 loss to Petaluma in the Egg Bowl with four consecutive dominant performances, the latest a 38-0 whipping of Healdsburg on Friday in which it surrendered 55 yards, four first downs and limited the Greyhounds to an average of 1.7 yards a play.
After three quarters, when Casa Grande's starters were removed, Healdsburg had 30 yards and two first downs.
"We took this like a championship game," said Casa Grande linebacker Conner Waggoner, who returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown. "We said to ourselves we had to come out here and play like it was our last game of the season."
The victory - combined with Petaluma's 48-27 loss to Petaluma - gave the Gauchos at least a share of their sixth straight Sonoma County League title and continued a stunning string of domination.
Casa Grande has allowed seven points in its past 15 quarters. The only points the Gauchos have allowed came in last week's 31-7 win over Windsor when the Jaguars scored against Casa Grande's reserves in the final minute.
Not only is the Gauchos' defense air-tight, their special teams, led by rocket-footed kicker Conner Derby, keep opponents pinned back deep in their own territory.
With Derby blasting five of his seven kickoffs into the end zone, the Greyhounds never started a drive beyond their own 35-yard line. After Derby's kickoffs, they had an average starting position of their own 19-yard line.
Schedule change: Saturday's game between Laytonville (1-6, 0-4) and Rincon Valley Christian (4-2, 3-1) has been moved from the originally scheduled kickoff of 2 p.m. to a 1 p.m. start. The game will be played at Santa Rosa High School.
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CASA GRANDE 38, HEALDSBURG 0
Gauchos leash Greyhounds
Casa Grande earns at least share of sixth consecutive Sonoma County League title
Eric Branch
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Friday, November 7, 2008
Early in the second quarter Friday night, a few Casa Grande defensive players were out of position on a screen pass.
In response to the blown assignments, a slew of Gauchos assistant coaches began screaming on the sidelines, seemingly shocked by such sloppy play.
Never mind that the pass fell incomplete.
The play wasnt perfect.
And thats not only the level Casa Grande strives for, its just about the level the Gauchos have attained over the past four weeks.
Led by yet another jaw-dropping defensive performance, Casa Grande throttled visiting Healdsburg, 38-0, to claim at least a share of its sixth consecutive Sonoma County League title.
The win was coupled with Petalumas 48-27 upset loss to Windsor, which means the Gauchos could win the SCL crown outright with a win over El Molino in next weeks regular-season finale.
On Friday, Casa Grande (6-2-1, 4-1) limited the Greyhounds (7-2, 3-2), who were playing without injured quarterback Zach Shippey, to 55 yards and four first downs. The numbers are impressive, but they are almost routine for a team that has allowed only seven points in the past 15 quarters and has posted three shutouts this season.
At halftime, the Gauchos led 28-0 and Healdsburg had 24 yards on 20 offensive plays. The Greyhounds, who entered averaging 323 yards a game, finished with 34 rushing yards on 18 attempts.
We were just overmatched, Healdsburg coach Tom Kirkpatrick said. They played great. They controlled the line of scrimmage and were a team that needs to be balanced. We need to be able to run the ball and we couldnt do it. That put us in a real tough spot.
The Gauchos took a 7-0 first-quarter lead on quarterback Matt OBriens 9-yard pass to Matt Gallo. Casa Grande then blew the game open in the second quarter with three touchdowns in less than five minutes.
The barrage began with OBriens 27-yard dart to Gallo in the end zone. Three minutes later, Kahlil Keys (20 carries, 88 yards) scored on a 13-yard run. On Healdsburgs next possession, Conner Waggoner returned an interception 23 yards for a score to give Casa Grande a 28-0 lead with 4:21 left in the second quarter.
We got a big lead and that took them out of some things they like to do, Casa Grande coach Rick OBrien said. When you have to throw the ball against our defense, thats hard to do.
In days before the game, the Gauchos defense prepared like it always does, with film study and test taking.
On Mondays, Casa Grande defensive coordinator Trent Herzog reviews the upcoming opponents offensive formations and tendencies and provides notes with details such as whether the opposing quarterback is a running threat.
On Thursdays, the Gauchos take a 25-question test and players who fail cant play on Friday. Sample question this week: Name eight of Healdsburgs 10 offensive formations.
Players who get a perfect score are rewarded with a T-shirt or Gatorade.
And judging by Fridays performance, plenty of Gauchos received a prize on Thursday.
We really came together this week and it was just an awesome display on the field, said defensive tackle Zach Burnett, who had two sacks.
It was so good, in fact, that Herzog will have to open his wallet. Again.
If Casa Grande posts a shutout, Herzog treats the entire team to dinner at Mikes at the Crossroads, a burger joint in Cotati.
So Casa Grandes latest win meant Herzogs pocketbook will get smaller this week. And he couldnt have looked much happier about it late Friday night.
They can eat as much as they want, Herzog said. Thats where my money goes from coaching every year.
NOTE
The game was delayed about 20 minutes following the second-half kickoff due to an injury to Healdsburg junior lineman Anthony Ruiz.
Ruiz was taken by ambulance to Petaluma Valley Hospital due to pain in his neck. Ruiz was able to move his arms and legs.
You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.
AT CASA GRANDE
Healdsburg 0 0 0 0 0
Casa Grande 7 21 10 0 38
CG Matt Gallo 9 pass from Matt OBrien (Conner Derby kick)
CG Gallo 27 pass from OBrien (Derby kick)
CG Kahlil Keys 13 run (Derby kick)
CG Conner Waggoner 23 interception return (Derby kick)
CG Derby 30 FG
CG Keys 2 run (Derby kick)
Leaders: Healdsburg-Rushing: Andy Phillips 12-27, Dillon Cattalini 4-16, Killian Collins 2-(-9). Passing: Collins 5-14-1-21. Receiving: Paul Wilson 2-13, Phillips 1-5, Dante Fountain 1-4.
Casa Grande - Rushing: Keys 20-88, OBrien 12-60, Kyle Smith 8-51, Matt Nadolski 1-14, Waggoner 1-6, Gabriel Sanchez 3-6; Passing: OBrien 6-8-0-75; Receiving: Waggoner 3-34, Gallo 2-36, Nadolski 1-5.
Records: H 7-2, 3-2 SCL; CG 6-2-1, 4-1 SCL
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Lions, Tigers fall in SCL gridiron action
West County football report
by Greg Clementi
Sports Editor
Week four of the Sonoma County League football season was not kind for local teams, as both El Molino and Analy suffered lopsided losses.
The Tigers dropped a disappointing, 45-7 decision at Petaluma, while the Lions saw their Homecoming spoiled in a 31-7 loss to visiting Windsor.
Lions fall to Jaguars in Homecoming Game
The Lions turned in an uninspired performance in the annual Homecoming Game, dropping a 31-7 decision to the visiting Windsor Jaguars.
Windsor, led by 1000-yard junior running back Cameron Erion, turned up a season-high 357 yards on the ground in dominating the line of scrimmage.
I dont know whether we came out flat, or if it was a matter of them taking away some things from us on offense, said El Mo head coach Mike Roan. When youre not able to do anything offensively, it takes it out of you as a team.
The Jaguars served notice on their second possession on Friday, as quarterback Blake Schmidt hooked up with receivers Michael Campbell and Kyle Yung on big gains to move the ball into the El Mo red zone. The drive resulted in a 15-yard touchdown burst by Erion, followed by a successful PAT boot for a 7-0 Windsor lead.
An inspired Jaguar defense forced the Lions third punt of the opening quarter, and Erion would soon return the favor with a 46-yard scoring dash for a 14-0 Windsor advantage.
The Jags threatened an early blow-out in the second quarter following an Erion interception at the Lions eight yard line. Schmidt, employing an effective mix of run and pass, led the team on a 92-yard march culminating in another six-yard touchdown scamper by Erion for a decisive, 21-0 bulge at the break.
Windsor went to work on the clock in the third quarter, relying on a strong push from its offensive line to keep the chains moving. The Jags effectively squashed any Lion upset hopes late in the third period, ripping off a 50-yard, six-minute drive that ended with a two-yard scoring burst by Steven Hutchison for a 28-0 advantage.
The Lions mounted their best drive of the night early in the fourth quarter, as quarterback Tony DeMarco engineered an 80-yard march, highlighted by long completions to receivers Rhodes Wroth and Joe Douglass. DeMarco capped the drive on an outstanding, 16-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down play to make it a 28-7 ballgame.
On a night with few offensive highlights, DeMarco led the Lions with 8-25 passing efficiency for 135 yards, adding 22 yards and a score on the ground. Other offensive leaders were: Wroth (4-88 yards receiving), Ricky Franceschi (2-16 yards receiving) and Douglass (2-31 yards receiving).
Top defensive efforts were had by: Wroth (15 tackles), Douglass (13 tackles), Cole Parmeter (9 tackles, INT), and Miles Chenoweth (10 tackles, FR).
The Lions JV squad (3-5, 1-3) fell to Windsor, 38-13.
The Lions will travel to Healdsburg (2-1, 6-1) this Friday, Oct. 31 to battle the Greyhounds at Recreation Park. Game times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Tigers tamed by Trojans
The good news for Tiger fans is that arent any more Petaluma teams on the schedule this year. Analy has navigated the toughest stretch of their league season, dropping their third straight SCL contest, a 45-7 drubbing to the first-place Trojans.
The loss to Petaluma pushed the Tigers record to 1-3 in the SCL and 5-3 overall, with upcoming league games remaining against Sonoma (home, Nov. 9) and at Windsor (Nov. 16). Analys bye week comes at a perfect time, as the team attempts to re-group and get back on track.
Fridays game at venerable Durst Field started well enough for the Tigers, taking their opening possession and driving to the Trojan four-yard line before coughing up a fumble. Things didnt get much better for Analy, as Petaluma would churn up a collective 315 rushing yards to take control of the clock and the scoreboard.
The Trojans found pay-dirt on each of their first-quarter possessions, scoring on a 69-yard run by running back Sean Sullivan, a 45-yard pass play from quarterback Taylan Hinks to receiver Dalton Johnson, and a one-yard touchdown dive from Ricky Sims to grab a decisive, 21-0 lead.
The offensive barrage continued in the second period, as Petaluma defensive back Jeff Crudo picked off a pass from Analy quarterback David Glass and raced 32 yards to the house. The Trojans finished off the first-half explosion with scoring runs of 69 and 66 yards to grab an insurmountable, 42-0 bulge at the break.
Petaluma kicker Nick Marsh banged an impressive, 48-yard field goal late in the third quarter for a 45-0 ballgame, before the Tigers drove for their lone touchdown in the final period. Analy running back Vinnie Caruana helped his team avoid the shutout when he scampered in from 10 yards out in the fourth quarter for an eventual, 45-7 Petaluma victory.
Despite the lopsided score, the Tigers did log some notable offensive efforts that included: Glass (10-22, 131 yards passing, 8-29 yards rushing), Jeremy Van Riet (8-33 yards rushing), Caruana (2-20 yards rushing, TD), Anthony Giacobbe (4-14 yards rushing), and Isias Alcantar (4-9 yards rushing). Top receivers were: Julian Titus-Patino (2-43 yards), Jack Doran (2-27 yards), Jimmy McCann (2-21), Alcantar (1-17), Chris Bostock (1-10), Ben Doran (1-8) and Grant (1-5).
Leading defenders were: Levi Mills (3.5 tackles, 10 assists), McCann (3.5 tackles, assist), Giacobbe (tackle, 4 assists), Mora (tackle, 3 assists), Fox (2.5 tackles, 2 assists), Alcantar (tackle, 2 assists), Fernandez (tackle, 4 assists), Michelsen (4 assists), Libby (3 assists), and Tucker (tackle, 2 assists).
The Tiger JV team posted a 22-21 win over Petaluma.
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CASA GRANDE 29, ANALY 7
Slow start, fast finish for Casa Grande
Gauchos score 20 points in four-minute span in fourth quarter to beat Analy
By Eric Branch
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, October 17, 2008
SEBASTOPOL
They dont have the Egg Bowl.
But they do have a pulse.
A week removed from a punch-in-the-gut loss to rival Petaluma, the Casa Grande Gauchos shook off a sluggish first half and overwhelmed host Analy, 29-7, on Friday night with a ferocious fourth-quarter charge.
The Gauchos, winners of six Sonoma County League titles since 2001, scored 20 points in a four-minute span of the final period to turn a 9-7 lead into a laugher.
The barrage was somewhat unexpected considering the state of Casa Grandes previously sputtering attack. Prior to the fourth quarter, the Gauchos (3-2-1, 1-1 SCL) had scored 33 points in their past 15 quarters.
We walked through the first half a little bit, but give credit to Analy. They were a big reason for that, Casa Grande coach Rick OBrien said. In the second half we made some adjustments and tried to challenge our kids. They responded.
No kidding.
Leading 9-7, the uprising began when Casa quarterback Matt OBrien connected with Matt Nadolski on an 11-yard scoring pass with 9:43 left.
Three minutes later, OBrien found a streaking Matt Gallo down the middle for a 39-yard score. Finally, 47 seconds later, sophomore linebacker Makana Garrigan returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown to give the Gauchos a 29-7 lead with 6:07 remaining.
OBrien tossed three touchdown passes connecting with Nadolski for two and hard-running junior running back Kahlil Keys rushed for 202 yards on 23 carries.
The offensive numbers were a stark contrast to last week when the Gauchos leapt out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, but went scoreless in the final three quarters.
Rick OBrien insisted his team wasnt suffering from a hangover effect when it trudged into the halftime locker room trailing 7-6 on Friday. But it was suffering from something. And the players began the halftime session talking their problems out amongst themselves.
At the beginning it was more just the players, said junior linebacker Conner Waggoner, who had one of Casas three interceptions. We all told each other that we needed to step it up.
Said Garrigan, That talk in the locker room really pumped me up. I think it pumped the whole team up.Similar to the Gauchos, Analy (5-2, 1-2) entered on the heels of its own difficult loss, a 21-19 defeat to El Molino in the Golden Apple game.
The Tigers took a 7-0 second-quarter lead on fullback Anthony Giacobbe 3-yard run, but they were held scoreless in the final 30 minutes.
We clearly got outplayed in the second half, Analy coach Dan Bourdon said. We tried to make some adjustments, but they didnt pan out for us.
You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.
CASA GRANDE 29, ANALY 7
AT ANALY
Casa Grande 0 6 3 20 -- 29
Analy 0 7 0 0 -- 7
A Anthony Giacobbe 3 run (Ben Doran kick)
CG Matt Nadolski 6 pass from Matt OBrien (kick failed)
CG Conner Derby 36 FG
CG Nadolski 11 pass from OBrien (Derby kick)
CG Matt Gallo 39 pass from OBrien (kick failed)
CG Makana Garrigan 37 interception return (Derby kick)
Rushing -- CG: Kahlil Keys 23-202, OBrien 9-(-9). A: Glass 16-62, Isias Alcantar 11-26, Giacobbe 2-(-1), Nick Calkins 3-4, Alex Mora 1-1.
Passing -- CG: OBrien 9-20-0-119. A: Glass 10-23-3-182.
Receiving -- CG: Teddy Osmundson 4-42, Conner Waggoner 2-21, Nadolski 2-17, Gallo 1-39. A: Ben Doran 4-67, Jack Doran 2-20, Xzavier Garcia 1-30, Ryan Beretta 1-36, Alcantar 1-22, Jimmy McCann 1-17.
Records: CG 3-2-1, 1-1, A 5-2, 1-2
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Greyhound gridders power past Sonoma 29-22
Hounds push record to 5-1 overall; travel to Windsor on Friday...
By GREG CLEMENTI
Sports Editor Sonoma West Sports
The Greyhounds vaulted back into the win column on Friday, recording a key, 29-22 victory over the visiting Sonoma Dragons in the annual Homecoming Game.
The victory pushed Healdsburgs season record to an impressive, 5-1 overall and evened its Sonoma County League mark at 1-1.
The Hounds will put local bragging rights on the line this Friday, Oct. 17 when they travel to Windsor (1-4, 0-1) in the annual clash now known as the Grape Bowl. Game times beginning with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
The Windsor team is better than its record, cautioned Hounds head coach Tom Kirkpatrick. They present some match-up problems for us so we need to prepare for that. When it comes to this game, you just throw the records out the window, he added.
Fridays clash at Recreation Park featured the surprising return of star receiver/DB Dante Fountain, who missed three games to an Achilles tendon injury suffered against Piner on Sept. 20. The speedy wide-out showed no ill effects from the injury, hauling in two passes for 90 yards and a touchdown in a sparkling effort.
Dantes return had a huge impact on the team, noted Kirkpatrick. He was cleared to play by the doctor that afternoon, and he was a game-time decision.
The Hounds broke a scoreless tie in the second quarter when quarterback Zach Shippey hooked up with Fountain on an 85-yard lightening bolt to gain the lead. Kicker Colin Brown followed with the PAT boot for a 7-0 advantage.
Healdsburg went up by two scores on its next possession when running back Andy Phillips capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown burst for a 14-0 advantage. The Dragons answered later in the period when quarterback Jake Powers found receiver Steve Filippi with a six-yard scoring pass. The PAT kick failed and the Hounds led 14-6 at the break.
The Dragons made it interesting in the third quarter, as Powers fired a 45-yard scoring pass to cut the deficit to 14-12 at the end of three.
Sonoma took a brief, 15-14 lead with a 37-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter before the Hounds clawed back.
Shippey capped the Hounds next possession with a 35-yard scoring pass to receiver Caleb Rummonds. Phillips ran in the two-point conversion and Healdsburg had a 22-15 lead. Sonoma didnt waste any time in setting up a great finish, answering with a tying score with just five minutes left to knot the game at 22-all.
Fending off a relentless Sonoma pass rush, Shippey marched his team down the field, finishing off a great drive with a 10-yard touchdown strike to Ian Gallagher with 1:30 left for a 29-22 lead. The Hounds defense survived a last desperate Dragon threat in the waning seconds, hanging on to preserve a seven-point victory.
Shippey turned in his best performance of the season, amassing 283 yards through the air on 15-25 passing accuracy and three touchdowns. Other offensive leaders included: Phillips (18-65 yards rushing, TD, 2-12 yards receiving), Rummonds (8-125 yards receiving, TD), Cabby Basurto (1-46 yards receiving), Dillon Cattalini (9-24 yards rushing), and Gallagher (2-20 yards receiving, TD).
The Healdsburg defensive unit enjoyed another stellar performance, recording a total of four sacks. Top defenders were: Placido Lopez (10 tackles, 4 assists), Phillips (8 tackles, 4 assists), Brown (7 tackles, assist), Travis Paasche (4 tackles, 3 assists, sack), Anthony Barnes (5 tackles, 2 assists, sack), Anthony Ruiz (3 tackles, 3 assists, sack), Tyler Whitmore (2 tackles, assist, sack), Rummonds (4 tackles), Elliot Fritz (2 tackles, 4 assists), Basurto (tackle, assist), Gallagher (2 tackles), and a tackle apiece from Trey Davis, Alex Espinosa, Justin Furia, and Wes Young.
Grape Bowl parking
With an overflow crowd expected at Windsor High School this Friday, school administrators have opened up the use of adjacent Kaiser Park to allow for additional parking. Fans are also encouraged to arrive early to avoid traffic problems.
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Lions shock Tigers, 21-19 to win 43rd Golden Apple Bowl
Improbable upset snaps 10-game losing streak...
by Greg Clementi
Sports Editor Sonoma West Sports
FORESTVILLE As the saying goes, this is why they play the game.
The underdog El Molino Lions erased a decade of frustration on Friday, using every ounce of energy, skill, and emotion in their arsenal to emerge with a 21-19 win over the visiting Analy Tigers in the 43rd edition of the Golden Apple Bowl
An overflow crowd of some 3000 rabid fans, including a huge throng of Tiger supporters, assembled in Forestville to witness perhaps the most unlikely of all El Mo victories in the proud tradition of the series.
Few could have predicted the outcome, as the unbeaten Tigers entered the game flush with confidence after a 17-0 win over Healdsburg, while the Lions were reeling from a 57-0 pounding at the hands of Petaluma a week earlier.
But something magical happened on Friday that transcended a mere sporting event, reminding us of the power of the human spirit and all that is possible when pride and raw emotion are on the line. When the clock expired after the stunning El Mo victory, it was the Lions that were hoisting the prized Golden Apple Trophy.
The significance of the moment was not lost on the El Mo student body, as hundreds of fans swamped the field in a huge wave to hale their conquering heroes.
This win means everything to us, said senior back Tony DeMarco, who turned in a superb effort in his second start at quarterback for the Lions. Coming in, we felt like all the pressure was on them and we had nothing to lose.
The Golden Apple win was the Lion’s first in the series since 1997 and the teams first Sonoma County League victory for head coach Mike Roan since he took over the program in 2004- a span of 23 games.
I couldnt be prouder of this group, especially the way we played defensively, said Roan. We talked all week about using the emotion of the game to our advantage, and I think we were finally able to do that. It was pretty special.
With the victory, the Lions improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in league, regaining a 22-21 overall edge in the series.
The 43rd Apple Bowl was a tough pill to swallow for the Tigers, after racing to a 5-0 record in one of the best starts in school history under first-year head coach Dan Bourdon. Although the team may have fallen victim to over-confidence coming in, Analy battled like champions in nearly erasing a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
El Molino played a great game and was just more focused than we were,said Bourdon. They wanted the Apple more than we did.
The Lions served notice on their first possession on Friday, as DeMarco directed an efficient, 75-yard drive highlighted by a 20-yard pass to slot receiver Joe Douglass to the Analy four, and capped by a four-yard scoring strike to Chaz Mathias. Kicker Michael Starr followed with the first of his eventual three PAT boots for a 7-0 El Mo lead.
The Tigers were on the move in the second quarter, with quarterback David Glass marching his team 83 yards in four minutes. Glass completed first down passes to Chris Bostock and Jack Doran before connecting with big-play receiver Jimmy McCann on a 55-yard bomb to the Lions 10 yard line. The play set up a one-yard scoring plunge by running back Anthony Giacobbe, followed by a Ben Doran PAT kick to knot the contest at 7-7 at the break.
There was no let-up from the upset-minded Lions in the third quarter, as senior defensive back Miles Chenoweth picked off a pass at the El Mo 43. DeMarco then found wide-out Rhodes Wroth on a 37-yard completion to the Analy eight, setting up an eight-yard scoring pass to Cole Parmeter for a 14-7 advantage.
The game turned dramatically when the Tigers stalled on their ensuing series, and Parmeter spoiled a fake punt attempt with a bone-jarring tackle to give the Lions possession at the Analy 31.
The Lions took full advantage of the opportunity, converting a fourth and 10 situation with a 19-yard pass to the Analy one yard line. DeMarco capped the drive on the first play of the fourth period with a one-yard dive and a stunning, 21-7 El Mo bulge.
The Tigers would not go quietly into the Forestville night, as Glass orchestrated a 46-yard scoring march that culminated in a seven-yard touchdown strike to Bostock. The PAT boot failed and the Tigers trailed, 21-13 with 4:49 left.
The howling Lions fans held their collective breath when Analys Nick Calkins pounced on the ensuing on-side kick, putting the Tigers in business at the El Mo 47. The threat ended momentarily when the Lions recovered a fumble, but El Mo would return the favor on the next play, giving Analy possession at the El Mo 44 with 2:28 remaining.
The Tigers employed a bit of trickery, as running back Isias Alcantar took the snap and found Glass on a swing pass resulting in a stunning, 43-yard scoring play to cut the deficit to 21-19 with just two minutes showing on the clock.
The El Molino defense had just enough magic left, stuffing the two-point conversion try inches short of the goal line to preserve the lead. With Analy out of timeouts, the Lions exorcized 10 years of demons on their last possession, as DeMarco ran out the clock for a 21-19 victory.
The Lions defensive unit turned in a performance for the ages, led by: Trevor Watson (13 tackles, sack), Buck Skalicky (11 tackles), Rhodes Wroth (9 tackles), Joe Douglass (8 tackles, Int), Miles Chenoweth (5 tackles, Int.), Cole Parmeter (8 tackles) and Chaz Mathias (Int.).
DeMarco showed the way on offense for the Lions, completing 12 of 19 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, and adding 26 yards and a score on the ground. Other strong offensive performances were turned in by: Wroth (4-65 yards receiving, TD), Parmeter (4-32 yards receiving, TD), Douglass (3-55 yards receiving), Mathias (2-23 yards receiving, TD), and Quante Brinson (5-30 yards rushing).
Leading the Tiger offense were: Glass (17-32, 204 yards passing, TD, 1-43 yards receiving, TD), Alcantar (1-1, 43 yards passing, TD, 8-40 yards rushing), Anthony Giacobbe (5-11 yards rushing, TD), Bostock (3-26 yards receiving, TD), McCann (6-109 yards receiving), and Jack Doran (4-50 yards receiving).
Top Analy defenders were: Nate Daniels (8 tackles), Jeremy Van Riet (8 tackles), Matt Michelsen (7 tackles), Giacobbe (6 tackles), Levi Mills (5 tackles), and Alcantar (5 tackles).
The Lions will take a deep breath before resuming league action this week at Sonoma, while the Tigers entertain Casa Grande.
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Two rivalry games, two big upsets...
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Monday, October 13, 2008
The underdogs in the two Empire traditional rivalry games The Egg Bowl and the Golden Apple Game came up big on Friday night, Petaluma upsetting No. 5 ranked Casa Grande, 21-14, and El Molino knocking off No. 4 Analy, 21-19.
Halfback Sean Sullivan helped Petaluma snap a five-game Egg Bowl losing streak, rushing for 132 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown run, after Casa built a 14-0 lead.
Quarterback Tony DeMarco threw for two TDs and ran for another to lead the Lions. It was El Molinos first win in the Golden Apple Game since 1996.
Wins by Petaluma and El Molino have also thrown the Sonoma County League race upside down. Petaluma (3-3, 2-0) is the only undefeated team in the SCL and now El Molino, Analy, Healdsburg and Sonoma are all 1-1. Casa Grande and Windsor are 0-1.
In Friday nights other SCL contest, Zach Shippy threw for three TDs, including an 85-yarder to Dante Foutain.
In the North Bay League, No. 1-ranked Cardinal Newman defeated Piner 49-0, No. 2 Rancho Cotate won at Maria Carrillo, 41-19, No. 3 Ukiah edged Santa Rosa, 21-20, and Montgomery blanked Elsie Allen, 63-0.
Newman quarterback Randy Wright threw for four TDs (giving him nine TD passes in his last two games), three of them to Wade Amaral. Amaral has six TD receptions in his last two games.
Rancho Cotate was led by quarterback Cody Allen, who ran for a TD and threw for two others and, as a defensive back, caused a fumble on a hard hit that the Cougars recovered. Sophomore Brian Dworkin rushed for 138 yards and Sergio Orduna for 117 for Rancho and each ran for a TD.
Gabe Ott scored all three TDs for Ukiah, two on runs and one on a pass from Kyle Morris. Santa Rosa nearly pulled off the upset, scoring with two minutes left, but failed on a game-winning two-point conversion try. Chris McCloskey scored the games final TD for the Panthers on a 71-yard catch and run.
James Berthiner and Jake Haas each scored three TDs for Montgomery. One of Haas TDs came on a fumble return.
In small-school action, No. 1 St. Vincent blanked Lower Lake, 28-0; No. 2 Fort Bragg defeated Clear Lake, 28-6; No. 3 Middletown shut out No. 4 Upper Lake, 35-0; Kelseyville defeated No. 5 Cloverdale, 22-16; St. Helena defeated Willits, 27-7; Tomales defeated Calistoga, 48-14; Anderson Valley defeated Laytonville, 36-12, and Potter Valley defeated Point Arena, 13-6.
Cullen Carroll rushed for 86 yards and two TDs and also had a team-high 13 tackles to lead St. Vincent.
Fort Braggs Jake Cimolino ran for three TDs, returned a kickoff 85 yards for a score and rushed for 240 yards. Cimolino has rushed for 550 yards in his last two games.
Tyler Owen rushed for 152 yards and Middletown finished with 350 yards on the ground.
Mike Duman returned a fumble 46 yards for a TD and the deciding score in Kelseyvilles win. Steven Grossner added 119 yards rushing and two TDs. Cloverdales Chayton Osmon rushed for 178 yards and a TD.
Stan Moody rushed for 251 yards on just 12 carries in Tomales win. Moody ran for four TDs, including a 75-yarder.
Potter Valleys Matthew Moore scored both his teams TDs, on 7-yard and 9-yard runs.
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What a difference a week makes...
Following a 57-point drubbing the previous week, El Molino gets first SCL win in 4 years
By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Thursday, October 16, 2008
How does a high school football team lose by 57 points one week and the next beat an undefeated team?
The best answer might be its high school football.
El Molino coach Mike Roan, a former NFL player, said if his team played every week like it did against area rival Analy, posting a 21-19 victory and getting its first Sonoma County League win in four years, it would be a coachs dream.
But Roan is well aware of the factors involved in competing in the SCL and not all involve the play on the field or the intensity of the players.
El Molino (952) and Healdsburg (885) are the smallest schools enrollment-wise in the SCL with most of the schools being nearly twice as large. The smaller player pool normally equates to a varsity team of around 30 players for the Lions and Greyhounds. Add injuries and by this time of the season, rosters can fall into the mid 20s.
Theres also a success factor in high school football. The most successful programs usually attract more players. Nobody likes to lose. That can also affect the size of JV and frosh teams, which feed the varsity the core of its roster.
We just didnt play well against Petaluma, Roan said of his teams 57-0 loss to the Trojans, a week before the Lions unexpected two-point win against Analy.
We preach all the time about working hard and how the effort pays off, Roan said. The most satisfying part of the win against Analy was everyone played a part.
Many thought if ever El Molino was going to break its 11-year losing streak with Analy, it would have been last year with a more experienced team, particularly with its line.
Senior quarterback Tony De Marco, who sparked the victory against Analy by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another, said that its not that the Lions are void of talent. De Marco said the hardest part of high school football is playing together as a team and everyone needs to build confidence in their own abilities.
The frustrating part is knowing if we play as a team we can win, De Marco said. For one game we put it all together, offensively and defensively.
I think we have some good skill people, De Marco said. That group includes junior running back Quante Brinson and wide receivers Chaz Mathias, Rhodes Wroth and sophomore Joe Douglass.
Roan said maybe the biggest difference in a week was the performance of the Lions defense.
The seniors really stepped up, Roan said.
Major contributors in the win included linebackers Cole Parmeter and Trevor Watson, Wroth at safety, Miles Chenoweth at cornerback and Dakota Lerner-Ross at end.
Roan said Chenoweth played extremely well. Chenoweth was named an honorary captain for the game. Chenoweths mother died of cancer during the summer and Roan said she was one of the Lions most dedicated boosters.
Roan knows the road through the SCL is a tough one, but with a 3-3 overall record, believes the Lions are headed in the right direction.
He tried to use the Analy game as motivation for the rest of the season, telling the players that they are capable of repeating their performance against Analy.
It was Roans fourth Golden Apple Game and the most satisfying, not just because of the win. Roan said at least 35 of his former players were in attendance, adding to the feeling of a developing program.
Roan has also helped start a youth football program in Forestville, introducing the sport to youths before they begin high school.
El Molino plays at Sonoma tonight at 7:30. Both the Lions and Dragons are 1-1 in the SCL.
For more on Empire high school sports, read Richs blog at prepsports.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@press
democrat.com.
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PETALUMA 21, CASA GRANDE 14
Trojans finally crack Egg Bowl..
After five straight losses to Casa Grande, Petaluma turns the tide
By PHIL BARBER
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Friday, October 10, 2008
PETALUMA. When they arrived at the football stadium at Casa Grande on Friday night, the Petaluma Trojans were greeted with a stark reminder of where this rivalry stood. Hanging in front of the Casa Grande bleachers was a long sign that read: HEY TROY DONT YOU KNOW ... ITS BEEN 5 YEARS IN A ROW.
Casa Grande has a streak of five consecutive outright or shared Sonoma County League championships. The school also had beaten its cross-town rival five straight years. Perhaps thats why when this one was over and Petaluma had stormed back from a 14-0 deficit to win 21-14, students and parents alike stormed the field, hugged, cried, snapped cell-phone photos and chanted Egg Bowl! Egg Bowl!
How good did it feel? Nothing better so far, said Trojans Sean Sullivan, the super-quick halfback who ran for 132 yards on 14 carries.
Casa (2-2-1, 0-1 SCL) was left to wonder how it could have rushed for 314 yards and been on its way to a blowout, only to allow Petaluma (3-3, 2-0) first to hang around, then to steal a win.
Early in the second quarter, a Petaluma loss seemed like a real possibility. The Gauchos scored on their first two possessions to grab a 14-0 lead. OBrien, son of coach Rick OBrien, got both touchdowns. First he ran around the left end for a 4-yard score. And on Casas next possession, he started right, circled left and bolted for a 67-yarder.
Casa Grande threatened to make it 21-0 when Trojans quarterback Taylen Hinks fumbled late in the first quarter and the Gauchos recovered.
I thought here we go again, Petaluma coach Steve Ellison admitted. But we talk every week about how theres good stuff and bad in a game. How you deal with it is whats important.
On a third-down play, Casas Matt Gallo fumbled after catching a pass inside the 10-yard line. Petaluma recovered, and the momentum suddenly shifted.
Two plays later, Sullivan rocketed 77 yards down the left sideline to cut the deficit to 14-7. On the Trojans next possession, Sullivan took a well-executed screen pass for 39 yards, and Hinks broke a tackle and ran for 30, down to the Casa 2-yard line. From there, fullback Ricky Sims bulled over the goal line to tie the score.
We knew we were gonna be in a fight, Sullivan said. We never thought we were down.
Petaluma didnt let up in the third quarter. After recovering another Gauchos fumble, the Trojans marched 54 yards to take a 21-14 lead, Hinks bouncing around the left side for a 17-yard touchdown run.
Casa Grande had its chances after that, but Petaluma seemed to come up with big defensive plays when needed. In the fourth quarter, Sims batted down a pass by OBrien to end one possession, and Dalton Johnson and Drew Pawlan ended the Gauchos final two drives with interceptions deep in Trojans territory.
Nearly lost amid the turnovers was a huge play by Johnson just before halftime. With 2:41 left in the second quarter, Casa receiver Matt Nadolski took a double reverse from running back Kahlil Keys that completely fooled the Trojans. Nadolski looked to be gone down the left sideline, but Johnson caught him at the 5-yard line. After losing 4 yards in three plays, Gauchos kick holder Matt Gallo tried to pass after getting a high snap, and his throw fell incomplete.
That sort of summed up Casa Grandes night. Keys had 118 yards on 23 carries, OBrien 117 yards on nine attempts, but the yardage didnt translate into enough points.
Petaluma, meanwhile, played a nearly error-free game. The Trojans were penalized only one time, lost just one turnover on a fumble, and didnt throw an incomplete pass in Hinks three attempts.
We lost three games we could have won, Ellison said. Maybe we had to lose em to get to this point. I think we learned a lot along the way.
AT CASA GRANDE
Petaluma 0 14 7 0 21
Casa Grande 14 0 0 0 14
CG Matt OBrien 4 run (Derby kick)
CG OBrien 67 run (Derby kick)
P Sean Sullivan 77 run (Marsh kick)
P Ricky Sims 2 run (Marsh kick)
P Taylen Hinks 17 run (Marsh kick)
Rushing - Petaluma: Sean Sullivan 14-132, Taylen Hinks 11-66, Ricky Sims 13-50. Casa Grande: Kahlil Keys 23-118, Matt OBrien 9-117, Matt Nadolski 1-79.
Passing - Petaluma: Hinks 3-3-0-59 yds. Casa Grande: OBrien 5-10-2-51. Receiving - Petaluma: Jake Montero 2-20, Sullivan 1-39. Casa Grande: Nadolski 5-24, Teddy Osmundson 3-44.
Records: P 3-3, 2-0; CG 2-2-1, 0-1
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Lions, Tigers are set to battle for Golden Apple Trophy
El Mo looking to end 10-year skid with series knotted at 21-all
by Greg Clementi
Sports Editor
The greatest high school football rivalry west of the Rockies will resume this Friday, Oct. 10 when the Lions and Tigers renew hostilities in the 43rd edition of the Golden Apple Bowl.
This years meeting moves to Forestville, with the JV and varsity games set for 5 and 7:30 p.m.
El Molino, led by fourth-year head coach Mike Roan, is determined to snap a 10-game losing skid, with the last Lions victory coming in a 21-17 win in 1997. Despite the losing streak, the overall series is knotted at 21 wins apiece.
Its always a big game, maybe too big in the minds of the players, said Roan. As a coach, you do what you can to use the added emotion, but at the same time, you try to down-play it as much as possible.
The Lions (2-3, 0-1) are small in terms of numbers and varsity experience this season, led by senior running backs Tony DeMarco and Cole Parmeter, senior receiver/DB Rhodes Wroth, senior linebacker Dakota Lerner-Ross, and sophomore sensations; quarterback Michael Pierson and receiver/safety Joe Douglass.
The Tigers (5-0, 1-0) are off to one of the best starts in school history under first-year head coach Dan Bourdon. The team features a strong offensive line and defensive unit, along with a bevy of talent that includes: senior quarterback David Glass, senior running back Anthony Giacobbe, senior big-play receiver Jimmy McCann, and junior running back Isias Alcantar. Senior play-maker Joey Maloney has a foot injury and is not expected to play.
Were very aware that in this game, the best team doesnt always win, noted Bourdon. As for the added emotion and adrenaline associated with the rivalry he added, We dont want our guys to get too pumped up until Friday.
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Greyhounds fall to Analy in mud-soaked SCL opener
Hounds fall to 4-1; host Sonoma on Friday in Homecoming game
By Greg Clementi
Sports Editor
One of the great things about football and there are many is that games are played regardless of weather or field conditions.
Fridays mud-soaked gridiron clash at Karlson Field in Sebastopol was a soggy reminder of that fact, as the Analy Tigers slogged and slipped past the visiting Greyhounds, 17-0 in the Sonoma County League opener for both teams.
The meeting between the two unbeaten squads was one of the most anticipated league openers in recent memory, as both teams entered the game with identical 4-0 records. With weather conditions deteriorating rapidly, it seemed that whichever team had more success hanging onto the football would emerge the winner.
That was certainly the case on Friday, as the Tigers fully capitalized on several Healdsburg turnovers to gain a lead they would not relinquish.
They definitely out-played us, no question about it, said Hounds head coach Tom Kirkpatrick. It was one of those nights, and youre going to have those kinds of games in the course of a season. The important thing is how we respond in the next game, he added.
The teams came into the game at considerably less than 100 percent, with Analys top offensive threat, Joey Maloney, sidelined with a foot injury, while Healdsburg was missing star running back/DB David Balestrieri and speedy receiver/DB Dante Fountain to serious injuries.
The game took an early turn for the Tigers when they pounced on a Hounds fumble at the Healdsburg eight yard line four minutes into the game. Analy running back Isias Alcantar capped the possession with a seven-yard scoring burst, followed by a Ben Doran PAT boot for a 7-0 lead.
Analy threatened again early in the second quarter, when a bad snap on a Hounds punt put the Tigers deep in Healdsburg territory. The drive eventually stalled, but Doran nailed a 25-yard field goal to open up a 10-0 Analy advantage.
The Hounds drove to the Analy 10 late in the period, but another offensive mistake ended the threat. Analy gained separation with 1:12 to go in the half when quarterback David Glass found emerging receiver Jimmy McCann on a 34-yard touchdown strike for a 17-0 Tiger lead at the break.
The skies opened up in the second half, as the middle of the field turned into a muddy quagmire.
The Tigers, behind a good push from their offensive line and punishing runs by backs Anthony Giacobbe, Alcantar and Jeremy Van Riet, would control the clock and the scoreboard the rest of the way. Hounds back-up quarterback Killian Collins replaced starter Zach Shippey in the fourth quarter, and Analy hung on to post a 17-0 win.
The Healdsburg defensive unit turned in another solid performance, led by: Placido Lopez (11 tackles), Caleb Rummonds (5 tackles), Dillon Cattalini (5 tackles), Cabby Basurto (5 tackles), Anthony Barnes (4 tackles), Colin Brown (4 tackles), Andy Phillips (4 tackles), Elliot Fritz (4 tackles), Ian Gallagher (3 tackles), Tyler Whitmore (3 tackles), Wes Young (3 tackles), Cele Fernandez (2 tackles), Alex Espinosa (2 tackles), David Capron (2 tackles), Tom Belli (2 tackles), and a tackle apiece from Devin Bryant, Travis Paasche, and Anthony Ruiz.
Solid offensive efforts included: Shippey (8-16, 58 yards passing), Phillips (9-46 yards rushing, 2-23 yards receiving) Cattalini (12-40 yards rushing), Paul Wilson (1-12 yards receiving), and Rummonds (4-23 yards receiving).
The Greyhound JV squad (4-1, 0-1) suffered their first loss of the campaign on Friday with a 14-6 loss to Analy.
The Hounds return home to host Sonoma this Friday, Oct. 10 in the Homecoming Game. Kickoff times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
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Tigers slosh past Greyhounds
The Analy varsity squad recorded its most important win of the fall campaign on Friday, handing previously unbeaten Healdsburg a 17-0 loss in a driving rainstorm at Karlson Field. The victory ran the Tigers season mark to 5-0 and 1-0 in the SCL, while the Hounds fell to 4-1 and 0-1.
The meeting between the two unbeaten squads was one of the most anticipated league openers in recent memory, as both teams entered the game with identical 4-0 records. With weather conditions deteriorating rapidly, it seemed that whichever team had more success hanging onto the football would emerge the winner.
That was certainly the case on Friday, as the Tigers fully capitalized on several Healdsburg turnovers to gain a lead they would not relinquish.
We knew coming in that wed have to run the ball to be successful against them, said Tiger head coach Dan Bourdon. We didnt do anything flashy, but our guys came to play.
The teams came into the game at considerably less than 100 percent, with Analys top offensive threat, Joey Maloney, sidelined with a foot injury, while Healdsburg was missing star running back/DB David Balestrieri and speedy receiver/DB Dante Fountain to serious injuries.
The game took an early turn for the Tigers when they pounced on a Hounds fumble at the Healdsburg eight yard line four minutes into the game. Analy running back Isias Alcantar capped the possession with a seven-yard scoring burst, followed by a Ben Doran PAT boot for a 7-0 lead.
Analy threatened again early in the second quarter, when a bad snap on a Hounds punt put the Tigers deep in Healdsburg territory. The drive eventually stalled, but Doran nailed a 25-yard field goal to open up a 10-0 Analy advantage.
The Hounds drove to the Analy 10 late in the period, but another offensive mistake ended the threat. Analy gained separation with 1:12 to go in the half when quarterback David Glass found emerging receiver Jimmy McCann on a 35-yard touchdown strike for a 17-0 Tiger lead at the break.
The skies opened up in the second half, as the middle of the field turned into a muddy quagmire.
The Tigers, behind a strong push from their offensive line and punishing runs by backs Anthony Giacobbe, Alcantar, Alex Mora and Jeremy Van Riet, would control the clock and the scoreboard the rest of the way, as the Tigers hung on to post a 17-0 win.
Offensive leaders included: David Glass (4-10, 49 yards passing, TD), Alcantar (10-43 yards rushing), Giacobbe (11-33 yards rushing), Mora (33 yards rushing).
The Tiger defensive unit held the Hounds to just 89 yards on the ground, led by: Leon (7.5 tackles), Fox (9.5 tackles), Alcantar (8 tackles), Giacobbe (6.5 tackles), Daniels (6.5 tackles, sack), Van Riet (6.5 tackles), Mills (6 tackles), and Townsend (4.5 tackles),
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Tigers shut out Greyhounds in battle of unbeatens...
ANALY 17, HEALDSBURG 0
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, October 3, 2008
SEBASTOPOL -
Not rain or muck can keep the Analy football team from winning this season.
In the slop on Friday night at Karlson Field, the Tigers, one year removed from a 2-8 season, continued their stunning turnaround with a 17-0 win against previously unbeaten Sonoma County League rival Healdsburg.
The victory in the league opener for both teams improved the host Tigers to 5-0. Healdsburg dropped to 4-1.
A 5-0 record?
Tigers coach Dan Bourdon admits he might not have believed it if someone told him two months ago.
I would have been extremely happy, Bourdon said. But I wouldnt have expected it.
Analy jumped out to 17-0 lead and cruised despite playing without star running back/wide receiver Joey Maloney, who is expected to miss at least several more weeks with a foot injury.
Isias Alcantar opened the scoring with a 5-yard, first-quarter run.
In the second quarter, Ben Doran added a 20-yard field goal and David Glass connected with Jimmy McCann on a 35-yard scoring pass.
This was a big win for us, Bourdon said. We knew our league schedule was going to be a lot tougher than the non-league teams we played.
AT SEBASTOPOL
Healdsburg 0 0 0 0 0
Analy 7 10 0 0 17
A Isias Alcantar 7 run (Ben Doran kick)
A Ben Doran 20 FG
A Jimmy McCann 35 pass from David Glass (Doran kick)
Records: H 4-1, 0-1; Analy 5-0, 1-0
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Perfect opener for Healdsburg and Analy...
Greyhounds and Tigers are both undefeated and meet tonight in a Sonoma County League contest
By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: Thursday, October 2, 2008
Both Healdsburg and Analy are enjoying the rarified football air of being undefeated heading into tonights Sonoma County League opener at Karlson Field in Sebastopol.
For first-year head coach Dan Bourdon at Analy, a 4-0 start is far beyond expectations after a 2-8 2007 season, in which Bourdon was the offensive coordinator.
For Healdsburgs Tom Kirkpatrick, who ranks near the top for winning percentage among Empire coaches, he was faced with trying to repeat a 10-2 season that saw him lose an all-Empire quarterback and receiver to graduation. Healdsburg is also 4-0.
In the past, both Analy and Healdsburg have been known for running wide open offenses, throwing the ball frequently and scoring a lot of points. This year, scores have reflected teams relying on controlling the ball and playing outstanding defense. Last week, Analy topped Santa Rosa, 14-7 and Healdsburg defeated Acalanes, 8-7.
We still spread it out, but our time of possession has been through the roof, Bourdon said. Last year we had a streak of nine interceptions in two games and we cant put the defense on the field that much.
While Analy quarterback David Glass is not throwing the ball anywhere close to the number of times he did a year ago, Bourdon said hes playing smart. As an example Bourdon said there was a recent play where instead of Glass trying to force a pass, he tucked it under his arm and ran for a touchdown.
And while its running game runs hot and cold, Glass has still gone to the air when needed, as he did last week. Without top back and slot receiver Joey Maloney, out with a foot injury against Santa Rosa, Analy had a negative 56 yards rushing (losses from sacks in high school are taken off rushing stats). But Glass threw two TD passes to senior Jimmy McCann, playing football for the first time, who had 135 yards on receptions. McCann also came up with an interception at free safety with Santa Rosa attempting a late comeback.
Bourdon credits defensive coordinator Toby Carpenter with toughening the Tigers defense.
He changes things all the time, depending who were playing, Bourdon said.
Linebacker Isiah Alcantar and lineman Levi Mills have been major contributors for the Tigers.
For Healdsburg, one play last week may have best illustrated this teams persistence and need to come up with a big play.
Capping a long drive with a 4th-down Andy Phillips 1-yard run for a TD with about three minutes remaining against Acalanes, Kirkpatrick opted to go for the win and two-point conversion. The ball went to Phillips who looked as if he would try to run wide to the end zone. Instead, before getting to the line of scrimmage, he pulled up and threw a pass to Caleb Rummonds in the back of the end zone. Rummonds jumped as high as he could, caught the ball on his fingertips and then was described as coming down with a toe inside the corner of the end zone.
It looked like The Catch, said Kirkpatrick, referring to Joe Montanas pass to Dwight Clark against the Cowboys.
Quarterback Zach Shippy has thrown for 727 yards, but the Greyhounds have suffered injuries to skill players, back David Balestrieri breaking a bone in his leg and wide receiver Dante Fountain suffering a partial tear of his Achilles tendon and high ankle sprain. Playing conservatively on offense has become a necessity.
Healdsburg also defeated Riordan of San Francisco, 10-7.
The kids have done what theyve had to do to win, Kirkpatrick said. Its not last years team. Its a blue collar team where we have to grind it out.
Kirkpatrick said its good to be playing a game tonight with so much at stake.
Its neat what Analy has done with a young coach and staff. Theres a lot of excitement.
You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@press
democrat.com.
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Tiger gridders remain unbeaten; Lions fall to Piner
West County football report
by Greg Clementi
Sports Editor
The varsity football Lions and Tigers put the wraps on a successful pre-season campaign on Friday with a pair of home clashes against North Bay League opponents.
Tigers maul Panthers; push record to 4-0
There is joy and anticipation in Sebastopol this week on the heels of Analys 14-7 victory over visiting Santa Rosa on Friday. The win closed out a perfect pre-season for the Tigers and ran their record to 4-0 heading into the Sonoma County League play. The fast start represents one of the best ever in Analys rich football history, and the first time since 1995 that the Tigers have emerged unbeaten after four games.
This Friday, the Tigers will take on visiting Healdsburg (4-0) in the much-anticipated league opener for both teams. Kickoff times for the JV and varsity at Karlson Field are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Were excited about the week and the fact that well be playing against Healdsburg, another undefeated team, said Analy head coach Dan Bourdon. At this point Im just happy to be 4-0, and Id have to say that weve exceeded my expectations so far.
The Analy defense chipped in another stellar performance in Fridays clash with Santa Rosa, overcoming a challenging night for the Tiger offense.
The Panthers drew first blood in the early seconds of the second quarter, when a sustained march led to a six-yard scoring burst from quarterback Darryl Thomas. The PAT kick was good and Santa Rosa took a 7-0 lead into the halftime locker room.
Analy got on the scoreboard early in the third quarter when quarterback David Glass found first-year receiver Jimmy McCann over the top on a 26-yard lightening bolt. Ben Doran followed with the PAT boot to knot the contest at 7-7. The pass-catch tandem struck again on the Tigers next possession when a third and 18 from the Panther 30 resulted in a 70-yard scoring bomb from Glass to McCann for a seven-point Tiger advantage.
With both defenses allowing precious few yards in the final period, Tiger punter Jeremy Van Riet pinned the Panthers deep with a 53-yard punt late in the game to help preserve a 14-7 Tiger victory.
Glass finished up a solid effort under center with 14 completions on 22 attempts for 237 passing yards, two scores and no picks. McCann led the receiving corps with four catches for 135 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Other top receiving targets included: Chris Bostock (4-48 yards), Ben Doran (3-33 yards), Jack Doran (3-20 yards), and Isias Alcantar (1-18 yards). The Tiger running attack was held to minus yardage on the night.
Top Tiger defenders included: Alcantar (6 tackles, 5 assists), Fox (4 tackles, 6 assists), Daniels (4 tackles, 3 assists), Michaelsen (3 tackles, 7 assists, blocked pass), McCann (3 tackles, 4 assists), Giacobbe (3 tackles, 3 assists), Leon (2 tackles, assist), Tucker ( 2 tackles), Mills (tackle, 2 assists), and a tackle apiece from Swift, Libby, Calkins, Van Riet and Ben Doran. The Panthers attempted just two passes in the game, with one resulting in an Analy pick.
Lions fall to Piner Prospectors, 28-6
El Molino emerged from a solid pre-season on Friday with a disappointing, 28-6 loss to visiting Piner. The loss evened the Lions season record at 2-2 heading into the league opener at Petaluma this Friday.
I felt like we played okay until about midway through the third quarter, said El Mo coach Mike Roan. Offensively, we had some penalties and turnovers and couldnt get into a rhythm. Were just not good enough where we can make mistakes and get away with it.
Despite the setback against Piner, there were plenty of positives to go around, including the continued improvement of talented sophomore signal-caller Michael Pierson, who amassed another 231 passing yards and a touchdown on 17-29 accuracy. Other top offensive efforts were had by: Tony DeMarco (5-26 yards receiving, 13 yards rushing), Chaz Mathias (3-92 yards receiving, TD), Dakota Lerner-Ross (2-33 yards receiving), and Joe Douglass (3-29 yards receiving).
The Lions welcomed the return of DeMarco, who missed most of the last two games with a separated shoulder. DeMarco turned in a stellar defensive effort against the Prospectors, chipping in a pair of interceptions. Lerner-Ross has also been a defensive force from his linebackers spot, and recorded a pair of sacks, four tackles and a forced fumble on Friday. Also turning in solid defensive performances were: Rhodes Wroth 10 tackles, INT), Trevor Watson (8 tackles), Cole Parmeter (9 tackles), Mathias (7 tackles) and Kenny Deurloo (FR).
Piner jumped on top in the opening period with a 14-yard scoring strike for a 7-0 lead. The Lion defense rose up throughout the first half, forcing four turnovers to stay within a touchdown, trailing 7-0 at the break.
The Prospectors gained separation late in the third quarter on a 22-yard scoring burst, and added touchdown passes of 20 and five yards to go up by four scores. El Mos lone touchdown came late in the fourth quarter when Pierson found Mathias on a 51-yard strike for the eventual, 28-6 Piner victory.
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Hounds shock Acalanes 8-7 in preseason gridiron finale..
Healdsburg runs record to 4-0; opens SCL at Analy on Friday
By GREG CLEMENTI
Sports Editor
Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said that in great attempts, it is glorious even to fail.
The varsity football Greyhounds did not fail in their great attempt on Friday night against the visiting Acalanes Dons, instead posting a courageous, 8-7 victory with a heart-stopping finish in the teams preseason finale at Recreation Park.
Trailing 7-0 late in the fourth quarter, the Hounds marched 70 yards for a touchdown when running back Andy Phillips powered over the goal line from one yard out. Instead of sending in reliable kicker Colin Brown for the game-tying PAT boot, veteran head coach Tom Kirkpatrick called a time-out and huddled with his team.
I ran it by the kids and our senior captains said Lets go for two, said Kirkpatrick. A tie wouldnt have done anybody any good, I know that we wouldnt have felt good about it.
What followed was nothing short of dramatic, as Phillips took the pitch from quarterback Zach Shippey and lofted the ball toward a wide-open receiver Caleb Rummonds near the back of the end zone. Alertly, Rummonds reached up and caught the pass while keeping both feet firmly on the ground and in bounds.
We watched the tape a few times and saw that if Rummonds had jumped for the ball, he would have landed out of bounds, noted Kirkpatrick. It was quite a catch.
The Healdsburg defensive unit, in the midst of another stellar game, held off a late Acalanes comeback bid in the final minute of play to preserve the 8-7 Hounds victory.
The win ran Healdsburgs unbeaten record to a perfect 4-0 heading into the Sonoma County League opener this week. The Hounds will open the SCL campaign this Friday, Oct. 3 against the undefeated Analy Tigers at Karlson Field in Sebastopol. Kickoff times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
After notching a 14-7 win over Santa Rosa, Analy has also emerged from pre-season play with a 4-0 mark, representing one of the best starts for the Tigers in their history under first-year head coach Dan Bourdon.
The last time both teams met undefeated was in 1995 when we were both 5-0 and they came up to our place, recalled Kirkpatrick. Were looking forward to a great game, its going to be a lot of fun.
The Healdsburg defense and special teams deserve top billing in this one, led by a pair of standout efforts from cornerback/kicker Colin Brown (8 tackles) and senior defensive tackle Josh Steffen (2 tackles). Punter Elliot Fritz kept Acalanes pinned deep, averaging almost 37 yards per kick.
Other outstanding defensive performances were turned in by: Tom Belli (7 tackles), Ian Gallagher (4 tackles, INT), Dillon Cattalini (7 tackles), Placido Lopez (5 tackles), Phillips (5 tackles), Cabby Basurto (4 tackles), Tyler Whitmore (3 tackles), Anthony Barnes (3 tackles), Rummonds (3 tackles), Anthony Ruiz (3 tackles), Wes Young (2 tackles, sack), Travis Paasche (2 tackles, FR), and one tackle apiece from Fritz, Alex Espinosa and Cele Fernandez.
Leading the offensive unit were: Shippey (23-45, 250 yards passing), Phillips (16-68 yards rushing, TD, 3-23 yards receiving), Cattalini (11-26 yards rushing, 1-6 yards receiving), Rummonds (10-118 yards receiving), Paul Wilson (4-45 yards receiving), Thomas Kozel (1-30 yards receiving), Gallagher (2-20 yards receiving), Belli (1-11 yards receiving) and Basurto (1-11 yards receiving).
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
Shutout is not enough for Gauchos
Montgomery and Casa Grande tie, 0-0
By JOHN JACKSON
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR
After two outstanding previous efforts, Casa Grandes defense finally came up with a shutout Friday night It wasnt enough.
Playing on their home field, the Gaucho varsity football team stood toe to toe with Montgomerys talented and physical Vikings and slugged its way to a 0-0 tie.
Unlike last season when the Gauchos were frustrated with a 17-17 tie with the Vikings after letting a two-touchdown lead get away, this time they had to scrape, claw and get a bit fortunate to manage the scoreless standoff.
They are very physical and they blitzed a lot, noted Casa Grande coach Rick OBrien. We had a couple of opportunities for big plays and didnt capitalize.
Defensively, I thought we played real well. When they got inside our 10, we made some big plays.
Whenever Casa and Montgomery play, it is going to be a physical, defensive game.
Physical, it definitely was, with some huge hits from both sides. It was also exciting, with Montgomery three times being denied after driving inside the Casa Grande 10-yard line and the Gauchos seeming on the verge of the big play all night, but never getting past the verge.
Pretty it wasnt. Montgomery helped in its own offensive destruction with an unofficial total of 11 penalties for 95 yards, many at crucial times. Casa Grande was flagged 7 times for 55 yards, including once for a pass interference that gave the Vikings one last shot at victory in the games waning seconds.
Casa Grandes defensive integrity was tested early in the second quarter when Montgomery used a 23-yard run by game-long standout James Berthinier to set up a first and goal at the Gaucho 4-yard line.
Twice the Vikings smashed Berthinier into the middle of the Gaucho defense only be smothered by Howard Perry, Blaine Peterman, Zach Burnett and friends. On third down, Matt OBrien swiped a Derek Klomhaus pass in the end zone to end the threat.
On the other side of the ball, quarterback OBrien was battered all evening by a swarm of blitzing Viking linebackers and defensive backs. Still, he managed to led a 40-yard march late in the first half that gave strong-legged Gaucho kicker Conner Derby a shot at a 48-yard field goal that had distance, but missed wide left.
Midway through the third quarter, a 33-yard burst by Berthinier gave the Vikings another first-and-goal, this time from the Casa Grande 8-yard line. Again the Gauchos were team tough and the threat ended when Dillion McEwan recovered a fumble at the 5-yard line.
The relentless Vikings drove back to the Casa three with about four minutes to play, but once again the Gaucho defense with Ian Phoenix, Makana Garrigan and Peterman prominent refused to yield and a bad snap doomed a 24-yard field goal try by Nick Spaan.
Casa Grande, helped by a late out-of-bounds hit on OBrien that provided a key first down and a gutsy run by the quarterback for another chain-moving 10-yard gain, shoved out to the Montgomery 33-yard line in the games final minute, only to lose possession on a fumble.
The Casa Grande seemed to have halted the last Viking hopes on strong efforts by defensive backs Matt Nadolski, OBrien and Matt Gallo when a deserved, but unnecessary pass interference penalty on a Klomhaus throw that had no prayer of connection, allowed Montgomery a last shot at victory on the games final play.
Spanns 34-yard field goal was short and left and there was no score and little satisfaction for either team.
Casa Grande is now 2-0-1 for the season, while Montgomery at 0-2-1 is still looking for its first win.
The Casa Grande junior varsity remained undefeated on the season, handling the Viking JVs, 28-7.
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
High School Football
Gauchos wallop Pumas
BY JOHN JACKSON
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR
Casa Grandes Gauchos gave Maria Carrillos Pumas a two-three punch, scoring twice on the ground and three times through the air for a dominating 35-12 victory.
Playing in the final Saturday afternoon game before new lights are turned on for Friday night football at Maria Carrillo, the Gauchos sputtered along through a scoreless opening quarter and then unleashed their multitude of rapid-fire weapons to mortally wound the Pumas with three second-quarter touchdowns.
After a touchdown early on in the fourth period had upped the score to 28-0, Casa Grande went to its bench and Maria Carrillo took advantage for two fourth-quarter touchdowns on a pass interception return and a passing bomb.
At 28-14, it looked for three minutes as if the game might get to be a bit exciting, but the Gauchos used those three minutes for a second-team drive that covered 49 yards and resulted in an end-all-doubts touchdown.
That touchdown was scored from the 1-yard line by Blaine Peterman, who is definitely a first-line player, but on defense, not offense.
It was great fun, he said of his touchdown run, but Im a defensive player.
After going three and out in their first three possessions, Matt OBrien, who is both an offensive and defensive player, provided the spark that snapped the Gauchos out of their lethargy by picking off a Hunter Odom pass at the Maria Carrillo 41-yard line.
It was the start of a huge afternoon for the senior, who finished with three pass interceptions and three touchdown passes on offense. After a slow start, he completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards. He also rushed for 36 yards and, for good measure, put Casa Grande in position for its final touchdown with a 37-yard kickoff return.
I just dropped back and read the quarterback and the receivers, OBrien noted. I was looking at the quarterbacks eyes.
He just has an understanding of the game, noted his coach-father Rick OBrien. He understands what is going on on the field.
Two of his touchdown passes came on throws of nine and 10 yards to Matt Nadolski on identical fade patterns to the right corner of the end zone. Both were audibles to plays changed by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.
His other TD throw, a nice 21-yard connection to Conner Waggoner for the juniors first varsity touchdown, provided the Gauchos with their first points of the warm afternoon.
After the TD tosses to Nadolski had made the Pumas aerial conscious, the Gauchos showed they also are ground dangerous. Senior Kahlil Keys went 42 yards in just two plays for the score, getting 35 on one carry and seven yards and six points on the next. Keys finished with 141 yards on 19 carries.
Kahlil had an outstanding game, coach OBrien pointed out. When he gets into the secondary he just runs over people.
Keys and Alan Vargas carried the load on the final Casa Grande scoring march, putting Peterman in a position for his chance at offensive glory.
But it was on defense that the senior shined, as always, recording 10 solo tackles, helping on three others and recording a sack.
He had all sorts of help. Dillion McEwan was always around the football, recording eight tackles, a total matched by Ian Phoenix, who alternates between end up front and linebacker slightly off the ball.
Zach Burnett pretty much stuffed the Maria Carrillo running game. He finished with five solo tackles, a big number for a down lineman, and had six tackles for the game.
A very pleasant surprise for the Gauchos was Vargas, who stepped in for injured safety Danny Cuevas and made some outstanding plays, recovering two fumbles and being credited for six tackles. Matt Gallo, Nadolski and Makana Garrigan were each credited with five tackles.
In addition to Peterman, Tyler Selna and Kevin Brown each had a sack.
The youthful Maria Carrillo team is now 1-1. The Pumas first touchdown came on a 57-yard return of a pass stolen from reserve quarterback Spencer Finkbohner by Anthony Chavez.
The other Maria Carrillo score was a 34-yard pass connection from Odom to Nick Dengler.
Casa Grande won the junior varsity preliminary, 13-6, and, like the Gaucho varsity, is now 2-0 for the season.
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CASA GRANDE 35, MARIA CARRILLO 12
Casa cruises to victory
Gauchos' O'Brien sets school record with three interceptions, throws three TD passes
By Eric Branch
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Saturday, September 20, 2008
A few years ago, before his son Matt was one of his players, Casa Grande coach Rick OBrien considered trading in his headset for a spot in the stands.
The idea of just watching his son, not coaching him, was appealing. To get some advice, OBrien called three of his peers who had coached their sons Petalumas Steve Ellison, Healdsburgs Tom Kirkpatrick and Sonoma’s Mick OMeara and asked them about their experiences.
All three of them said Stay, OBrien said. They said it was the most memorable part of their career.
A few years later, he understands what they were talking about.
The approving coach and proud father watched his sons brilliant two-way performance Saturday afternoon in Casa Grandes 35-12 non-league win at Maria Carrillo.
Matt OBrien, who plays safety and quarterback, set a school record with three interceptions, and he threw three touchdown passes in a six-minute span of the second quarter to give the Gauchos (2-0) a 21-0 halftime lead.
A two-year starter, OBrien, a senior, has thrown six touchdowns and one interception this season.
And his father is cherishing each moment.
Its all great, the coach said. Watching film, and practicing, and watching him perform in the game, and after the game. Just talking football. Its just a lot of fun. He loves football, and obviously football is a big part of our family. Its awesome. From the moment we get up to the moment we go to sleep, its football.
Casa Grandes defense overwhelmed Maria Carrillo (1-1), which was playing without senior quarterback Nick Hammaren, who suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury last week.
With eight minutes left, the Gauchos defense had held Maria Carrillo to three first downs, 86 yards and zero points. The Pumas had run 50 offensive plays, and 41 had gained 3 yards or fewer.
Casa Grande senior middle linebacker Blaine Peterman had 13 tackles, a forced fumble and a sack. Senior nose tackle Zach Burnett made five tackles, three for a loss.
Our defense is the best part of our team, Peterman said. We came out here, played hard-nosed, and we won.
And the defense got all the support it would need in the second quarter.
In a scoreless tie, OBrien connected with Conner Waggoner on a 21-yard touchdown to give the Gauchos a 7-0 lead with 11 minutes left in the second quarter. Four minutes later, OBrien floated a 9-yard fade pass to 6-foot-2 senior Matt Nadolski in the right corner of the end zone. After the Pumas fumbled the kickoff, OBrien found Nadolski two minutes later on a 10-yard fade in the same spot.
Suddenly, it was 21-0.
And the rest of the offensive highlights came from hard-running junior Kahlil Keys, who gave Casa Grande a 28-0 third-quarter lead on a 7-yard run. Keys, who had 131 yards on 19 carries, had 81 yards in the second half as the Gauchos nursed their lead.
The Pumas did rally to cut the deficit to 28-12 in the fourth quarter, a charge that began when junior Anthony Chavez returned an interception 63 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter.
With seven minutes left, junior Hunter Odom, making his first varsity start, connected with senior Nick Dengler on a 29-yard pass to close the gap to 28-12.
Odom completed 13 of 23 passes for 114 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions.
Im pretty proud of his performance today, Maria Carrillo coach Jay Higgins said. Hell learn from it and hell get better.
For proof, look at Matt OBrien, who is already just four touchdown passes shy of matching his total from last year.
For his part, OBrien says hes happy his dad hung around to coach him.
Its mostly about communication, he said. And we communicate well together. If he ever gets mad at me, I know that I did something wrong and I need to do it better.
Rick OBrien, standing nearby, looked at Matt.
And when something happens thats good? he asked, still coaching his son minutes after the game.
Matt OBrien didnt pause, And when something happens thats good, hes always there to pat my back.
You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.
AT MARIA CARRILLO
Casa Grande 0 21 7 7 35
Maria Carrillo 0 0 6 6 12
CG Conner Waggoner 21 pass from Matt OBrien (Conner Derby kick)
CG Matt Nadolski 9 pass from OBrien (Derby kick)
CG Nadolski 10 pass from OBrien (Derby kick)
CG Kahlil Keys 7 run (Derby kick)
MC Anthony Chavez 63 interception return (kick
failed)
MC Nick Dengler 29 pass from Hunter Odom (pass failed)
CG Blaine Peterman 1 run (Derby kick)
Rushing, CG: Keys 19-131, OBrien 9-19, Allan Vargas 4-20, Kyle Smith 2-18. MC: Odom 8-28, Zack Sheets 10-25, Terry Reid 2-6, Sam Atoe 6-6, Tyler Schlieder 1-2, Patrick Rex 1-2, Matt Hart 5-1.
Passing, CG: OBrien 10-18-1-98, Spencer Finkbohner 1-5-1-6. MC: 13-23-3-114.
Receiving, CG: Nadolski 4-26, Waggoner 3-53, Matt Gallo 2-15, Teddy Osmundson 1-4. MC: Dengler 5-51, Hart 3-14, Chavez 2-13, Atoe 2-13, James Nobles 1-22.
Records: CG 2-0, MC 1-1
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
Saturday Football
Once rolling, Gauchos romp by Maria Carrillo
O'Brien has three interceptions and three touchdown passes
By JOHN JACKSON
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR
It took Casa Grande High Schools varsity football Gauchos a little while to get rolling, but once offensively underway, there was no stopping the Gauchos as they rolled to an impressive 35-12 victory over Maria Carrillo.
Playing in the final Saturday afternoon game before new lights are turned on for Friday night football at Maria Carrillo, the Gauchos sputtered along through a scoreless opening quarter and then unleashed its multitude of rapid-fire weapons to mortally wound the Pumas with three second-quarter touchdowns.
After a touchdown early on in the fourth period had upped the score to 28-0, Casa Grande went to its bench and Maria Carrillo took advantage for two fourth quarter touchdowns on a pass interception return and a passing bomb.
At 28-14, it looked for three minutes as if the game might get to be a bit exciting, but the Gauchos used those three minutes for a second-team drive that covered 49 yards and resulted in an end-all-doubts touchdown.
That touchdown was scored from the 1-yard line by Blaine Peterman who is definitely a first-line player, but on defense, not offense.
It was great fun, he said of his touchdown run, but Im a defensive player.
After going three and out in their first three possessions, Matt OBrien, who is both an offensive and defensive player, provided the spark that snapped the Gauchos out of their lethargy by picking off a Hunter Odom pass at the Maria Carrillo 41-yard line.
It was the start of a huge afternoon for the senior, who finished with three pass interceptions and three touchdown passes on offense. After a slow start, he completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards. He also rushed for 36 yards and, for good measure, put Casa Grande in position for its final touchdown with a 37-yard kickoff return.
Two of his touchdown passes came on throws of nine and 10 yards to Matt Nadolski on identical fade patterns to the right corner of the end zone. Both were audibles to plays changed by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.
His other TD throw, a nice 21-yard connection to Conner Waggoner for the juniors first varsity touchdown, provided the Gauchos with their first points of the warm afternoon.
After the TD tosses to Nadolski had made the Pumas aerial conscious, the Gauchos showed they also are ground dangerous. Senior Kahlil Keys went 42 yards in just two plays for the score, getting 35 on one carry and seven yards and six points on the next. Keys finished with 141 yards on 19 carries.
Keys and Alan Vargas carried the load on the final Casa Grande scoring march, putting Peterman in a position for his chance at offensive glory.
But it was on defense that the senior shined, as always, recording 10 solo tackles, helping on three others and recording a sack.
He had all sorts of help. Dillion McEwan was always around the football, recording eight tackles, a total matched by Ian Phoenix, who alternates between end up front and linebacker slightly off the ball.
Zach Burnett pretty much stuffed the Maria Carrillo running game. He finished with five solo tackles, a big number for a down lineman, and had six tackles for the game.
A very pleasant surprise for the Gauchos was Vargas who stepped in for injured safety Danny Cuevas and made some outstanding plays, recovering two fumbles and being credited for six tackles.
In addition to Peterman, Tyler Selna and Kevin Brown each had a sack.
The youthful Maria Carrillo team is now 1-1. The Pumas’ first touchdown came on a 57-yard return of a pass stolen from reserve quarterback Spencer Finkbohner by Anthony Chavez. The other Maria Carrillo score was a 34-yard pass connection from Odom to Nick Dengler.
Casa Grande won the junior varsity preliminary, 13-6, and, like the Gaucho varsity, is now 2-0 for the season.
Next up for the Gauchos is a home game Friday night against Montgomery.
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
Friday Night Football
Ukiah holds off Petaluma, 14-7
Late Trojan drive frustrated by fumble
By JOHN JACKSON
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR
Petaluma Highs varsity football Trojans lost a game they well could have won Friday night. They also stayed in a game they well could have been blown out of.
If that sounds like a contradiction, it is because Petalumas 14-7 non-league loss to Ukiah, played on a warm, but mist-dampened, evening at Durst Field was a study in contradictions.
Petalumas offense came up with the Trojans lowest point total of the three-game season, but put together several impressive drives in what may have been its most consistent effort yet.
The Trojans were driving for what might have been the tying or even winning (depending on a potential PAT decision) touchdown in the games final minutes when they fumbled away a chance at success.
Defensively, Petaluma gave away big chunks of yardage to the rifle-accurate passing arm of Ukiah quarterback Kyle Morris and the flashing legs of running back Marcos Hernandez, yet made a whole host of big plays and kept the Trojans in the game with a heroic goal-line stand at the end of the first half.
It was that kind of game.
With the Petaluma defense obviously conscious of Morris passing reputation, it proved susceptible to the draw plays by the super-fast Hernandez, who gained 160 yards on 19 carries.
A fourth of that yardage came on a 48-yard burst late in the first quarter that, coupled with Gabe Otts conversion kick, gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.
Petaluma answered with an impressive 80-yard drive that resulted in Lucas Charles busting into the end zone from five yards out. Halfback Sean Sullivan provided the impetus for the drive with gains of 26 and 14 yards.
Nick Marshs conversion tied the match at 7-7.
Ukiah seemed to take charge at that point, with Morris passing the Wildcats 85 yards to a touchdown that was scored by Hernandez from five yards out for a 14-7 lead.
Morris then took the Wildcats on a 76-yard journey that had them at the Petaluma 4-yard line and on the verge of taking complete charge as time was expiring in the first half.
But the Trojan defense made an inspired stand with game-long standout Drew Pawlan making an extraordinary play on fourth down to stop Morris just six inches from a first down to halt the drive.
The second half was a matter of thrust and parry with Petaluma putting the clamps on Morris with the help of a Todd Overzet interception.
With just over six minutes to play, Petaluma put together its most impressive offensive drive of the season. Crunching mostly up the middle with alternating fullbacks Charles and Ricky Sims, the Trojans moved steadily downfield, reaching the Ukiah 13 with a first-down after an inspired 11-yard run by Sullivan.
With just over a minute to play, the Trojans tried an option play wide to their own left and somehow managed to mess up the exchange. The ball popped free and Ukiah recovered both ball and victory.
Ukiah had 327 total yards, with Morris connecting on 13 of 24 passes for 158 yards to complement Hernandezs ground gains.
Petaluma gained 244 yards, all but 15 on the ground, with Sims rushing for 96 on 15 carries, Sullivan 65 on eight carries and Charles 57 on 12 carries.
The loss left Petaluma with a 1-2 record going into a game Friday night at Rancho Cotate. The win was the second of the season for the Wildcats who last week beat Sonoma Valley, 28-14.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
High School Football
Petaluma wastes strong defensive effort in first loss
Four Petaluma fumbles help Redwood spoil Trojans home opener with 18-14 victory
By GEORGE HAIRE
FOR THE ARGUS-COURIER
Ukiah invades Durst Field Friday night to face the Petaluma Trojans, who hope to rebound from a fumble- plagued 18-14 loss to Redwood. The Trojans (1-1) wasted a strong defensive effort by bobbling away field position with four costly turnovers in a game that finally wore them down in the final minutes.
Coach Steve Ellison was frustrated after the game, after his team turned over the ball twice deep in its own territory to set up a 10-7 lead by the Giants after the first half.
It was a shame to work that hard on defense and still give them so many chances by turning over the ball, he said after the game. Our kids played a very good game on one side of the ball, especially in the first half.
It got worse after intermission when turnovers continued to prevent any offensive counterattacks. Petaluma ran only 17 plays from scrimmage in the final two quarters, while its exhausted defenders battled to hold off a revitalized Redwood attack.
Led by a very active trio of linebackers, the Trojans limited top Redwood running back Joe Klemme to only 17 yards and the entire Redwood offense to 97 yards in the first two periods. The highly rated Klemme ran for 187 yards in a win over Windsor the previous week.
Junior backer Blake Olson and his mates effectively shot the gaps and stymied early Redwood attempted drives to help give the Trojans a decided early advantage on the line of scrimmage.
The Giants, however, made the most of a couple of charitable opportunities inside the 20 to score a touchdown and a field goal both by Jake Anderson. The first turnover came on the games initial play from scrimmage and Anderson converted on a 30-yard field goal four plays later.
Late in the first quarter, the Trojans put together an impressive 90-yard march in 11 plays to grab a 7-3 advantage. Quarterback Taylen Hinks broke a 26-yard run to help move the football.
The quarter came to an end with a big 32-yard hook-up between Hinks and wide receiver Dalton Johnson down the right sideline to keep the drive alive. Johnson got a step on the defenders only to be knocked out of bounds at the horn.
Ricky Sims and Sean Sullivan kept things going with short gainers, which moved the chains inside the 5-yard line. Sullivan finally started to his right and cut back behind a couple of good blocks to score from two yards out, and the Trojans took a 7-3 lead for most of the first half.
With less than three minutes on the clock, Petaluma took over the ball inside its 20-yard line. On the second play, a wide pitch in the direction of Sullivan got away and it was recovered by Mike Avtonomoff of the Giants.
Redwood quickly took advantage by scoring on a 10-yard pass from Ryan Russell to Anderson, a step inside the end zone flag. The teams broke for intermission with the visitors holding a 10-7 lead.
In only three plays following the second half kickoff, it looked like the rugged Trojan defenders would retake command of the game when a tipped pass fell into the hands of the ever-present Olson, who galloped 55 yards untouched for the go-ahead touchdown.
It would be just a matter of time for Redwood to regroup and dominate the rest of the half. With the Giant running backs finding bigger gaps up front, and the surprising Redwood passing game beginning to show signs of life, the Giants closed in by controlling field position.
Halfback Alex Luna of the Trojans was thrown down in the end zone for a safety at the end of the third period and Petaluma had to free kick from its 20, and that led to further trouble, as ball possession would become even more lopsided.
Finally, in the final stanza, Redwood put together a sustained march of 69 yards in 11 plays. A 28-yard gallop by Klemme and two pass completions by quarterback Ryan Russell were the big plays, as Petaluma began to give up bigger chunks of yardage. Russell hooked up with Anderson on an 8-yard touchdown toss to eventually give the Giants the winning margin.
They did surprise us with that amount of passing, admitted Ellison. We were never fooled by how good they were, though. Our kids knew going in that they were a quality team. In our four-year series, this is Redwoods best team. They are very good.
Klemme bounced back to lead all ball carriers with 125 yards in 17 carries. Anderson grabbed seven passes for 82 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
Sullivan topped Petaluma with 60 rushing yards in 13 tries.
It looked like Olson, Dante Cecchini and Chris Bottini all had good defensive games from my spot on the field, said Ellison.
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REDWOOD 18, PETALUMA 14
Petaluma lets one slip away
By PHIL BARBER
PRESS DEMOCRAT
PETALUMA. Petaluma should have seen it coming. The Trojans lost the ball on a bad exchange on their first play from scrimmage Friday night, a harbinger of things to come. By games end, Petaluma had coughed up four fumbles - three on exchanges and another on a high pitch - and fallen 18-14 to visiting Redwood.
The Trojans fumbled another couple times, but got them back. Not that Redwood was a lot better protecting the ball. On one extended sequence in the second half, four consecutive possessions - two by each team - ended with lost fumbles. Despite a sluggish offensive attack that would ultimately gain only 189 total yards, Petaluma went ahead early in the third quarter when Redwood quarterback Ryan Russell was hit as he threw a pass; linebacker Blake Olsen plucked the ball out of the air and sprinted 37 yards for a TD to give the Trojans a 14-10 lead.
That score held up into the fourth quarter. But working from the 2-yard line after that four-fumble give-and-take, Petaluma halfback Alex Luna was swarmed in the end zone for a safety. That cut the home team's lead to 14-12. And after a free kick, Redwood used about 6 minutes of clock and drove 68 yards for the go-ahead score.
, Russell and receiver Jake Anderson combining for their second touchdown pass of the game.
Its something weve got to clean up, Petaluma coach Steve Ellison said of the fumbles. “Im concerned about it. Its part of the problem with that (triple-option) offense. But weve been running it a long, long time, and weve had success.
You can reach Staff Writer Phil Barber at 521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com.
AT PETALUMA
Redwood 3 7 0 8 18
Petaluma 0 7 7 0 14
R Anderson 30 FG
P Sullivan 3 run (Marsh kick)
R Russell 11 pass to Anderson (Anderson kick)
P Olsen 55 interception return (Marsh kick)
R Safety, Luna tackled in end zone
R Russell 8 pass to Anderson (kick failed)
Rushing
PTaylon Hinks 8-49. Joe Klemme 17-125; Ryan Russell 11-38.
Passing
PHinks 3-4-0-96. RRussell 10-17-2-139.
Receiving
RJake Anderson 7-82.
Records: P 1-1, R 2-0
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Tiger gridders maul Piner; El Mo falls to Fortuna
It was a mixed bag for West County football teams last week, as the Tigers pounded visiting Piner into submission, 27-7, while the Lions dropped a heartbreaker at Fortuna, 28-24.
by Greg Clementi
Sonoma West Sports Editor
Analy defense steps up
The Tigers (2-0) won their second straight pre-season game on Friday with a potent combination of big plays, good blocking and a dominant defense.
The Analy defensive unit was particularly impressive, allowing Piner just 21 rushing yards on 15 carries for the entire game. The Tiger line was so dominant on both sides of the ball that the Prospectors were not able to threaten until they finally scored with four minutes left in the game.
Our defense played a great game, but the key was we didnt turn the ball over like we had the week before against Terra Linda, said Analy coach Dan Bourdon. If we keep playing like we have been, were going to win a lot of games.
The Tigers got on the board midway into the first period when quarterback David Glass found wide-out Chris Bostock on an 11-yard scoring strike. The PAT failed and Analy led 6-0. The Tigers gained separation late in the second quarter when Glass capped a sustained drive with a 33-yard lightening bolt to receiver Jimmy McCann. Joey Maloney ran in the two-point conversion and Analy led 14-0 at the break.
The Tigers went up by three scores with 6:15 left in the third quarter when Glass hit receiver Jack Doran with a five-yard touchdown pass, followed by a Ben Doran PAT boot for a 21-0 bulge. The Tigers highlighted the scoring when Maloney found Glass on a 13-yard scoring pass for a 27-0 advantage. Piner finally got on the board in the waning minutes with a 30-yard touchdown strike for the eventual, 27-7 Tiger victory.
Glass turned in another solid night under center, connecting on eight of 15 passes for 118 yards and three scores, rushing 16 times for 51 yards, and adding one reception for 13 yards and a touchdown. Other standout offensive efforts were had by: Maloney (15-69 yards, 1-1, 13 yards passing, TD, 4-60 yards receiving), Bostock (1-11 yards receiving, TD), McCann (1-33 yards receiving, TD), Jack Doran (1-5 yards receiving, TD), Alex Mora (8-35 yards rushing), Anthony Giacobbe (2-8 yards rushing, 1-9 yards receiving), and Jeremy Van Riet (6-7 yards rushing).
Defensively, defensive back Bo Swift intercepted two passes for a team-leading three on the year, while Maloney added one pick.
The Analy JV squad ran its record to 2-0 with a 53-0 win over Piner
The Tigers travel to Burton of San Francisco this Saturday, Sept. 20 for a non-league game. The JV and varsity kick off at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Lions drop tough road clash at Fortuna
The El Mo varsity squad came agonizingly close to winning its second game of the season, but was done in by a late Fortuna rally to fall, 28-24.
Further complicating matters is an injury suffered by senior 1000-yard rusher Tony Demarco, who went down with a separated shoulder late in the second quarter. Demarco is expected to miss at least one game.
The loss of Demarco was tempered with the varsity debut of talented sophomore quarterback Michael Pierson, who showed flashes of brilliance on Friday. Pierson was 14-32 for 254 yards passing, adding two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions in a very strong outing.
I was very pleased with the play of Pierson, noted El Mo head coach Mike Roan. He led a nice drive on our second possession of the game and threw a touchdown pass to put us ahead. Overall, I think were progressing and at times we look like a pretty decent team.
The Lions drew first blood early in the first quarter when Pierson hooked up with Cole Parmeter in the flat and the El Mo H-back raced 45 yards to the house for an early lead. Kicker Michael Starr, also a standout on the soccer team, nailed a 37-yard field goal. A short rushing touchdown run for Demarco put the Lions up 17-7 midway through the second quarter.
The Huskies battled back, surging ahead with a pair of scores just before the half to grab a 21-17 lead at the break.
The Lions re-took the lead in the third quarter when Pierson hooked up on a touchdown strike to receiver Rhodes Wroth for a 24-21 El Mo advantage. Fortuna would ultimately spoil the El Mo victory party when they mounted a four-minute fourth-quarter march resulting in the winning touchdown and a 28-24 win.
In addition to Piersons heroics, other offensive standouts were: Demarco (11-49 yards rushing, TD), Parmeter (8-25 yards rushing, 1-45 yards receiving, TD), Wroth (6-68 yards receiving, TD), Chaz Mathias (1-45 yards receiving), and Starr (3 PAT kicks, 37-yard FG).
Top El Mo defenders included: Dakota Lerner-Ross (9 unassisted tackles), Wroth (9 tackles), Trevor Watson (7 tackles), and Justin Brown (5 tackles).
The JV Lions fell to 0-2 on the season with a 20-6 loss to Fortuna
The Lions host Elsie Allen this Saturday, Sept. 20 in the home opener. Game times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
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Analy's football team is beginning to earn its cookies
By BOB PADECKY
PRESS DEMOCRAT SPORTS COLUMNIST
Published: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.
SEBASTOPOL
OK, sure, if Analy loses the rest of its football games this year and doesn’t score even a point, then, yes, last Friday will have been wasted. Thats how significant last Friday was, how unlikely it will fade to oblivion and if a victory has an aroma, then its springtime in the Rockies for Analy for the next three months. It was that powerful a moment.
I woke up the next morning, said running back Joe Maloney, and it was still like a miracle.
A miracle is a disbelieving, a defiance of the known. Or, to put it in more laymans terms Where the heck did that come from? So where the heck did this come from: As time expired Analy stopped Terra Linda from scoring from the 18-inch line to win the game? Analy did not have the pedigree for the moment, having gone 2-8 in 2007.
Well, Dan Bourdon, walked the campus halls, searching for a few good young men. No one was more eager to leave the past in the past. To say Analy struggled in 2007 would be a kind assessment.
Anybody who had an athletic build, said Bourdon, a former Analy quarterback himself, I asked them why they didnt play football. I got a wide range of answers. Some werent into it.
Some were. Ben and Jack Doran, the fiery basketball twins, came out. Bourdon didnt lay the heavy sales pitch but Analy kids arent rock heads. They could see what was going on. The new football coaching staff was so young, did they have driver’s licenses or student identification cards?
The average age of the five-man coaching staff is 24.8 years. Niko Miller, the offensive line coach, is 20. Bourdon, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, is 27. The old man is defensive coordinator Toby Carpenter at 30. D.J. Sexton, defensive backs and wide receivers, is 22. Robert Brasil, 25, handles the defensive linemen and the running backs.
So this was the scene before last Friday. Analy has seven players who never played football before. Bourdon has never coached varsity, just two years as a junior varsity head coach. And it didnt take much for the team to remember why it went 2-8 last season.
We had players last year but our problem was psychological, said senior defensive end Zac Illingworth. Every time we got behind we lost it.
Down 22-8 in the fourth quarter to Terra Linda at Karlson Field after trailing we never came back last year said Maloney Analy scored 22 unanswered points. But in the space of the last five seconds of the game Analy threatened to undo all it had done. It had committed two penalties that brought the ball within 18 inches of the Tigers end zone. Maloney thought for a moment it was 2007 all over again but then banished the thought from his mind.
This game felt different, Maloney said. Meaning, no one was feeling sorry for himself.
Especially Illingworth. He is 6-foot-9, 230 pounds, has the reach of a condor but had been chewed out repeatedly by Bourdon during the game for not staying put at left defensive end, protecting the outside. Terra Linda quarterback Chris Migdal remembered it, too. Illingworth had bit on several of Migdals fakes. For the first time in the game ... I stayed where I was, Illingworth said. And Migdal came to him, and he was stopped short of the goal line like he was gift-wrapped.
It was one of the most exciting moments of my athletic career, Illingworth said. To be the star of the moment, that was special.
How many other plays has Illingworth made like that?
None, he said. And then, almost as an afterthought, Illingworth added, This was a chance to prove something to ourselves, to make something of ourselves.
Thats the high-value grand-scheme spin to be put on the victory. Heres a more intimate, personal interpretation: The chocolate chip cookies went down easy Monday.
Linda Helton teaches sixth grade at Hillcrest Middle School but has been the team statistician for 23 years. Before each season every Tiger player makes a 10-cookie bet with her. For Maloney it’s 200 all-purpose yards. For Illingworth it is making two tackles or one sack or two blocked passes. Make the numbers and a player gets 10 homemade cookies.
Sometimes last year, when we lost, said Maloney, who had 211 all-purpose yards, it didnt feel like you deserved the cookies.
The cookies, even in a loss, were Heltons way of giving the players something to look forward to the next week. This time Helton could have handed the players 10 rocks in a bag and they would have been delighted.
I made nine dozen Sunday morning, Helton said.
Sometimes a single victory feels bigger than one. Sometimes 10 cookies feel more like a hundred. And sometimes the exhilaration rush lasts for more than a moment or a day. Sometimes, when the achievement is just right, it can last for months.
You can reach Staff Columnist Bob Padecky at 521-5490 or at bob.padecky@pressdemocrat.com.
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ANALY 30, TERRA LINDA 22
Analy rallies for dramatic win
Tigers come back in fourth quarter, win on goal-line stand
By PHIL BARBER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
SEBASTOPOL
Terra Linda was inside the Analy 2-yard line with five seconds left and an eight-point Tigers lead seeming quite vulnerable. The crowd at Karlson Field was raucous, players from both teams on their feet. And then things got even hairier for Analy. A penalty for 12 men on the field moved the ball inside the 1.
Having erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Analy was in the tightest situation imaginable. And then things got tighter yet again.
On the next play, an Analy defensive back was called for pass interference on Chris Migdals incomplete pass to Christian Manoli in the end zone. The line of scrimmage crept to about a half-yard away from the end zone, the clock still reading :05. But when it finally counted, the Tigers came up strong. Lanky senior defensive lineman Zac Illingworth pounced on Migdal before he could get to the right edge, ending the game and punctuating an improbable 30-22 comeback win.
Though the 100-degree weather has made it seem like mid-July, Analy already has half as many wins as the school recorded a year ago. The Tigers were 2-8 in a disappointing 2007 season. This year, they are 1-0 and counting under energetic new coach Dan Bourdon, a former standout quarterback at Analy.
From the start, these two teams looked evenly matched. The Tigers controlled the ground in the first half, Joe Maloney running for 86 yards on 10 carries. But Terra Linda has the crisper passing game, Migdal completing 10 of 15 passes for 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help the Trojans stake a 15-8 halftime lead.
That lead increased to 22-8 when Manoli leaped over Analy defensive back Bo Swift to snare Migdals pass for a 24-yard touchdown at 8:03 of the third quarter. Analy had three possessions in the third quarter, and two ended on lost fumbles by Anthony Giacobbe.
But the Tigers control of the line of scrimmage intensified in the fourth quarter, and they finally got the turnovers to go their way. When defensive back Jimmy McCann intercepted a pass that bounced off Manolis hands early in the final quarter, it gave Analy the ball at the Trojans 42-yard line. Five plays later, senior quarterback David Glass found Maloney (who often lined up as a receiver) behind the secondary and hit him for a 31-yard touchdown.
On Terra Lindas first play after the touchdown, defensive lineman Levi Mills hit running back Christon Coleman in the backfield, causing a fumble that linebacker Brandon Fox recovered at the Trojans 20. This time, it took Analy only three plays to score, burly runner Jeremy Van Riet blasting through a hole and carrying several tacklers into the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown. Glass kept the ball and scored on the conversion to tie the game at 22-22 with 8:51 left.
The action was just beginning.
Analy took over on downs with about 6:30 left, and went 69 yards to grab the lead at the 2:06 mark, Glass taking a bootleg around the left end for the score on a third-and-goal from the 7 with 2:06 left. Maloney rocketed up the middle for the conversion, giving Analy an eight-point bulge.
It nearly wasnt enough. After a long kickoff, Terra Linda ate up the rest of the clock, running 11 plays (not counting penalties) and converting two fourth-down situations to get into scoring position. But the warm night belonged to Analy.
Both teams came out in spread offenses, most often keeping one runner in the backfield. Terra Linda stuck to its scheme behind Migdal, who finished 18 of 35 for 232 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. But Analy switched to a two-back set in the second half and took quarterback Glass out of the shotgun and brought him under center.
Bourdon put the ball in Maloneys hands, and the senior rushed for 145 yards on 21 carries, adding 66 yards on five receptions. Glass finished 12 of 25 for 138 yards, but didnt turn the ball over in the second half.
Coleman, Terra Lindas speedy running back, had only 10 yards rushing. The Tigers completely bottled him up in the second half: three carries for minus-12 yards. But they were hurt by the draws and boots of Migdal, who ran for 60 yards on nine carries in the second half.
Terra Linda reached the NCS 3A title game a year ago. On this night, Analy was the better team.
Second Quarter
TL Migdal 13-yard pass to D. Higgins (Namnath kick)
A J. Maloney 19-yard run (Maloney run)
TL Migdal 24-yard pass to Coleman (Migdal pass to D. Higgins)
Third Quarter
TL Migdal 24-yard pass to Manoli (Namnath kick)
Fourth Quarter
A Glass 31-yard pass to J. Maloney (run failed)
A Van Riet 15-yard run (Glass run)
A Glass 7-yard run (J. Maloney run)
Rushing: A J. Maloney 21 for 145, Glass 10 for 62, Van Riet 6 for 59. TL Migdal 9 for 60, Coleman 8 for 10.
Passing: A Glass 12 for 25, 138 yards, 2 ints. TL Migdal 18 for 35, 232 yards, 2 int.
Receiving: A J. Maloney 5 for 66, B. Doran 2 for 23; TL – C. Maloney 6 for 59, Manoli 5 for 91, D. Higgins 3 for 35, S. Higgins 2 for 43.
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Lions overcome heat, injury to post win
Lions head coach Mike Roan recorded his fourth straight opening day victory with a solid, 21-12 win over host Berean Christian. Senior 1000-yard rusher Tony Demarco did an admirable job in filling in for injured sophomore quarterback Michael Pierson, throwing for 240 yards and a pair of scores in a great performance.
It was an ugly game with a ton of mistakes, but we were happy to get away with a win, said Roan. It was very hot on the field and we were fortunate to be playing a team about the same size as us.
The Lions got on the board first in the opening quarter when Demarco hooked up with receiver Chaz Mathias on a 65-yard touchdown strike for a 7-0 halftime lead. El Mo maintained the upper hand when Demarco capped the opening third-quarter march with a one-yard quarterback sneak for a two-touchdown advantage. The score was set up by a 50-yard pass from Demarco to Rhodes Wroth.
The Lions effectively put the game on ice in the fourth quarter when talented sophomore slot receiver Joe Douglas scored on a 10-yard reception, followed by a successful two-point conversion run from Cole Parmeter. The El Mo defense did the rest in preserving an eventual, 21-12 win.
Demarco finished the day with 9-12 passing for 240 yards and two scores, and 35 yards on the ground. Other offensive standouts were: Parmeter (12-38 yards rushing), Mathias (3-137 yards receiving, TD), Douglas (2-29 yards receiving, TD), and Wroth (2-51 yards receiving).
Defensive stalwarts included: Parmeter (11 tackles), Trevor Watson (9 tackles), Douglas (8 tackles), and Kenny Deurlo (7 tackles).
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Gauchos fly over, run through San Rafael
By JOHN JACKSON
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR
Casa Grande High Schools varsity football Gauchos passed over and ran through San Rafaels over-matched Bulldogs for an impressive 38-7 season-opening victory Friday night.
Playing before an appreciative home audience, the Gauchos dominated from a first-quarter 77-yard touchdown pass from Matt OBrien to Matt Nadolski right up until third-string quarterback Jimmy Cerf took a knee with his team in the shadow of the San Rafael end zone in the games final 10 seconds.
OBrien got his season off to a spectacular start, completing 12 of 19 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran five times for 58 yards, getting 25 on one mad touchdown dash through San Rafaels frustrated defenders.
OBrien spread the passing wealth, connecting three times each to Matt Gallo (who caught two for touchdowns), Conner Waggoner and Nadolski.
Kahlil Keys began his tenure as the Gauchos featured back with 66 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries..
Defensively, the Casa Grande first unit swarmed all over the Bulldogs with Zach Burnett plugging things up in the middle, Ian Phoenix rushing hard from the outside and linebackers Blaine Peterman, Dillion McEwan and Waggoner ranging all over the field to make tackles. Peterman had nine tackles and a sack, while end Phoenix had five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. Burnett bulldozed up the middle for a sack.
Casa Grande didnt lose its shutout until a blown coverage allowed San Rafael an 80-yard touchdown bomb in the fourth quarter.
Matt threw the ball very well and the line did a great job protecting him and picking up the blitzes, said Casa Grande coach Rick OBrien. We did a great job getting the ball to our athletes in a space where they were able to make plays.
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Hounds pound McKinleyville, 31-22 in grid opener
By GREG CLEMENTI
Sports Editor
It may not have been a thing of beauty, but it was a victory.
The Greyhounds made a successful 2008 gridiron debut on Friday with a closer-than-expected, 31-22 win over a stubborn visiting McKinleyville squad to start the season at 1-0.
Healdsburg didnt dominate the action as most thought coming into the season opener, but the good guys did offer enough flashes of brilliance to allow local fans reason for optimism.
The big story of the night was the successful return of senior running back David Balestrieri, who starred as a sophomore in 2006 but was lost to a serious knee injury before the start of his junior campaign. The talented senior erased any doubt that hes back to full strength on Friday, churning up a career-high 130 rushing yards on 19 carries in leading his team to victory.
Also turning in successful season-opening performances were senior quarterback Zach Shippey, (10-23, 166 yards passing, 2 TDs), senior running back Andrew Phillips (7-49 yards rushing), and senior receiver Caleb Rummonds (4-81 yards, TD). Senior receiver/defensive back Dante Fountain demonstrated his blazing speed throughout the game, most notably on a long touchdown grab in the second quarter.
We seemed a little flat and hurt ourselves tremendously with penalties, the kind that can drive a coach crazy, said Hounds coach Tom Kirkpatrick. Still, there were a lot of positives, with Davids return and the play of Zach Shippey in his first varsity start.
McKinleyville drew first blood in the opening frame, converting a short field goal attempt into a 3-0 lead at the end of one.
The Hounds awoke from an early-game slumber in the second period, fueled by a big push from the offensive line. Fountain got the party started when he hauled in a 38-yard scoring strike from Shippey, giving the Hounds a lead they would not relinquish.
On their next series, Balestrieri capped a short march with an 18-yard touchdown burst, and Shippey hooked up with Rummonds on a 40-yard lightening bolt for a comfortable lead. Place kicker Collin Brown capped the second-quarter fireworks with a 24-yard field goal to put the Hounds up 24-3 at the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Panthers mounted a comeback in the final period with an offensive surge to make things interesting. The Hounds answered the Panther upset bid when Balestrieri found pay-dirt on his second scoring run for a 16-point Healdsburg lead. The Panthers tallied a late touchdown to eventually fall, 31-22.
Defensive standouts included linebacker Andy Phillips and defensive back Collin Brown, who led the team in tackles with eight apiece. Fountain, Brown and Rummonds each picked off a pass for the Greyhounds.
Healdsburg will host Riordan of San Francisco this Saturday, Sept. 13 in a 7:30 p.m. non-league clash. The JV kick off the action at 5 p.m.
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Petaluma team talent more than the sum of its parts
Trojans counting on speed and depth for a big season
By JOHN JACKSON
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR
Petaluma Highs varsity Trojans may well defy mathematical principles the total of their talent may be greater than the sum of their individual parts.
The Trojans have only a few payers with pre-season reputations. What they do have is a lot of hard-working, quality athletes who are interchangeable parts in the best sense of that phrase.
We dont have a lot of real standouts. Just a good group of hard-working players who are in good condition, says Petaluma coach Steve Ellison, starting his 30th season as Trojan head coach. It is his 41st year in coaching.
After four decades, Ellison still gets excited about the start of a new season and particularly one where his players are willing to listen, learn and work hard.
This team has shown a lot of heart, he says, bestowing one of his ultimate compliments.
While the emphasis is on team and blue-collar work ethic, the Trojans are not without a few stars.
One of the brightest is senior halfback Sean Sullivan. Although just 5-8, 160 pounds, Sullivan has the toughness to run inside; the innate ability to twist, turn and make tacklers miss; and an overdrive that allows him to cruise away from pursuers when he breaks into the open field.
Last season, on a team that thrived on bullying up the middle, he broke enough long runs to gain 1,004 yards.
This year, he had a spectacular this-way, that-way and gone run in a scrimmage against Novato and topped that last Saturday with an even more exciting 48-yard touchdown scamper that provided the game winning touchdown in the Trojans 10-7 season-opening win over Washington of Fremont.
He looks to be one of the top running backs in the Redwood Empire, says Ellison. He does a lot of things you cant teach. He has great speed and he is much tougher than people think.
A star in the making might be senior quarterback Taylen Hinks. He started several games as a sophomore after starter Chadd Krist was injured and learned as he waited his turn as a junior last season.
This year, he seems to have a firm grasp of the difficult Petaluma option offense. He gives the Trojans a weapon with either his arm or his legs.
Petaluma has a quality athlete working behind Hinks in junior Mike Russell, who looked good in pre-season scrimmage. He is a very athletic kid, says Ellison. I would feel good about him being in the game.
Petaluma lost its battering fullback, Jake Burnett, to graduation, but has two strong replacements in senior Lucas Charles (5-7, 195) and converted tight end Ricky Sims (5-10, 205). Both gave solid efforts in the opener against Washington and both will see considerable playing time.
Counted on to rotate into the fullback/running back mix depending on the formation are junior Nick Sweeney, senior Alex Luna, senior Dante Cecchini, and senior Nick Marsh. Theyre all solid players and all will get a lot of playing time, says Ellison.
Providing running back depth are senior Colby Reece, junior Ryan Dentoni, senior D.J. Kenny, junior Dalton Berncich and senior Todd Overzet.
Petaluma makes no secret that it is a ground team, relying on blocking, quickness and the precision of its option combined with Sullivans explosiveness, but the Trojans do have several quality receivers to work with their strong-armed quarterbacks.
Dalton Johnson, who started both ways as a sophomore, brings his speed and athleticism back for what is expected to be a big junior year. He will be complemented in the speed department by Jeff Crudo and Jake Montero. Both are seniors with exceptional speed and good hands.
Transfer Kaleb Trembly, junior Chris Kane and senior Quinn Hunter will also see playing time.
Junior Joe Soares, senior Cooper Reynolds and junior Josh Wolsko are also receiving possibilities.
A pair of juniors, Braeden Ross (6-4, 180) and Nick Ziegenhagen (6-3, 190) give the Trojans size and strength at tight end.
The offensive line will be anchored by returning veteran center Chris Bottini (5-10, 200) who will make the line calls.
At least at the beginning, the other starters figure to be Jon Nadale (6-0, 225), Shawn Swanson (6-2, 220), Aaron Randall (6-1, 180) and James Sanborn (6-0, 195).
It is a solid group, but there are others who will push for playing time in an area that has a wealth of potentially good players.
Among those who will help up front are Will Walls (5-9, 180), Reggie Baker (5-11, 180), Justin Wambold (5-10, 185), Jack Woerner (5-11, 185), Will Spainhour (6-1, 260), Justin Palmer (6-3, 225), Jeremy Mahrt (6-3, 270), and Blake Olsen (5-11, 200).
The defense made an impressive debut in Petalumas opening-game victory over Washington. Like the offense, the Trojan defensive strength is in numbers, with several quality players at almost ever position.
Cecchini who had two sacks against Washington Ziegenhagen, Sims and Randall are solid against the run and provide a strong pass rush at the end positions.
Charles, Bottini, Swanson, Palmer and Nadale are being counted on to clog things up in the defensive interior.
Olsen, a returning starter from last season, is expected to be a standout at linebacker. He will play inside with Overzet, Berncich and Russell.
Outside, Marsh had an excellent game against Washington, while Sanborn, Soares and Pawlan will find playing time as will Luna and Ross at either the inside or outside positions.
Petalumas top athletes Hinks, Johnson, Montero, Trembly and Kane — provide what might be one of the best Trojan secondaries in the last several years.
Marsh gives Petaluma one of the Redwood Empires best place kickers. He already has his season off to a good start with a 33-yard field goal against Washington.
He is nationally ranked, points out Ellison. A lot of colleges are looking at him.
Marsh is also the teams punter and ranks with the Empires best in that part of the kicking game.
Much of his success depends on long snapper Kenny and holder Montero. The trio have been working together for several seasons and have mastered the all-important timing of snap, hold and kick.
Petaluma was 5-6 last season, but had several tough losses. It wouldnt take a lot of creative arithmetic to total up an even more successful Trojan season.
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Analy
First year Head Coach Daniel Bourdon believes his Analy Tigers will be somewhat improved over last year. He has a head start over most new coaches with return quarterback David Glass who is a passing leader in the area. David glass should pair well with wide receiver Joey Maloney. There will, however, be some challenges this year with inexperience at the wide receiver and line backer positions, as well as other defensive secondary positions. Fortunately, the Tigers have a lot of experience along the offensive line.
Healdsburg
Coach Tom Kirkpatrick has the challenge of replacing a powerful passing duo from last season. "We will not be the throwing team we have been in the past, but we should be able to run effectively," said Coach Kirkpatrick. The Healdsburg Greyhounds will have solid defense, but they could benefit from a deeper secondary. Andy Phillips FB/LB, Dante Fountain WR/DB and Travis Paasche OL/DL are players to watch for as the Greyhounds start their season.
Casa Grande
Rick O'Brien plans to maximize Casa Grande's team speed and athleticism to offset the loss of his 2007 running back and full back positions. Key players Matt O'Brien QB/DB, Matt Nadolski WR/DB, Dan Gustafson OL/DL and Tyler Selna DE/C will be pulling double duty. The 2008 Casa Grande Gauchos will be about at the same level or slightly improved over last year in Coach O'Brien's estimation.
Petaluma
Although the Petaluma Trojans will be a somewhat young team, outstanding players will help toward success. Running back Sean Sullivan rushed for 1004 yards as a sophomore last season. Nick Marsh has been ranked 7th best kicker, according to one national combine service. Other top players include Chris Bottini C, Ricky Sims TE/DE, Dalton Johnson WR/DB, Brandon Hansen LB and Taylen Hinks DB/QB. The Trojans supplement with a 7-3 junior varsity squad. Coach Steve Ellison mentioned that his Trojans must rebuild their offensive and defensive lines. In addition, he has to decide between two quarterbacks that had little 2007 experience. Coach Ellison's goals are to contend for the league title, make the playoffs, and improve defensively from last year.
Sonoma Valley
The Sonoma Valley coaching team, head coach Mick O'Meara, and Defensive Coordinator Mike Mulas celebrate their 25th year together. Mr. O'Meara is a chemistry teacher at Sonoma Valley High School and Mr. Mulas is a successful dairyman. Congratulations Coaches! The Sonoma Valley Dragons return seven starters and many other players with game experience. Michael Mulas FB/ILB, Jake Powers QB, Steve Filippi WR, Sam Prohoroff OG, Tyler Woods OG, and Bradley Ramirez DE/ILB will be the leaders of the Dragons this year. Michael Mulas is a three-year starter, voted as Defensive Player of the Year as a junior in the Redwood Empire. He recorded 188 tackles/assists, 7 sacks as well as some rushing and receiving yards. According to insiders, Mulas is a DI recruit prospect. Core offensive skill players include Jake Powers and Steve Filippi. Powers threw 1627 yards last year. This group of seniors was 8-2 junior varsity champions without Mulas, who was on the varsity in 2006. The Dragons will struggle with the lack of depth. Also, the valuable tailback position may be filled by committee unless someone steps forward with the desire and determination to fill the role. Coach O'Meara concluded, "We expect to compete for the Sonoma county league title. We expect to be a playoff caliber team."
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