State Championships are set..
December 10, 2007 --
By THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Comcast, DirecTV and Dish TV have announced that they will broadcast all three state championship games Saturday.
THE MATCHUPS
Division III
Modesto-Central Catholic(11-1-1) from the Sac-Joaquin Section, taking on St. Bonaventure-Venture, (13-1) from the Southern Section.11:30 a.m.
Division II
Novato (12-0) from the North Coast Section goes up against Oceanside (11-1) from the San Diego Section. 3:30 p.m.
Division I
De La Salle(12-0) out of the North Coast Section goes up against Centennial-Corona, (13-1) from the Southern Section., 7:30 p.m.
It will never be known whether Cardinal Newman would have outpolled Central Catholic of Modesto, a team it tied 35-35 in the opening week of the regular season, and earned the Northern California berth in the state championship games. The Cardinals’ 38-28 loss Saturday night to Division I San Ramon Valley settled that debate before it could occur
So Sunday when the 10 section commissioners of the California Interscholastic Federation met to decide the state finalists, the decision was easy: Central Catholic got the nod to play in Saturday’s first game at Carson against St. Bonaventure of Ventura. Kickoff for that one is set for 11:30 a.m.
The Division II final starting at 3:30 p.m. has Novato with its 25-game winning streak against Oceanside. In Division I, De La Salle will play Centennial of Corona starting at 7:30 p.m..
De La Salle is the only one of the six finalists to be making a return trip to the Home Depot Center in Carson. The Spartans head to the state final again with an unbeaten record, at 12-0, but they did that a year ago and came home as state runners-up after a 27-13 loss to Canyon. In the other state finals a year ago, when California resumed playing for a state championship after 91 years without one, Cardinal Newman lost to Westlake Oaks Christian 27-20 in overtime and Orange Luteran won the Division II title with a 42-28 victory against Palo Alto.
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NCS Championships 2007
4A East Bay
(1) De La Salle defeated (3) California 37-0
3A
(1) San Ramon Valley defeated (1) Cardinal Newman 38-28
2A
(1) Novato defeated (1) Las Lomas 34-21
Class A
(2) Ferndale defeated (1) St. Patrick/ St. Vincent, 6-0
Class B
(2) St. Elizabeth defeated (1) St. Vincent, 12-0
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Championships 2007
Friday 11/30/2007 7:00pm
3A #3 Pinole Valley 10-1-1 vs #1 San Ramon Valley 10-1-1 @ Dublin
3A #2 Rancho Cotate 10-2 vs #1 Cardinal Newman 10-1-1 @ Santa Rosa
2A #7 Campolindo 9-3 vs #1 Las Lomas 12-0 @ Las Lomas
Saturday 12/1/2007 1:30pm
2A #3 Del Norte 11-0 vs #1 Novato 11-0 @ Novato
12/8
7:00pm
4A #3 California 11-1 VS #1 De La Salle 11-0 @ Oakland
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Boys' athlete of the week
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
College coaches might not be drooling over the talents of Windsor running back Joe Ramos, but you won’t find anyone in the Redwood Empire unimpressed by his play.
Ramos, only 5-foot-6 and 145 pounds, set a Windsor single-game rushing record in Friday’s upset win against Sonoma, rushing for 263 yards on 30 carries, breaking the mark of good friend Erik Hernandez, set last year.
“I just look for the holes and find the creases,” said Ramos, a senior, who may be as strong as he is quick. Ramos ran for 197 yards the previous week against Analy and totals 1,340 yards.
“He’s an all-around athlete, extremely strong and with balance like a cat,” said Windsor wrestling coach Rich Carnation. Ramos has a good chance of reaching state this year in wrestling.
A torn muscle in his shoulder required surgery and caused Ramos to miss the entire football season last year. He return to wrestle in the final weeks, won an SCL title and qualified for the NCS.
“He’s very tough and there’s no quit in him,” Carnation said.
Ramos played almost every position in youth football since he was eight. He plays safety on defense. He’s also proud of a 3.0 GPA. “I’ve picked up my grades,” he said.
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Football playoffs: Two in Empire get No. 1 seeds
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
There weren’t any real surprise teams chosen at the North Coast Section football seeding meeting Sunday at Las Lomas High in Walnut Creek.
The surprises come later in the form of upsets and there are usually a
few of those in the four different NCS playoff classifications.
“I think Cardinal Newman is the best team, no question,” said Rancho Cotate coach Ed Conroy. “They’re the class of the group and everyone is hoping to get there (the championship game) and take a crack at them.”
Newman (8-1-1), not quite a year removed from its appearance in the
Division III state championship game, received the top seed in 3A Redwood Empire. Rancho Cotate (8-2) is the second seed and is followed by No. 3 Casa Grande (8-1-1), No. 4 Sonoma Valley (7-2-1), No. 5 Montgomery (6-3-1), No. 6 Santa Rosa (7-3), No. 7 Petaluma (5-5) and No. 8 Redwood (7-3).
Opening weekend games include Redwood at Cardinal Newman and Petaluma vs. Rancho Cotate at Santa Rosa High Friday and Montgomery at Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa at Casa Grande Saturday night. Two of those games -- Montgomery-Sonoma and Petaluma-Rancho Cotate -- are repeats of preseason games.
“There’s some good teams in the playoffs,” Newman coach Paul Cronin said. “You definitely don’t look ahead in the playoffs. Right now, we’ve got to focus on Redwood.”
For the second year, the NCS Redwood Empire 3A winner will meet the NCS
East Bay champ. That game will be played at the McAfee Coliseum, at 4 p.m., Dec. 8.
The top four seeds in 3A East Bay are San Ramon Valley (8-1-1), Newwark
Memorial (9-1), Pinole Valley (8-1-1) and College Park (8-2). Newman, Redwood, Sonoma and Montgomery are in the top bracket and RanchoCotate, Petaluma, Casa Grande and Santa Rosa in the bottom.
CLASS 2A PLAYOFFS
Top seed and unbeaten Novato (10-0) received a first-round bye because
only seven teams applied in the eight-team field.
Healdsburg (9-1) received the No. 2 seed and will play No. 7 Analy (2-7) for the second consecutive week at Rec Park Friday night. Healdsburg broke open a close game late to win 33-21 and share the Sonoma County League championship with Casa Grande.
Analy was eligible because it was 2-2 against 2A schools.
Lower Lake (6-3-1), the Cinderella team of Lake County and for coach Stan Weiper in his first year at the school, received a No. 5 seed and hosts No. 4 Terra Linda (5-5) Friday night. Lower Lake hadn’t had a winning season in 10 years.
Novato plays the winner of Terra Linda/Lower Lake.
The Healdsburg-Analy winner will play the winner of No. 3 Del Norte (9-0) and No. 6 Fortuna (9-1), who will be meeting for the third time.
By THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
CLASS 3A
Friday's games
Redwood at Cardinal Newman, 7 p.m.
Petaluma vs. Rancho Cotate at Santa Rosa High School, 7 p.m.
Saturday's games
Montgomery at Sonoma, 7 p.m.
Santa Rosa at Casa Grande, 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Friday's game
Analy at Healdsburg, 7 p.m.
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Jags end season with 25-13 victory
Windsor beats Sonoma Dragons to end season at 5-5
by GREG CLEMENTI, Sports Editor
The varsity football Jaguars finished the season on a winning note on Friday, torching the visiting Sonoma Dragons, 25-13.
The victory evened Windsor's league record to 3-3, and 5-5 overall.
“We played some pretty good football the past couple of weeks, our offensive line did a great job of opening some big holes,” WHS head coach Jason Fayter
Senior running back David Ramos did the rest, adding a whopping 263 yards on the ground against Sonoma, running his overall total to nearly 1200 rushing yards on the season.
The Windsor defensive unit turned in arguably its best effort of the year on Friday, limiting Sonoma to 229 yards in total offense, including just 56 on the ground.
“Our defense did a great job in stopping their running game, they weren't able to get much going offensively against us,” said Fayter. “Offensively, I was surprised that we were able to run the ball as well as we did.”
The Dragons drew first blood in the opening period, taking advantage of a Windsor fumble on a punt return to set up a three-yard scoring dive from Matt Darnell for a 6-0 lead.
The Jags took control in the second quarter, as quarterback Blake Schmidt hit Edgar Canchola with a 13-yard touchdown pass. Windsor finished off a solid half with a two-yard scoring burst from Ramos for a 12-6 halftime lead.
The Jaguars continued to dominate the line of scrimmage in the third period, as Ramos found pay-dirt again on a four-yard scamper and an 18-6 Windsor bulge.
Sonoma made it interesting in the final period, with Darnell breaking loose on a 24-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to five points. Windsor, which had squandered several scoring chances throughout the game, iced the contest when Daniel Hardisty took the ensuing kickoff and raced 52-yards for the eventual, 25-13 victory.
Ramos earned another game ball with 263 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns. Other solid individual efforts were had by: Schmidt (7-11, 89 yards passing, 17 yards rushing), Elias Carreno (2-10 yards rushing), Dillon Morrow, (2-47 yards receiving), Sean Elldridge (2-12 yards receiving), Hardisty (1-13 yards receiving) and Edgar Canchola (2-17 yards receiving).
Leading defenders included: Chris Michels (4 tackles, assist, sack), Andrew Jones (4 tackles, 2 assists), Hardisty (4 tackles, 3 assists), Kyle Kellough (2 tackles, 2 assists, 2 sacks), Benny Anderson (2 tackles, 6 assists), Ryan Pedersen (3 tackles, assist), Korey Langhals (3 tackles, 2 assists), Eldridge (tackle, 3 assists), Deandre Faaita (tackle, assist), Max Devlin (tackle, assist), Morrow (2 tackles) and a tackle apiece from Aaron Fletcher, Ramos and Brandyn Schmidt.
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SANDWICH — Jaguar varsity defenders Danny Hardisty and Kyle Kellough brought down a Sonoma ball-carrier in a 25-13 win over the Dragons on Friday. Paul Calvert
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WINDSOR 25, SONOMA VALLEY 13
At Windsor, Joe Ramos rushed for 263 yards on 30 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead the Jaguars to an upset of No. 2-ranked Sonoma Valley.
Sonoma (7-2-1, 4-2) could have caused a three-way tie for the SCL championship with a win.
Windsor led 12-6 at the half and was up 18-13 as Sonoma's Matt Darnell ran for a 24-yard TD, but the Dragons tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and Windsor's Daniel Hardisty return it 52 yards for a TD that put the game away.
Defensive standouts for Windsor included linemen Kyle Kellough and Max Devlin and linebacker Ryan Pedersen.
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Varsity gridders run past Analy 21-6
Running back Joe Ramos churns up 197 yards
by GREG CLEMENTI, Sports Editor
The Varsity football Jaguars kept their slim post-season hopes alive on Friday with an impressive, 21-6 victory over the Analy Tigers in Sebastopol.
The win was important on a couple of fronts. Most notably, it snapped a two-game losing skid to improve the Jags' record to 2-3 in league and 4-5 overall. The victory also kept the team in the hunt for a third consecutive North Coast Section playoff berth, although an at-large berth may be just a remote possibility.
Windsor will close out the SCL regular season campaign this Friday, Nov. 9 when they host first-place Sonoma. Game times beginning with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Friday's game at Karlson Field was another match-up of a solid running team in the Jaguars against Analy's potent vertical game. The contest lived up to advanced billing as the Tigers put up 238 yards in the air, to 233 on the ground for Windsor.
Jaguar running back Joe Ramos did the bulk of the damage, churning up 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Ramos is now just 120 yards away from a 1000-yard season, with a total of 880 yards on the ground on 135 carries.
Windsor drew first blood midway through the opening period when quarterback Blake Schmidt directed a drive resulting in a two-yard scoring burst from Ramos. Morgan Rennie added the PAT boot for a 7-0 Windsor lead. The Jags went up by two scores late in the second quarter when Ramos found pay-dirt on an 11-yard touchdown burst for a 14-0 Jaguar lead at the break.
The Tigers came out firing in the third quarter, going to an effective short passing game to keep the chains moving. Analy quarterback David Glass led an impressive march late in the period culminating in a one-yard scoring dive from Anthony Giacobbe to cut the deficit to 14-6 at the end of three.
The Windsor secondary came up big in the fourth quarter, with goal-line picks from defensive backs Danny Hardisty and Deandre Faaita to kill Analy scoring threats. The defenders, along with defensive backs, Dillon Morrow and Ramos, would turn in outstanding efforts in keeping the Tiger receivers out of the end zone.
The Jags iced the contest late in the game with a two-yard plunge from Schmidt for the eventual 21-6 victory.
Pacing the Windsor offensive attack were: Schmidt (7-17, 72 yards, 6-27 yards rushing), Ramos (30-197 yards rushing, 2 TDs), Elias Carreno (2-8 yards rushing), Morrow (1-10 yards receiving), Hardisty (3-24 yards receiving), Sean Eldridge (2-19 yards receiving) and Edgar Canchola (1-9 yards receiving).
Top Windsor defenders included: Morrow (6 tackles, 2 assists), Faaita (2 tackles, 4 assists, INT), Andrew Jones (3 tackles, 2 assists), Hardisty (3 tackles, assist, INT), Sean Eldrdge (4 tackles, assist), Ramos (3 tackles, 2 INTs), Benny Anderson (tackle, 3 assists), Max Devlin (tackle, assist, sack), Ryan Pedersen (2 tackles, assist), Korey Langhals (2 tackles), Brandyn Schmidt (tackle, assist), Chris Michels (tackle, 2 assists), Mike Azanza (tackle), Aaron Fletcher (tackle) and Chris Lowe (FR).
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WINDSOR 21, ANALY 6
At Analy, Joe Ramos rushed for 197 yards, scored two touchdowns and added two interceptions to lead Windsor to the SCL victory.
Ramos, who had 30 carries, scored on runs of 2 and 11 yards to give the Jaguars (4-5, 2-3) a 14-0 halftime lead. Anthony Giacobbe’s one-yard TD run cut the gap to 14-6 in the third quarter, but Windsor quarterback Blake Schmidt score on a two-yard run to hand the Jaguars a 21-6 fourth-quarter lead.
Ross Bostock had 10 catches for 88 yards and had an interception for Analy (2-6, 1-4). Deandra Faaita and Daniel Hardesty also had interceptions for Windsor.
Friday highlights: Healdsburg outlasts Petaluma; Casa rolls; Sonoma wins at Kezar
By THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
HEALDSBURG 38, PETALUMA 35
At Petaluma, Cory Harms threw for 222 yards and four touchdowns — three to Jared Garcia — to lead Healdsburg to a wild SCL win.
The Greyhounds (8-1, 4-1) took the lead on a 19-yard pass from Harms to Garcia with 4:25 left. Petaluma (4-5, 2-3) missed a potential game-tying 25-yard field goal with 25 seconds left.
Garcia, who had 9 catches for 142 yards, also scored on catches of 29 and 20 yards.
The Trojans, who had 440 yards rushing and four scoring runs of more than 40 yards, were led by quarterback Chad Krist (13 carries, 173 yards), who had TD runs of 55 and 45 yards. Sean Sullivan (12, 133) scored on runs of 56 and 57 yards.
CASA GRANDE 33, EL MOLINO 7
Casa Grande improved to 5-1 in SCL play with another dominant defensive effort. The Gauchos built a 19-0 lead with 5:00 left in the first quarter, pushed it to 33-0 at halftime and cruised to the victory.
Casa held El Molino to 122 total yards, recording four sacks and two takeaways. The Gauchos have given up a total of 67 points in nine games.
Senior Anthony Biasi ran 19 times for 127 yards, scored once and went over 1,000 in SCL play, while Casa quarterback Matt O’Brien ran for one score and passed for another.
The Gauchos climbed to 5-1 in league play, while the Lions fell to 0-5.
SONOMA VALLEY 21, SACRED HEART 17
At Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, Sonoma capped a 95-yard drive on Mike Mulas’ 1-yard run with 1:36 left to grab the non-league win.
Matt Darnell (17 carries, 141 yards, TD) had four carries for 70 yards on the game-winning drive, and Jake Powers connected with Steve Filippi on two passes for 24 yards as the Dragons improved to 7-1.
Mulas also scored on a 36-yard pass from Powers to tie the game at 14 in third quarter.
Sacred Heart dropped to 5-4.
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Predictions: Get your Friday winners..By THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
CASA GRANDE 35, EL MOLINO 7
Gauchos’ defense is a force.
HEALDSBURG 28, PETALUMA 20
Corey Harms goes to the air with success.
SACRED HEART 28, SONOMA VALLEY 20
The Fight’n Irish are very good.
ANALY 38, WINDSOR 21
The Tigers finally put it all together.
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PETALUMA 33, WINDSOR 13
At Windsor, Sean Sullivan ran for three touchdowns and the Trojans overcame a quick 7-0 deficit and took a 20-7 lead at the half.
Petaluma’s Nick Marsh kicked two field goals, from 22 and 32 yards.
Sullivan scored on runs of 6, 6 and 41 yards.
Petaluma quarterback Chadd Krist also threw a 40-yard TD pass to Dalton Johnson as the Trojans improved to 4-4, 2-2.
Joe Ramos scored on a 27-yard run for Windsor and finished with 139 yards rushing.
Windsor fell to 3-5, 1-3.
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CASA GRANDE 31, WINDSOR 0
The Gauchos ran for 262 yards and the defense posted its fourth shutout as Casa bounced back from last week’s loss at Sonoma.
Anthony Biasi rushed for 115 yards on 14 carries and has now rushed for 1,011 yards on the season. He scored on a 17-yard TD run.
Casa quarterback Matt O’Brien threw for two TDs, a 27-yarder to Matt Nadolski and seven yards to Reece Heaslet.
Kenny Samana and Heaslet each had a sack and Blaine Peterman had 10 tackles.
Casa is 5-1-1, 3-1 and plays at Healdsburg on Friday.
Windsor is 3-4, 1-2.
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WINDSOR 28, EL MOLINO 14
October 13, 2007 --
At Windsor, senior running back Joe Ramos rushed for 259 yards on 28 carries and scored four touchdowns to lead the Jaguars to an SCL victory.
Ramos, who has rushed for 427 yards and five touchdowns in two league games, scored on runs of 4, 56, 64 and 27 yards as Windsor (3-3, 1-1) rallied from a 14-7 second-quarter deficit. El Molino (2-4, 0-3) took the early lead on a 2-yard run by quarterback Andrew Raggio and an 85-yard kickoff return by Anthony Massey.
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Jaguars fall to Casa Grande 31-0
Windsor falls to 3-4; entertains Petaluma this Friday
by Greg Clementi, Sports Editor
The varsity Jaguar football squad dropped its third game in the last four outings on Friday, suffering a 31-0 drubbing at the hands of visiting Casa Grande.
The game was not a thing of beauty from a Windsor perspective, as the team shot itself in the foot with mistakes all night.
“They're definitely a really good team but we killed ourselves all night with bad snaps, penalties and dropped passes,” said Jag's coach Jason Fayter. “If we could have made some plays in the first half it might have been a different game, but we could never get anything going offensively.”
The loss slipped the Jags to 1-2 in the Sonoma County League and 3-4 overall, further damaging Windsor's hopes for a third straight post-season appearance. Windsor will need a strong league finish to remain eligible for the North Coast Section playoffs, beginning this Friday, Oct. 26 against visiting Petaluma. .
“We'll need to win at least two of our last three league games to have a shot at the playoffs,” noted Fayter. “This is a big game coming up against Petaluma, because we should be battling them for one of the last playoff spots.”
The Gauchos (3-1, 5-1-1) drew blood in the opening quarter on Friday when quarterback Matt O'Brien found favorite receiver Matt Nadolski on a 27-yard scoring pass and a 7-0 lead.
Casa Grande gained separation in the second period, using good field position and a bruising running game to mount a pair of drives resulting in scoring bolts from running backs Anthony Biasi (17 yards) and Paul Trombetta (7 yards). The Gauchos led, 20-0 at the break.
Casa, which rolled up 276 rushing yards to just 60 for Windsor, continued to control the clock in the second half. The Gauchos used a 30-yard, third-quarter field goal from Connor Derby and added a seven-yard scoring pass from O'Brien to Reece Haslet in the fourth quarter to post the 31-0 victory.
Leading the Windsor offensive attack were: quarterback Blake Schmidt (5-15, 33 yards passing), Joe Ramos (14-48 yards rushing), Dillon Morrow (1-11 yards rushing, 2-24 yards receiving) and Danny Hardisty (1-5 yards receiving).
Top defenders included: Ramos (6 tackles, assist), Kyle Kellough (5 tackles, 3 assists), Brandyn Schmidt (5 tackles), Benny Anderson (4 tackles, assist), Andrew Jones (4 tackles), Ryan Pedersen (4 tackles), Kyle Yung (4 tackles, 3 assists, sack), Max Devlin (3 tackles, assist), Anthony Schenone (2 tackles, assist), Deandre Faaita (2 tackles, assist), Rosendo Castro (2 tackles), Mike Azanza (tackle, assist), Mike Lopez (tackle, assist), and one tackle apiece from Korey Langhals and Aaron Fletcher.
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Raven Kellough TOUGH LOSS
— Kyle Yung (#6) tackled a Casa Grande ball-carrier in Friday's 31-0 loss to the visiting Gauchos
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Jaguar gridders run past El Mo Lions
by GREG CLEMENTI, Sports Editor
The Jaguar varsity football squad found the perfect remedy to end a two-game losing streak on Friday, using a relentless ground attack to grind out a 28-14 victory over visiting El Molino.
Windsor was fresh off a pair of devastating, last-minute losses to Redwood and Healdsburg the previous two games, but there would be no miracle finish from the opposition this week.
After spotting the Lions a 14-7 halftime lead, the Jags rode the strong legs of senior running back Joe Ramos and a great effort from its offensive line to squash the El Mo upset bid. Ramos turned in the best single-game rushing performance in school history, churning up 259 yards and four touchdowns en route to the victory.
“I just let our offensive line push the big boys out of the way and I run through the holes,” said the tough, 150-pound Ramos, who has already amassed 496 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this year. “I worked really hard to get ready in the off-season and the hard work is paying off.”
A Windsor victory was anything but assured in a shaky first half that featured dropped passes and a couple of key turnovers, giving the Lions an early advantage.
El Molino broke on top early in the second quarter when linebacker Joe Durling picked off a pass at the Windsor six-yard line, setting up a two-yard quarterback keeper from Andrew Raggio for a 7-0 Lions lead.
The Jags used a good mix of pass and run to get on the scoreboard mid-way through the second period. Windsor quarterback Blake Schmidt directed an impressive drive culminating in a five-yard scoring burst from Ramos. Morgan Rennie added the PAT boot to knot the game at 7-7.
The tie was short-lived, as El Mo return man Tony Massey took the ensuing kickoff and raced 90 yards to the house, giving the Lions a 14-7 lead at the break.
The second half belonged to Ramos and the Jaguars. The Windsor back broke loose on a 57-yard scoring dash just 30 seconds into the third quarter to forge a 14-all tie.
With the Windsor defense stiffening, Ramos put his team up for good late in the third quarter on another electrifying, 64-yard touchdown run for a 21-14 Jaguar lead at the end of three.
A fake punt by the Lions midway through the final period would seal their fate, with Windsor taking over on downs at its own 47. Three plays later, Ramos ripped off a 27-yard scoring burst for the eventual, 28-14 victory.
The win evened the Jaguars league record to 1-1 and 3-3 overall, while the Lions dropped to 0-3 in the SCL and 2-4 on the season.
In addition to Ramos' heroics, Schmidt turned in an effective night's work with six completions on 19 attempts for 75 yards passing, adding 30 yards on the ground. Other top offensive performances were had by: Dillon Morrow (2-25 yards receiving), Deandre Faaita (2-29 yards receiving), Sean Eldridge (1-13 yards receiving) and Danny Hardisty (1-8 yards receiving).
Leading defenders included: Faaita (6 tackles, assist), Benny Anderson (5 tackles, 3 assists), Hardisty (5 tackles), Morrow (3 tackles), Mike Tracy (2 tackles) and Elias Carreno (FR). The Jags will host Casa Grande (2-1, 4-1) this Friday at 7:30 p.m.
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GROUND ATTACK
Running back Joe Ramos turned in one of the best games ever for the Jaguars on Friday, rushing for 259 yards and four touchdowns en route to a 28-14 win over the Lions. Greg Clementi
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Wild finish sinks Jags in Grape Bowl heartbreaker
Windsor will take on El Molino this Friday in Homecoming game
by GREG CLEMENTI, Sports Editor
Among the cruelest of realities in football is when one team dominates another and still doesn't come away with a win.
The Jaguars could make that case on Friday night at the ninth annual Grape Bowl, as they watched a 10-point lead with just over a minute left evaporate into the chilly Healdsburg night in an incomprehensible, 23-19 loss to the Greyhounds.
The loss dropped the Jags to 0-1 in league and 2-3 on the season.
Windsor quieted the huge, spillover crowd at Recreation Park for most of the evening, controlling the game with a punishing running attack and defensive scheme that denied the Hounds any big plays for the game's first 47 minutes.
Windsor defensive backs Danny Hardisty and Dillon Morrow would effectively shut down Healdsburg's top pass catcher, Jared Garcia for most of the game, but it would present a hero's role for another Hounds' receiver.
The Greyhounds trailed 19-9 with just 1:05 left before driving nearly the length of the field to score on a 12-yard pass from quarterback Corey Harms to receiver Jose Barajas, cutting the deficit to 19-16. Harms then pulled off a perfectly executed on-side kick, recovered by Healdsburg's Elliot Fritz near midfield with 45 seconds remaining.
“We worked on that play all week and it paid off,” said Harms, who finished the game with 253 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns. “We got a good bounce, it worked out just like we'd practiced it.”
The winning score came with just 15 ticks left when Harms found a well-covered Barajas in the end zone on a 24-yard deflected pass for a devastating, four-point loss.
“It was a tough loss, but at least we played well this week,” said Windsor head coach Jason Fayter. “It was frustrating because we did everything we wanted to do in the game, it just didn't work out at the end.”
The Jaguars drew first blood with 1:41 in the opening quarter when quarterback Blake Schmidt capped a sustained drive with a one-yard keeper and a 6-0 lead.
The Hounds got on the board early in the second period when linebacker Brandon Behl forced and recovered a fumble at the Windsor 25, setting up a 27-yard field goal by Jon Cattalini, cutting the deficit to 6-3.
An interception by Healdsburg defender Caleb Rummonds gave his team great field position, but the drive would end in disaster for the Hounds. Harms appeared headed for pay-dirt on a keeper near the Windsor goal line, when he was hit and fumbled into the end zone for a touchback.
The Jaguars capitalized on their ensuing series when Schmidt capped an 80-yard drive with a 26-yard scoring strike, deflected into the waiting arms of receiver Kyle Yung for a 12-3 Windsor lead. Harms nailed a 42-yard field goal at the end of the period, giving the Jags a 12-6 halftime bulge.
Healdsburg pulled within three points midway through the third quarter, when Harms ended a short drive with another 27-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 12-9. The Jaguars would answer on their next possession, finishing off a 60-yard march with a 15-yard scoring strike from Schmidt to Ramos for a 19-9 Windsor advantage.
The Jaguars took control of the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter, with Ramos ripping off big gains behind a good push from his offensive line.
Windsor was headed for what appeared a certain victory when the Greyhounds drove the ball 95 yards with 65 seconds left, resulting in a 12-yard scoring pass to Barajas to cut the lead to three. The ensuing on-side kick would lead Healdsburg to the winning touchdown and an improbable, 23-19 win.
Schmidt finished up an effective night under center (9-16, 89 yards, TD, 5-9 yards rushing, TD). Other solid efforts were turned in by Ramos (28-180 yards rushing, TD), Yung (4-59 yards receiving, TD), Danny Hardisty (2-21 yards receiving), Dillon Morrow (1-7 yards rushing) and Sean Eldridge (1-6 yards receiving). Garret Kellough had two kickoff returns for 58 yards.
Hardisty turned in a superb effort to lead the Windsor defensive unit (11 tackles, 3 assists, INT). Other solid performances were had by: Kyle Kellough (5 tackles, assist), Benny Anderson (2 tackles, 5 assists, sack), Brandyn Schmidt (4 tackles, 6 assists), Yung (4 tackles, assist), Korey Langhals (tackle, 4 assists), Ryan Pedersen (tackle, 2 assists), Ramos (tackle), Morrow (2 assists), Edgar Canchola (tackle), Max Devlin (2 assists), Deandre Faaita (2 assists), Chris Green (assist) and Chris Lowe (assist).
The Jags will try to get back into the win column this Friday when they host El Molino in the Homecoming game. Game times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m. Parking for all home games will be available at Keiser Park, and fans are encouraged to arrive early.
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Miracle finish lifts Hounds to 23-19 win over Windsor
Healdsburg stays unbeaten; travels to Fortuna Friday
By GREG CLEMENTI, Sports Editor
Someone once said that luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.
That was definitely the story on Friday as the Greyhounds combined talent and skill with an abundance of good fortune in an improbable, 23-19 win over Windsor.
The victory, witnessed by a wildly appreciative Homecoming throng, kept the Hounds unbeaten with a perfect 5-0 record (2-0 in the SCL). It also extended Healdsburg's record to 8-1 in the nine-year Grape Bowl series against Windsor.
The miracle finish was in stark contrast to the game's first 47 minutes, which the Jaguars controlled with tough defense and a solid running attack. Healdsburg's big-play combo of quarterback Corey Harms and receiver Jared Garcia were kept in check for much of the night by a Windsor defense that refused to be beaten deep.
The Hounds were down to their last gasp, trailing 19-9 when they drove 95 yards to score on a 12-yard pass from Harms to receiver Jose Barajas, cutting the deficit to 19-16 with 1:05 left. Harms then pulled off a perfectly executed on-side kick, which was smothered by teammate Elliot Fritz near midfield.
“We worked on that play all week and it paid off,” said Harms, referring to the text-book on-side kick that led to the go-ahead touchdown. “We got a good bounce and it worked out just like we'd practiced it.”
The winning score came with just 15 ticks left when Harms found a well-covered Barajas in the end zone on a 24-yard, deflected pass for an improbable, four-point victory.
“That was unbelievable,” said a stunned Healdsburg head coach Tom Kirkpatrick after the game. “Windsor beat us up pretty good and did a great job defensively, but somehow we were able to come back at the end. Someone wished me good luck today, but said we probably wouldn't need it. In football, you can never have enough luck.”
The Jaguars drew first blood with 1:41 left in the opening quarter when quarterback Blake Schmidt capped a sustained drive with a one-yard keeper and a 6-0 lead.
The Hounds got on the board early in the second period when linebacker Brandon Behl forced and recovered a fumble at the Windsor 25, setting up a 27-yard field goal by Jon Cattalini, cutting the deficit to 6-3.
An interception by Healdsburg defender Caleb Rummonds gave his team great field position, but the drive would end in disaster for the Hounds. Harms appeared headed for pay-dirt on a keeper near the Windsor goal line, when he was hit and fumbled into the end zone for a touchback.
The Jaguars capitalized on their ensuing series when Schmidt capped an 80-yard drive with a 26-yard scoring strike, deflected into the waiting arms of receiver Kyle Yung for a 12-3 Windsor lead. Harms nailed a 42-yard field goal at the end of the period, giving the Jags a 12-6 halftime bulge.
Healdsburg pulled within three points midway through the third quarter, when Harms ended a short drive with another 27-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 12-9. The Jaguars would answer on their next possession, finishing off a 60-yard march with a 15-yard scoring strike from Schmidt to Ramos for a 19-9 Windsor advantage.
The Jaguars took control of the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter, with Ramos ripping off big gains behind a good push from his offensive line.
Windsor was headed for what appeared a certain victory when the Greyhounds drove the ball 95 yards, resulting in a 12-yard scoring pass to Barajas with 65-seconds left to cut the lead to three. The ensuing on-side kick would lead Healdsburg to the winning touchdown and an improbable, 23-19 win.
Harms (22-43, 253 yards) carried the team with both his arm and legs, finishing his fifth straight game with over 200 yards through the air and a pair of touchdowns. He also added 18 yards on the ground and two field goals. Barajas, ironically crowned the Homecoming King at halftime, had his best varsity game with four catches for 59 yards and two scores. Other offensive stars included: Garcia (7-88 yards receiving), Paul Wilson (8-53 yards rushing), and Andrew Baroni (2-12 yards rushing).
Anchoring the Healdsburg defensive unit were: Garcia (8 tackles, 4 assists), Rummonds (2 tackles, 2 INTs), Andy Phillips (5 tackles, 5 assists), Anthony Barnes (5 tackles), Tom Belli (4 tackles, assist, sack), Elliot Fritz (2 tackles, 2 assists), Sam Ayers (6 tackles, assist), Barajas (tackle, 2 assists), Baroni (2 tackles, 4 assists), Behl (tackle, FR), Dante Fountain (2 tackles),Travis Paasche (tackle) and Anthony Ruiz (assist).
The Greyhound JV squad (4-1, 1-1) fell from the unbeaten ranks with a 60-7 loss to Windsor.
Healdsburg travels to Fortuna this Friday, Oct. 12 in a non-league clash.
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Healdsburg rally stuns Windsor
October 5, 2007 --
By PHIL BARBER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
HEALDSBURG — For about 45 minutes of game time, Windsor kept the deadly Healdsburg passing game off-balance, and the Greyhounds out of the end zone.
But in the last three minutes of the game, the Hounds showed why they’re 5-0 and throwing scares into the rest of the Sonoma County League.
Quarterback Corey Harms overcame three quarters of uneven play to lead Healdsburg to an improbable win. The Hounds drove 96 yards for a touchdown with 1:05 left, recovered the ensuing onside kick, and took less than a minute to score again, turning a 19-9 deficit into a thrilling 23-19 victory at Recreation Park in Healdsburg.
“That’s fun right there,” Greyhounds coach Tom Kirkpatrick said of the late drama. “Just like you’re playing in the back yard.”
Even the final touchdown didn’t come easy. Harms’ pass was tipped by defensive back Blake Schmidt before wide receiver Jose Barajas snagged it in the end zone with only 15 seconds left.
Harms finished with 22 completions in 43 attempts for 253 yards, and did not throw an interception. Unlike some of his previous games, however, the big quarterback had trouble cracking the Windsor secondary. The Jaguars’ defensive backs did a superb job of covering Healdsburg’s dangerous receivers. That was especially true of cornerback Daniel Hardisty, who repeatedly denied deep passes to star receiver Jared Garcia.
Windsor (2-3) got 168 rushing yards on 27 carries from Joe Ramos, who hurt the Hounds on short pitches that he took up the middle
.
If Healdsburg had lost, its fans would have pointed to a key play in the second quarter. On fourth-and-goal from the Windsor 3, Harms kept the ball and took off behind the left side of his line, diving into the end zone. The ball came out as he hit the ground, and officials ruled it a fumble.
The Jaguars recovered and, apparently fired up, marched 80 yards for their second touchdown of the game. Schmidt finished that drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Yung. The quarterback had earlier plunged a yard for Windsor’s first touchdown, helping his team to a 12-6 halftime lead.
Windsor scored late in the third quarter when Ramos finished a 10-play drive with a 14-yard touchdown run, padding the lead to 19-9. The Jaguars then forced Healdsburg to punt twice. By the time the Greyhounds got it back at their 4 with about 3:00 left, their homecoming looked dead.
But Harms completed 7-of-11 passes for 83 yards and ran twice for 13 yards on Healdsburg’s next drive, capping it with a 12-yard scoring pass to Barajas. Then junior Elliot Fritz came up with an onside kick with 1:02 left in the game.
“I was like, ‘I can’t believe I have this right now,’ ” a hoarse Fritz said afterward.
His recovery set up Harms’ ricocheting, game-winning pass to Barajas.
Garcia caught seven passes for 82 yards, while Wilson grabbed eight for 76. Windsor’s Schmidt completed 9-of-16 passes for 87 yards, with two interceptions.
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REDWOOD 21, WINDSOR 20
September 28, 2007 --
WINDSOR -- Redwood rallied from a 20-3 halftime deficit to earn its first win of the season.
The Giants (1-3) scored on a 2-yard pass from Ryan Russell to Alex Monetta with 41 seconds left to close the gap to 20-19. Russell then ran in the two-point conversion for the win.
Windsor (2-2) jumped out to the early lead on two touchdown passes from Blake Schmidt, who connected with Kyle Yung on a 7-yard pass and added a 65-yard score to Dillon Morrow.
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Jaguars post 21-8 pigskin win
by GREG CLEMENTI, Sports Editor
The varsity football Jaguars invoked the often-heard sports term,' winning ugly,' following a hard-fought, 21-8 pre-season victory over host Castlemont of Oakland on Friday.
Although their overall effort may not have conjured up images of the '85 Chicago Bears, the win was good enough to improve the Jags' record to 2-1 on the year.
This Friday, Sept. 28, Windsor will put the wraps on its pre-season schedule, when it plays host to the visiting Redwood Giants. Kickoff times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
“Yeah it was a win, but it was pretty ugly,” said Windsor head coach Jason Fayter. “We've been finding every way possible to shoot ourselves in the foot lately. We just haven't been playing very well.”
The Jags were not without excuses on Friday, with the team missing a few key players on both sides of the ball. Among them was Jaguar defensive back/wide receiver Danny Hardisty, who suffered a mild concussion during the game and will be out for at least a week.
Windsor drew blood midway through the second quarter on Friday when quarterback Blake Schmidt found receiver Dillon Morrow with a seven-yard scoring strike. Castlemont took advantage of a short Windsor punt to score its only touchdown of the game to trail, 7-6 at the break.
The Jags gained separation in the third quarter when defender Kyle Yung scooped up a Castlemont fumble and raced 80 yards to the house, giving his team a 14-6 lead. A few minutes later, the Knights sacked Schmidt in the end zone for a safety to cut the deficit to 14-8.
Windsor finally iced the game late in the final period when running back Joe Ramos broke loose on a 50-yard bolt, setting up his own three-yard scoring burst for the eventual, 21-8 victory.
Ramos turned in a solid night's work, churning up 130 yards on the ground with one touchdown. Schmidt added 80 passing yards and one score, while Morrow hauled in one scoring pass.
Top defenders for the Jaguars were: Yung (80-yard TD on fumble recovery), Mike Tracy (INT) and Sean Eldridge (INT).
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D-FENCE - Kyle Yung led a swarm of Windsor tacklers in the Jag's 21-8 win over Castlemont on Sept. 21
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SANTA ROSA 47, WINDSOR 22
September 14, 2007 --
SANTA ROSA 47, WINDSOR 22
WINDSOR -- It was the Therman McGowan running show as the Panthers’ junior back rushed for 324 yards on 26 carries and scored four TDs.
Windsor (1-1) led 22-13 late in the second quarter, but Santa Rosa (2-0), with McGowan leading the way, scored three times and led at the half 32-22.
McGowan, who rushed for 105 yards last week in a blowout win against Richmond, had two 35-yard runs, a 50-yard TD run and a 50-yard punt return for a TD.
Windsor’s Garrett Kellough rushed 18 times for 116 yards.
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Windsor speed kills Maria Carrillo's D
September 8, 2007 --
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Windsor junior Garrett Kellough showed Saturday that speedand shifty moves can overcome mistakes in a big way.
Maria Carrillo had just taken a one-point lead over the Jaguars early inthe second quarter and the ensuing kickoff sailed over Kellough's head.He tried to pick up the ball on the Jaguars' 5-yard line, grabbed it and fumbled it. By the time he picked it up clean, the entire Pumas defense had reached him.
That turned out to be a good thing, as the 5-foot-10, 190-pounder slipped behind a couple of blockers, turned the corner near the sideline and then raced untouched for a 95-yard touchdown.
Kellough's electrifying run seemed to kick-start Windsor's offense and the Jaguars rolled to a 33-17 preseason win.
Kellough, who was limited in playing junior varsity ball last year because of a broken collarbone, added runs of 53 and 34 yards, filled with jukes and misdirection, and finished the day with 16 carries, 197 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior Windsor quarterback Blake Stein, who began quarterbacking just last
season, threw for three TDs, two to Kyle Yung and another to Kellough.
Windsor led 26-7 at halftime. Maria Carrillo did score the first 10
points of the second half, but Windsor, which went 9-3 last season, unleashed
a strong pass rush the rest of the afternoon (6 sacks in the second half)
and controlled the final quarter.
Windsor head coach Jason Fayter was happy with the game's outcome, but not
with a number of penalties common with season openers. Kellough had another
pass reception for a touchdown called back because of a penalty.
"We just had too many mental mistakes," Fayter said. "I give us a C-plus, but we can play better."
It was an initiation of sorts for Maria Carrillo junior quarterback Nick Hammaren. Senior returner Keaton Kovatch was slated as the starting quarterback, but broke his left hand in practice two weeks ago.
Kovatch wore a cast and started at running back, limiting his handling of the ball.
Kovatch still rushed for 87 yards and Hammaren was 13-for-26 passing for
156 yards and three interceptions.
A 1-yard run by Zack Sheets and extra point gave the Pumas their only lead of the game, early in the second quarter. Kellough followed with his kickoff run for a score and Schmidt threw 17 yards to Kellough and 28 yards to Yung for TDs before the half.
Windsor lost 22 seniors to graduation and Fayter wasn't sure until Saturday
if he had enough replacements.
"I think our lines are strengths, that's where most of our experience and
leadership comes from," he said.
"I was happy with the way we played," said Windsor lineman Brandyn
Schmidt, Blake's brother. "I see a lot of potential."
Kyle Kellough, brother of Garrett, a lineman, and Korey Langhals each
had two sacks for the Jaguars.
Joe Ramos, Ryan Pedersen and Sean Eldridge had interceptions for
Windsor.
Windsor hosts Santa Rosa Friday and Maria Carrillo plays at Casa Grande
Friday.
Windsor 33, Maria Carrillo 17
Windsor 6 20 0 7-- 33
Maria Carrillo 0 7 10 0 -- 17
W -- Kyle Yung 9 pass from Blake Schmidt (kick failed)
MC -- Zack Sheets 1 run (James Procsal kick)
W -- Garrett Kellough 95 kickoff return (Schmidt kick)
W -- Kellough 17 pass from Schmidt (Procsal kick)
W -- Yung 28 pass from Schmidt (kick failed)
MC -- Procsal 31 pass from Nick Hammaren (Sheets run)
MC -- Safety
W -- Kellough 34 run (Morgan Rennie kick)
JV -- Windsor 30, Maria Carrillo 17
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Jaguars pounce on Maria Carrillo Pumas in 33-17 opener
by GREG CLEMENTI, Sports Editor
Every football team has question marks that need to be answered in the first game of the season.
The Jaguars had their share entering Saturday's pre-season opener at Maria Carrillo in Santa Rosa.
Could Windsor overcome the loss of 22 seniors from 2006, including some of the top skill position players in the SCL? Would the Jags be able to build on the momentum gained from each of the past two years that ended with North Coast Section playoff appearances?
Each of those compelling questions were answered on Saturday, yes and yes.
The Jaguars turned in a strong overall effort against the Pumas, led by superb offensive varsity debuts from quarterback Blake Schmidt, receiver Kyle Yung and running backs Garrett Kellough and Joe Ramos, who combined forces to lead a decisive, 33-17 victory.
“I think we have higher expectations all around, even though we lost a lot of seniors last year,” said head coach Jason Fayter, entering his fifth season. “We had some concerns about our inexperience, but we know that we've got some guys that can play.”
One of those guys is Kellough, a 5' 11”, 190-pound tailback whose JV season was cut short last year due to injury. The talented junior took over the game against the Pumas, ripping off huge gains all afternoon behind a solid offensive line.
“Garrett is the complete package,” noted Fayter. “He's strong and fast and is a very good all-around player. “Our offensive line did a great job opening up some big holes for him.”
Schmidt was also impressive in his first varsity start, connecting on 7-17 pass attempts for 89 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of scoring tosses to Yung.
Windsor's offensive line, which features seniors Kyle Kellough, Brandyn Schmidt, Andrew Jones, Chris Michaels and junior Korey Langhals, is one area that figures to be solid again this year.
“We knew coming in that the line was going to be our strength,” said Fayter, who led the Jags to a 9-3 mark in 2006. “These guys gained a lot of varsity experience last year, but most of them will be going both ways this season.”
Windsor drew first blood in the opening quarter on Saturday, when Schmidt found Yung on a nine-yard scoring pass for an early 6-0 advantage. After Maria Carrillo took a brief, 7-6 lead in the second period, Garrett Kellough took the ensuing kickoff and raced 95 yards for the touchdown. Morgan Rennie added a PAT boot for a 13-7 Windsor lead.
The Jaguar defense continued to stuff the Pumas, giving Schmidt good field position to work with. Windsor capped a second-quarter explosion with a 17-yard scoring pass to Garrett Kellough, followed by a 28-yard strike from Schmidt to Yung for a 26-7 halftime bulge.
The Pumas clawed back in the third quarter with a 31-yard scoring pass, followed by a successful two-point conversion. On Windsor's ensuing offensive series, a bad snap sailed into the Jags' end zone and was recovered for a Maria Carrillo safety, cutting the lead to 26-17.
The Windsor defense regained control, as evidenced by six second-half sacks from the D-line. Garrett Kellough would do the rest, ripping off another 34-yard touchdown scamper for the eventual, 33-17 win.
Kellough would end the afternoon with 17 carries for 202 yards, and three touchdowns. His total of 313 all-purpose yards was among the best single-game performances in school history. Other offensive standouts included: Yung (3-32 yards, 2 TDs receiving), Ramos (6-18 yards rushing) and Sean Eldridge (2-31 yards receiving).
Kyle Kellough led the defense with a team-high 10 tackles and a pair of sacks. Other top defenders were: Ryan Pedersen (10 tackles, sack, INT), Chris Michaels (10 tackles, sack), Danny Hardisty (8 tackles), Benny Anderson (6 tackles), Brandyn Schmidt (7 tackles), Jason Langhals (9 tackles, sack), Dillon Morrow (5 tackles), Ramos (4 tackles, INT), Yung (4 tackles), Deandre Faaita (2 tackles), Sean Eldridge (2 tackles, INT) and, Mike Azanza (2 tackles).
Brother act
One rarity for the Jags this season is the addition of three sets of brothers which include: Kyle and Garrett Kellough, Brandyn and Blake Schmidt and Korey and Jason Langhals.
JV win big
The Jag's JV squad led by quarterback DJ King, posted a 30-7 win over Maria Carrillo on Saturday.
The Jags will take on visiting Santa Rosa this Friday, Sept. 14 in the home opener. Game times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
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Junior running back Garrett Kellough
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Kyle Yung of Windsor scores the first touchdown of the day against Maria Carrillo
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Jarudd Prosser Named New Football Coach
Jarudd Prosser Named New Football Coach: Homecoming
By Rob Roy, FMHS Athletic Director
Homecoming is an annual tradition in America that evokes memories of leaves changing color in late autumn and is usually punctuated by a football game played on the home field in front of the student body, family and friends, members of the community and returning alumni.
Recently, a member of the first graduating class at Frazier Mountain High School made a different sort of homecoming. Jarudd Prosser was not only the tenth FMHS graduating class graduating, but he was also named the new head varsity football coach.
Coach Prosser will also teach physical education classes when the 2007- 2008 school year begins in August.
Prosser and his staff have already started summer practice with about forty players attending.
The Falcons are coming off one of the best seasons in FMHS history and with a majority of the team returning, look toward another successful campaign.
FMHS would like to welcome Coach Jarudd Prosser to the Falcon Coaching Fraternity and invite the community to take part in celebrating Jarudd's return.
The Falcons will play ten scheduled games during the upcoming year. Our schedule includes five home games beginning Friday, September 7 against Mendota High School. The JV team takes the field at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Varsity squad at 7:30 p.m.
All other home games will be played at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The Falcons also play host to Desert Christian High School on Friday, September 14 and McFarland High School on Friday, September 21.
The annual FMHS Homecoming game takes place against High Desert League team Rosamond High School on Friday, October 26. The last scheduled home game is slated for Friday, November 2 when Desert High School comes to Falcon Field.
Jarudd Prosser speaking at the FMHS class of 2007 graduation.
By Patric Hedlund
Jarudd Prosser may be a jock, but circumstances have also created of him a thoughtful man.
"It is a death that touched a lot more than our family, because of the circumstances," he recalls of the events surrounding the loss of his older brother, Cody Prosser, who was one of the first American soldiers to die in Afghanistan following America's initial military response to the September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers in New York City.
Prosser spoke in an interview just after conducting the football team's first week of summer training as Frazier Mountain High School's new varsity coach.
Just months ago he received his bachelors degree from Sonoma State University, but he served as a volunteer coach at FMHS while attending College of the Canyons for three years. In 2001 and 2002 he was varsity baseball coach and coached offensive and defensive line for football. "I took classes in the morning at COC and worked as an aide at FMHS, then coached after school. For the last year, in 2003, I was JV head coach.
"I was pretty young to start coaching, but as I got more involved, I liked it more and more. About two years ago I decided exactly what I wanted to do."
He grew up in Lockwood Valley. The family had five acres, near Adams Trail. "My dad was a retired L.A. City fireman. He built the house. We had horses, cows, chickens, geese, peacocks and pigs for the first ten years. We collected eggs from the chickens. Our parents had a welding shop and my mom had a beauty salon called Juliana's Place. We sold eggs there.
"I was in charge of the kitchen garden, but after we got rid of most the animals, I rode dirt bikes more than I rode horses.
"My older sister was a good athlete. Three brothers were involved in sports too. I'm the youngest. I was in AYSO and FMLL, so athletics were always a big part of my life.
"The thing that I feel separates FMHS from other schools is that there is a powerful work ethic here. That is good to have for a coach- much better than having a few 'A' type superstars who don't have a work ethic. Here, even our really great athletes are very willing to work."
He stops for a moment to think again about what he dreamed of when he was a boy, and what he has learned from the loss of his brother.
"Cody was the nearest to me in age," he said. "When my brother died it made all of us much closer. I drew a lot of strength from my parents.
"I have pictures of the [Cody Prosser Memorial in Frazier Mountain Park]. I go over sometimes. It is a death that touched a lot more people than our family, because of the circumstances.
"When a death happens like that, it makes you want to spend quality time with your family. I try not to be stressed out about things that in the long run do not carry long-lasting importance.
"Losing him made me re-evaluate my priorities and the way I spent my time. We can get focused on making money and lose sight of what is really most valuable. Our time together is short in the grand scheme of things.
"Any coach will tell you that the profession is not about money, it is about relationships and having an impact on the people you interact with."
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SCL all-star gridders stuff NBL 14-0
Annual showcase of graduated seniors a tough, defensive battle
by GREG CLEMENTI, Sports Editor
Saturday's 34th annual Kiwanis senior football clash proved that defense doesn't just win championships - it also wins all-star games.
The SCL, led by a gritty effort from a determined and spirited group of athletes, prevailed in a hard-hitting contest to post a 14-0 victory.
The yearly meeting between the top graduated seniors from the Sonoma County League against their North Bay League counterparts, now known as the Richard Bigham Memorial Game for the late, long-time event organizer, was played in front of an enthusiastic throng of 2,000 fans at Bailey Field in Santa Rosa.
The SCL contingent was led by Jag's head coach Jason Fayter and his Windsor coaching staff.
“I thought our guys played really well,” said Fayter, set to return for his fifth season as Windsor varsity head coach this fall. “We moved the ball throughout the game and had our chances to break it wide open in the first half, but just couldn't punch it in.”
The Jaguars were represented by players: Brandyn Reed (WR/DB), Erik Hernandez (RB/DB), Mike Bogdanovich (LB), Matt Lamberson (OL/DL), Tom Walton (OL/DL), James Jewett (LB) and Jamal Russell Black (DB/RB).
All Windsor players played a critical role in their team's victory, with most seeing action on both sides of the ball. Bogdanovich, Lamberson and Walton were among the game's leading tacklers, while Reed, Hernandez and Russell Black orchestrated several big plays on offense. Hernandez scored the game's only offensive touchdown.
The game was a battle of field position and special teams, as the squads combined for a total of 14 punts on the night.
The SCL drew blood with 9:29 left in the second period when Healdsburg's sure-handed cornerback Ronnie Arowcavage picked off a pass from Montgomery quarterback Austin Williams and scampered 12 yards for the touchdown. The PAT kick failed and the SCL took a 6-0 halftime lead.
El Molino quarterback Tyler Kozlowski replaced SCL starter Ryan Blum on the second offensive series of the third quarter, and gave his team an immediate spark, scrambling and passing for a couple of big gains on a drive culminating in a five-yard scoring burst from Windsor running back Erik Hernandez. Kozlowski made good on the two-point conversion with a pass to Analy's Nick Johnson for a 14-0 bulge.
“This game meant a lot to us, we definitely wanted to win,” said Kozlowski, who will attend Mendocino Jr. College this fall. “I just wanted the ball in my hands so I could make something happen.”
The two-touchdown lead proved more than enough for the SCL stars, who would allowed the NBL precious few big plays enroute to the eventual, 14-0 win. The victory evened the 16-year series between the teams at eight wins apiece.
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NUMERO UNO - The Sonoma County League senior all-stars celebrated a 14-0 win over the North Bay League on Saturday at the 34th annual Richard Bigham Memorial Game sponsored by the Santa Rosa Kiwanis club. The win evened the overall series at 8-8. Greg Clementi
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Coach of the Year: Jason Fayter, Windsor
SONOMA COUNTY LEAGUE, All League
Player of the Year: Erik Hernandez, Sr., Windsor, running back/linebacker
Back of the Year: Ryan Blum, Sr., Sonoma, quarterback
Lineman of the Year: Riordan Gomez, Sr., Casa Grande
Defensive Player of the Year: Mike Bogdanovich, Sr., Windsor, linebacker
Specialist of the Year: Scott Poole, Sr., Casa Grande
Coach of the Year: Jason Fayter, Windsor
First Team Offense: Corey Harms, Jr., Healdsburg, quarterback; Anthony Biasi, Jr., Casa Grande, running back; Mitch Arreguin, Sr., Healdsburg, running back; Drew Gaidano, Sr., Petaluma, running back; Matt Darnell, Jr., Sonoma, running back; Matt Johnson, Sr., Casa Grande, tight end; Randall Packard, Sr., El Molino; Nick Johnson, Sr., Analy, wide receiver; Jared Garcia, Jr., Healdsburg, wide receiver; Ian Albrecht, Sr., Sonoma, wide receiver; Brandyn Reed, Sr., Windsor, wide receiver; Garrett Labberton, Sr., Casa Grande, kicker; Michael Stone, Sr., Analy, line; Tobin Cameron, Sr., Healdsburg, line; Christopher Bach, Sr., Healdsburg, line; Ryan Jensen, Sr., Petaluma, line; Kevin Burkett, Sr., Sonoma, line; Tom Walton, Sr., Windsor, line
First Team Defense: Andrew Snyder, Sr., Casa Grande, end; Daniel Erdman, Sr., Healdsburg, end; Matt Lamberson, Sr., Windsor, end; Justin Phelan, Sr., Casa Grande, line; Tobin Cameron, Sr., Healdsburg, line; Sean McLaughlin, Sr., Petaluma, line; Tom Walton, Sr., Windsor, line; Colin Ryan, Sr., Casa Grande, linebacker; Joe Bouchard, Sr., Casa Grande; linebacker; James Jewett, Sr., Windsor, linebacker; Matt Johnson, Sr., Casa Grande, linebacker; Mitch Arreguin, Sr., Healdsburg, linebacker; Drew Gaidano, Sr., Petaluma, linebacker; Michael Mulas, So., Sonoma, linebacker; Scott Poole, Sr., Casa Grande, back; Ronnie Arowcavage, Sr., Healdsburg, back; Mitch Isetta, Sr., back; Brandyn Reed, Sr., Windsor, back
Second Team Offense: Nick Maloney, Sr., Analy, quarterback; Tyler Kozlowski, Sr., El Molino, quarterback; Scott Poole, Sr., Casa Grande, running back; Leroy Green, So., Windsor, running back; Daniel Albert, Sr., Analy, wide receiver; Kyle Molkenbuhr, Sr., Analy, wide receiver/kicker/punter; Matt Nadolski, So., Casa Grande, wide receiver; Ricky Bostic, Jr., Analy, end; Michael Stone, Sr., Analy, line; Ryan Jensen, Sr., Petaluma, line; Allen Bryson, Sr., Sonoma, line; Kyle DeTommaso, Jr., Analy, linebacker; Randall Packard, Sr., El Molino, linebacker; Dominic Patrick, Sr., Analy, linebacker; Korey Gosselin, Sr., El Molino, linebacker; Nick Pappas, Jr., Sonoma, linebacker; Leroy Green, So., Windsor, linebacker; Michael Crivello, Sr., Analy, back; Anthony Biasi, Jr., Casa Grande, back; Zac Salaun, Sr., Petaluma, back; Dane Greco, Sr., Petaluma, back; Jamal Russell-Black, Sr., Windsor, back
Honorable Mention: Analy—Luke Wells, Alex Houlemard, Cameron Cook, Josh Cota, Nestor Torres, Juan Moreno, Michael Paggi, A.J. Fox; Casa Grande—Bobby Ramirez, Vince Weaver, Jared Smith, James Rodrigues; Bryan Lee; El Molino—Andrew Raggio, Evan Englar; Healdsburg—Justin Brandt, Cody Manning, Nick Fore, Chris Saulter, Jared Garcia; Petaluma—Chadd Krist, Dane Greco, Joe Bertolucci, Garrett Hagerla, Kyle McFadden, Cameron Ross, Joe Saldana, Matt Pepper; Windsor—Tysen Gray, Kevin Cramer, Danny Hardisty, Kyle Kellough
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