MONTGOMERY 9, RANCHO COTATE 6
Vikings win overtime thriller
Soccer player Banda kicks game-winner in first varsity football game


By ERIC BRANCH
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, October 2, 2009

There are unlikely heroes. And then there is Jesus Banda.

Banda, a defender on Montgomerys soccer team playing in his first varsity football game, kicked a 26-yard field goal in overtime Friday night to give the Vikings a 9-6 victory over visiting Rancho Cotate in the North Bay League opener for both teams.

After Bandas kick, the Cougars still had a chance to win. Rancho Cotate took over with a first-and-goal at the 10-yard line, but fullback Jeremy Misbach fumbled on second-and-goal from the 8 and Montgomery safety Jake Haas recovered the loose ball to seal the victory.

As Montgomerys players converged in a wild celebration, perhaps the happiest player on the field was Banda. The senior, who played five games on the junior varsity football team last year, was recruited to play football again when the Vikings season-opening kicker, Javier Angel, transferred to Maria Carrillo.

Banda began practicing about two weeks ago, but didnt play last week due to Montgomerys soccer game against Cardinal Newman.

Prior to his overtime kick, Banda had a chance to win the game in regulation with a 36-yard field-goal attempt with 12 seconds left. His kick had plenty of distance, but it caromed off the left upright.

So, to review, in the sixth football game of his life and his first varsity game ever, Banda was twice placed in a position that can make even the most experienced placekicker want to hide under a water cooler.

That first one, I was a little nervous, Banda said. All the pressure was on me.

Banda said he felt more relaxed before his overtime attempt. Did he think about how his teammates might respond if he missed another one?

Im not sure, to tell you the truth, he said. They would probably hate me or something.

Instead, there was plenty of love to go around after the Vikings (2-2) won a hard-hitting defensive struggle.

Montgomery dominated the first half, but had just a 6-0 halftime lead. In the opening two quarters, the Vikings outgained the Cougars (2-2) 98-18 and had six first downs to just two for Rancho Cotate.

Montgomery was stuffed on a fourth-and-goal attempt from the Cougars 2-yard line in the first quarter after taking possession at Ranchos 22-yard line following a muffed punt. The Vikings took a 6-0 second-quarter lead on Loren Brumfields 2-yard run. After a Rancho Cotate penalty on the extra-point attempt moved the ball to the 1-yard line, the Vikings attempted a 2-point conversion, which failed when running back Alex Ciudad-Real was stuffed for no gain.

Too many damn mistakes, Vikings coach Jason Franci said. It could have been 21-0 at halftime.

In the other locker room, the Cougars, who played most of the first half without dynamic junior quarterback Poueu Peleti-Gore, were thankful to still be in the game. Peleti-Gore, who entered with a shoulder injury, threw just two passes and played less than half the game due to the pain in his shoulder.

With the leader of their triple-option offense on the sideline, the Cougars gained zero yards, threw an interception and didnt have a first down on their first three possessions.

When we went into halftime we told the kids Hey, were only down 6-0 and we just had the worst half weve had in a long time, said Rancho Cotate coach Ed Conroy. ... To be down 6-0 was a godsend.

On a seven-play, 76-yard drive to open the second half, led by sophomore quarterback Ricky Garcia, the Cougars tied the game on a 7-yard run by senior running back Brian Dworkin (14 carries, 57 yards), but the extra-point attempt sailed wide left.

With 2:56 left in the game, Montgomery quarterback Max Heller completed 3 of 3 passes for 57 yards, including a 29-yarder to Nick Swain, to set up Bandas game-winning attempt in regulation.

Banda missed, but he atoned for it a few minutes later.

And after his new teammate delivered, Montgomery safety Austin Shull, who had a fumble recovery and an interception, said Banda wasnt the only one feeling the pressure Friday night.

Said Shull, That was the scariest game Ive ever played at Montgomery.


MONTGOMERY-RANCHO
BOX SCORE NBL
AT MONTGOMERY

Rancho Cotate 0 0 6 0 0 -- 6
Montgomery 0 6 0 0 3 -- 9

M--Loren Brumfield 2 run (2-point attempt failed)
RC--Dworkin 6 Run (PAT no good)
M--Jesus Banda 25 field goal

Records: RC 2-2 (0-1), M 2-2 (1-0)
Notes: M--Max Heller 11x14, 100; Alex Ciudad-Real 18x70
..........................................................................







Blocked PAT separates Gauchos, Vikings..
Javonnie Oden returns kickoff 85 yards for game-winning TD..

By ERIC BRANCH
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, September 25, 2009

In recent years, the Casa Grande and Montgomery football game has been decided by a paper-thin margin. And the latest edition of the series pitting two of the Empire’s proudest programs was no different.


Friday night’s game? This one was decided by a few inches — the length of one of senior Ryan Hamilton’s hands.

Hamilton, Casa Grande’s defensive captain, tore through the line to block a third-quarter extra point, a seemingly innocuous play that turned into a game-winner when the Gauchos’ Javonnie Oden returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

Oden’s return, which was followed by a successful extra point, gave visiting Casa Grande a 21-20 lead that would stand as the game’s final score after the Gauchos defense limited Montgomery to negative-eight yards on its two fourth-quarter possessions.

“That had to be one of the top five games I’ve ever been a part of in 15 years as a coach,” said Casa Grande’s Trent Herzog of a contest pitting programs who have combined for only two losing seasons since 1999. “That was a battle between two great teams. Two great defenses. Two great running backs. It was a pleasure just to be a part of it.”

It was also an emotional roller-coaster. But that only figured. The programs, after all, had tied the past two years, playing to a 0-0 deadlock in 2008. In the past seven seasons, Casa Grande (3-0) has a 3-2-2 edge and Montgomery has outscored the Gauchos 102-101.

With that history in mind, it figured that every play Friday could decide the outcome. And Hamilton, who also added 10 tackles from his middle linebacker position, came up with a difference-maker as the home crowd was celebrating Max Heller’s six-yard touchdown pass to Nick Swain. The score had given the Vikings (1-2) a 20-14 lead with 1:20 left in the third quarter.

“I’d gotten through on another extra point, but I didn’t go hard enough,” Hamilton said. “That time I got through and I just gave it everything I had.”

The same could be said for Oden. Eleven seconds after Hamilton’s block, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound speedster was in the end zone celebrating an 85-yard scoring sprint in which he blazed untouched through Montgomery’s coverage unit.

“I got it and just ran as hard as I could,” Oden said. “I just kept going and going until I hit that line.”

The only problem with Oden’s quick strike was that it sent Casa Grande’s defense back on the field.

The Vikings, who boasted a physical running game headlined by junior Alex Cuidad-Real (21 carries, 81 yards) and a line averaging 272 pounds, ran 24 of the first 37 offensive plays in the second half.

But the tiring Gauchos’ defense didn’t wilt. And it also benefited from a costly Montgomery mistake. The Vikings were driving and had a 1st-and-10 at Casa Grande’s 45-yard line early in the fourth quarter when a shotgun snap sailed wildly over Heller’s head, a miscue that resulted in a 21-yard loss and killed the drive. The Vikings got the ball back at their own 41 with 7:16 left, but the drive was snuffed out by linebacker Connor Waggoner’s 17-yard sack on 3rd-and-4 from Casa Grande’s 39.

Waggoner was one of a host of defensive stars. Junior defensive back Makana Garrigan had 10 tackles and an interception while defensive ends Brayan Araiza and Guilermo Arguelles each had two sacks.

“We get tired, but we keep going,” Waggoner said. “We know that we have to play with heart to win. We don’t quit. Ever.”

Casa Grande got the ball back with four minutes and ran out the clock with eight straight runs to senior running back Kahlil Keys (23 carries, 101 yards, 2 TDs). Keys had 52 yards on the final drive, including a 17-yard scamper on 4th-and-2 to officially seal the game with 11 seconds left.

With that, Casa Grande began to celebrate. And Montgomery was left to think about what it could have done differently to win a game that, naturally, was decided by the smallest of margins.

“We made too many damn mistakes,” Montgomery coach Jason Franci said. “You can’t have an extra-point blocked. You can’t have a guy return a kickoff for a touchdown. You can’t snap the ball over the quarterback’s head. Just too many damn mistakes.”


BOX SCORE
AT MONTGOMERY

Casa Grande—6—8—7—0 — 21
Montgomery—7—7—6—0 — 20

CG – Kahlil Keys 2 run (kick failed)
M – Alex Cuidad-Real 28 run (Devin Eisert kick)
CG – Keys 1 run (Nick Sherry pass to Matt Samet)
M – Caleb Jones-Sharpe 35 fumble return (Eisert kick)
M – Nick Swain 6 pass from Max Heller (kick blocked)
CG – Javonnie Oden 85 kickoff return (Lucas Weston kick)

Rushing, CG: Keys 23-101, Makana Garrigan 1-15, Oden 5-(-4). M: Cuidad-Real 21-81, Jabari Simms-Young 7-6, Jones-Sharpe 1-4, Loren Brumfield 1-0, Jake Finley 1-1, Swain 2-(-1), Heller 4-(-13), Kurtis Ceniceros 3-(-34) .

Passing, CG: Sherry 7-15-0-139. M: Heller 6-11-1-54, Ceniceros 1-1-0-14.

Receiving, CG: Samet 3-3-58, Connor Waggoner 2-45, Oden 1-30, Garrigan 1-4. M: Swain 3-20, Brannon Blank 2-23, Anthony Gebauer 1-14, Cuidad-Real 1-11.

Records: CG 3-0, M 1-2
..........................................................................




PETALUMA 14, RANCHO COTATE 12
Petaluma defense holds off Rancho Cotate...
Linebacker Drew Pawlan's interception seals win for Trojans...


By PHIL BARBER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, September 25, 2009

PETALUMA — Let's see . . . Rancho Cotate had averaged 51 points in its first two games of 2009, while Petaluma had averaged better than 34 in its first three.


The two undefeated teams had combined for 95 points in separate games a week ago, running only slightly different versions of the deceptive triple-option offense. Rancho had scored 74 this year in the first half alone.

So you could pretty well imagine what would happen when the powder met the spark at Petaluma on Friday night. The teams would trade scores as if they were playing in the NBA All-Star Game. The scoreboard bulbs might burn out by the third quarter.

As it turned out, the respective defenses ruined a pretty good story line, and Petaluma pulled out a hard-fought 14-12 victory.

“It wasn't our offense that won it tonight,” Petaluma coach Steve Ellison said after the game, holding one of his infant grandchildren near midfield. “It was the way our defense played against a really powerful offense.”

In a game of big plays on both sides of the ball, the Trojans made just one or two more, and that was enough. They improved to 4-0 as they head into Sonoma County League play, while the Cougars fell to 2-1 in their final pre-North Bay League warmup.

Petaluma linebacker Drew Pawlan sealed the victory, jumping a slant pass from Rancho quarterback Poueu Peleti-Gore to Jerry Keophilaphanh and intercepting at his own 26-yard line with 1:06 left. It was Pawlan's second takeaway of the game — he also came up with a fumble recovery in the third quarter — and it was almost identical to a pick he made in the Trojans' Egg Bowl victory over Casa Grande last year.

Peleti-Gore threw three interceptions Friday night. The athletic junior quarterback has proven adept at running the Cougars' triple-option offense, but he had an up-and-down game to culminate a trying two-week stretch.

Peleti-Gore was sick last week, and he lost a family member this week. And on Rancho's first offensive play of the fourth quarter, the QB was hit in front of his sideline and suffered a shoulder stinger that caused him to sit out a possession.

“He feels like it's on his shoulders, but it's not,” Rancho Cotate coach Ed Conroy said. “We made some mistakes early. We didn't pick up the blitz very well. But our kids battled. I'm very proud of them.”

And his pride no doubt included Peleti-Gore, who returned to the field with 6:47 left and nearly rallied Rancho to a road victory. About a minute and a half after his return, he faked a handoff, hesitated momentarily and then sprinted 48 yards for what could have turned out to be the tying touchdown.

Petaluma came up with yet another big play on the 2-point conversion attempt, though, as defensive back Chris Kane came up to smack Peleti-Gore at the 1-yard line, preserving the Trojans' two-point margin.

“What an effort,” Ellison said of Kane's stop. “Our kids played with a lot of heart and emotion, and so did they.”

Before the game, Conroy said that despite the adversaries' gaudy offensive numbers, he expected the contest to be decided at the line of scrimmage and on special teams. He proved prophetic. Petaluma out-rushed the Cougars 250 yards to 149. And the first big play of the game came on a punt.

A long snap sailed over the head of the Trojans punter, who covered the ball at the 9-yard line. Rancho's Sergio Orduna ran it in on the next play. The kick was wide left — another special-teams wild card — limiting the Cougars' lead to 6-0.

Petaluma took a 7-6 lead in the second quarter on Ricky Sims' 4-yard run. Sims, a scary combination of size and speed, finished with 16 carries for 108 yards. The Trojans nearly padded the margin at the end of the second quarter, driving to the Rancho Cotate 19-yard line after an interception by Braeden Ross. But a delay-of-game penalty hurt Petaluma, as Ross' 40-yard field-goal attempt fell just a couple yards short.

After a scoreless third quarter, Petaluma quarterback Mike Russell turned in one of the game's biggest plays, breaking two tackles on a keeper and then outsprinting the Cougars' defense around the right end on a 52-yard scoring run.

If you're looking for an unsung hero, though, you can settle on Trojans offensive lineman Justin Wambold. Just before Russell's run, Wambold had fought for a fumbled ball and retrieved it for Petaluma.

Afterward, Conroy was already seeing the positives. “You hate to say it's a good thing,” he noted.

“But I'll know we'll practice better and play better this week.”

Rancho opens the NBL season against Montgomery, while Petaluma begins SCL play at El Molino.


BOX SCORE
AT PETALUMA

Rancho Cotate—6—0—0—6 — 12
Petaluma—0—7—0—7 — 14

Rushing: P—Ricky Sims 16x108, TD; Mike Russell 12x87, TD; Sean Sullivan 9x53. RC—Poueu Peleti-Gore 11x88, TD; Sergio Orduna 9x36, TD; Brian Dworkin 13x25.

Passing: P—Russell 4/8, 16 yds; RC—Peleti-Gore 4/10, 64 yds, 3 int.

Receiving: P—Stephen McElroy 1x10; RC—Devon Farwell 2x24, Nick Mossi 1x20.

Records: P 4-0, RC 2-1.
..........................................................................





Rancho Cotate sticks with tried-and-true triple option

By ERIC BRANCH
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, September 17, 2009


Sure, Rancho Cotate coach Ed Conroy has heard the grumblings. His team's triple-option offense is a bit like the movie “Groundhog Day”: The same play. Over and over. And over again.

And that's not the only problem some people have. What's with all the running? It's soooooo boring.

“I know some people watch us and say ‘Oh, you always run the same play,'” Conroy said. “But we're hitting different gaps with different plays and we're making plays look similar but blocking it differently ... People say it's not exciting because the ball isn't in the air all the time. But I don't give a rip.”

If Conroy, 52, sounds fiercely devoted to the triple option, well, there's a reason for that. His high school coach at St. Vincent, Bill Silva, brought the offense to Sonoma County. And as a tight end at San Francisco State, Conroy played in a similar offense to the one he's used for the past 20 years at Rancho Cotate.

There might be those who argue that the Cougars' attack isn't the most exciting. But few would deny that the triple option and Rancho Cotate have been synonymous with success for most of Conroy's two-decade tenure.

Entering tonight's meeting against visiting Castlemont of Oakland, Rancho Cotate, fueled by the triple option, has won two section titles, had eight winning seasons and compiled an 85-32-3 record since 1999.

The centerpieces of a triple-option offense are the quarterback, running back and fullback and, not surprisingly, the Cougars have had their share of stars at each position over the years.

But Conroy says his latest trio — junior quarterback Poueu Peleti-Gore, junior running back Brian Dworkin and senior fullback Sergio Orduna — could be among the best threesomes he's had at the school.

“They have the potential to be one of the elite groups we've ever had, there's no question,” Conroy said. “But let's wait and see until the end of the year before we say they are this and that.”

Conroy obviously doesn't want to get carried away. But the early returns are impressive. In Rancho Cotate's season-opening 49-20 win against Vintage last week, Peleti-Gore, in his first varsity start, had 98 yards on 9 carries and a touchdown while throwing for 152 yards and another score. Dworkin, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound jitterbug, had 108 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns while Orduna bulled his way to two short touchdown runs.

Each of their pedigrees are impressive. Conroy says Peleti-Gore is the best triple-option quarterback he's seen at the school as a freshman. And he believes Dworkin, who rushed for 1,151 yards and averaged 9.2 yards a carry last year, might be the best sophomore running back he's had in the program. Orduna, who doubles as a linebacker, is likely the team's best player. Before Orduna's season was cut short last year due to a serious leg injury, he was the MVP of Rancho's freshmen and JV teams.

“I'm pretty confident,” Orduna said of the offense. “We seemed to put it all together last week. I think we're going to have some pretty explosive games.”

Orduna says the Cougars intend to pass more this season. If so, that might quiet some of the murmurs of discontent Conroy hears each year.

Not that he cares what people say about an offense that's helped lead his program to a 117-60-5 record the past 16 years.

“People will ask ‘What's balance on offense?'” Conroy said. “I tell them, ‘That's when you have a running back that runs for 1,000 yards and a fullback that runs for 1,000 yards.”

SELECT COMPANY
Rancho Cotate's triple-option offense is headlined by junior quarterback Poueu Peleti-Gore, junior running back Brian Dworkin and senior fullback Sergio Orduna this season. Cougars coach Ed Conroy says the trio has the potential to be among the best in his 20 years at the school. Here's a look at some of Rancho's past stars:

1994: Damon Smith (1,260 yards) and Chris Stevens (1,241), who signed with BYU, became the first Empire teammates to both gain over 1,000 yards. They were also the first to finish first and second among the area's rushing leaders. Quarterback Ben Morie was a first-team All-Empire selection.

1998: Fullback Mark Hedeen, who signed with Washington State, and running back Jaamal Wright both rushed for over 1,000 yards.

2002: Fullback Blake Robinson and running back Gary Calinan combined to rush for 1,893 yards and 34 TDs.

- Eric Branch, The Press Democrat


You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com

..........................................................................







CENTRAL CATHOLIC 36, CARDINAL NEWMAN 12
Cardinals crash in opener.
Central Catholic scores 3 TDs in 97 seconds to pull away from Newman


By ERIC BRANCH
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Saturday, September 12, 2009


FOLSOM In a head-spinning span of 97 seconds here Saturday night, the Battle at the Capital became the Flogging in Folsom.


In a season-opening meeting of state powers, Cardinal Newman committed turnovers on three straight third-quarter possessions and poof any chance of beating Central Catholic of Modesto went up in smoke in a 36-12 loss at Folsom High.

For the Cardinals, who entered on an 18-game regular-season winning streak, it was no doubt a shock to the system. Cardinal Newman had averaged 39.8 points in its past 50 regular-season games and hadn't scored less than 14 points during that span.

We got this game because of what Central Catholic has done in their past and what we've done in our past, Cardinals coach Paul Cronin said. We probably disappointed this event because we didn't come to play.

Playing in the third of four games during the daylong Battle at the Capital, Cardinal Newman-Central Catholic was billed as the marquee event. The programs had represented Northern California in the past three Division III state-title games Newman advancing in '06 and '08 and both were ranked among the top three in CalHiSports' Northern California Division III preseason rankings.

For the better part of three quarters, the play was sloppy the teams combined to commit 19 penalties by halftime but there was still plenty of suspense.

With three minutes left in the third quarter, the Raiders led 10-6. But less than two minutes later following two interceptions and a fumble by Newman deep its own territory Central Catholic led, 29-6.

Game. Set. Match.

When stuff like that happens it's because of bad play-calling or bad execution, Cronin said. Put those two together and the other team can put (19) points on the board in a hurry.

With 4:20 left in the third quarter and the Raiders leading 10-6, Newman appeared to make a momentum-shifting play. On fourth-and-inches at the Cardinals' 3, Newman stuffed Central Catholic quarterback Dylan Swartz on a quarterback sneak.

A harbinger of good things to come? Hardly.

On the next play, Cardinals senior quarterback Jack James had his pass intercepted by Central Catholic safety Billy Flamion. Four plays later, Swartz drilled C.J. Carson on an 8-yard touchdown pass for a 17-6 lead.

Two plays later, Raiders safety Jack Killian intercepted James and returned the pick 40 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown and a 23-6 lead.

Finally, on Newman's first play of its next drive, James lost a fumble at the Cardinals' 28. Three plays later, Swartz drilled Killian with a 27-yard scoring pass for a 29-6 lead.

Eleven plays. Ninety-seven seconds. One big migraine for Cardinal Newman.

Those were bad decisions, said James, who completed 17 of 35 passes for 156 yards and tossed a fourth-quarter touchdown. I take full ownership. Those were all my fault.

Newman's season, of course, is hardly over after one loss to a team boasting at least three Division-I prospects in Swartz (10 of 16, 150 yards, 3 TDs) and linemen Matthew Galas and Tyler Lee. But the defeat offered plenty for the Cardinals to review with a home date against Del Oro, another state juggernaut, looming next week.

After three quarters, the Cardinals had managed just 148 yards and had more penalties (13) than points (6). Those are odd numbers for a program that entered with five losses in the past three years. And James, minutes after the final gun, appeared ready to begin making amends.

Next week, he said, I know we're going to be working our butts off.

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.
BOX SCORECentral Catholic 36, Cardinal Newman 12

AT FOLSOM

Cardinal Newman330612
Central Catholic01019736

CN Christian Rencken 41 FG
CC Sebastian Hernandez 40 FG
CN Rencken 27 FG
CC C.J. Carson 24 pass from Dylan Swartz (Hernandez kick)
CC Carson 8 pass from Swartz (Hernandez kick)
CC Jack Killian 40 interception return (kick blocked)
CC Killian 27 pass from Swartz (pass failed)
CN Evan Merritt 5 pass from Jack James (pass failed)
CC Craig Jones 2 run (Hernandez kick)

Rushing, CN: James 22-53, Steven Stout 6-7. CC: Jones 4-29, Billy Flamion 8-24, Steel Rocha 12-24, Darien Edwards 3-17.

Passing, CN: James 17-35-2-156. CC: Swartz 10-16-0-150 .

Receiving, CN: Chris Reuter 6-65, Bryson Dumont 4-85, Stout 4-11, Merritt 4-6. CC: Carson 4-58, Hernandez 3-40, Flamion 2-35, Killian 1-27.

Records: CN 0-1, CC 1-0.
..........................................................................






Stakes are high in Cardinal Newman opener...

No. 2 Newman to battle No. 3 Catholic Central at ‘Battle at the Capital'


By ERIC BRANCH
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, September 11, 2009

If recent history is any guide, the road to Carson will begin today in Folsom.


For the fifth straight year, the Cardinal Newman football team will open its season against Central Catholic of Modesto, a bit like starting Algebra III with the final exam.

Yes, it's only Week 1, but the stakes are big.

In fact, Saturday's showdown between state powers at Folsom High — part of a one-day, four-game prep-football smorgasbord billed as the “Battle at the Capital” — could determine which Northern California school earns a berth in the Division III state championship game in Carson in December.

But Newman coach Paul Cronin isn't thinking about taking his team to the Home Depot Center for the third time in four years.

“I don't think of it that way and hopefully our coaches and players don't either,” Cronin said. “I look at it like it's Game 1, and the first game is already nerve-wracking enough. When you start to throw in all this other stuff, it becomes unbearable.”

And in the past few years, both the Cardinals and Raiders have been nearly unbeatable.

Cardinal Newman, ranked No. 2 in CalHiSports' Division III Northern California rankings, has a 37-5-1 record since 2006, enters on an 18-game regular-season winning streak and advanced to the Division III state-title game in 2006 and ‘08.

Central Catholic, ranked No. 3, has a 34-5-1 record since 2006, has won 17 of its past 18 regular-season games and reached the Division III state-championship game in 2007.

The Raiders return 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback Dylan Swartz, a senior who is being recruited by San Diego State and Idaho after throwing for 2,057 yards and 22 touchdowns last year. Swartz will be protected by a pair of behemoth offensive linemen in Matthew Galas (6-2, 270) and Tyler Lee (6-3, 275). Galas, whose brother, Dominic, plays at Cal, has been offered a scholarship from UNLV. Lee is being recruited by San Jose State.

Central Catholic coach Roger Canepa says it's not easy diving headfirst into the season. But he says a senior like Swartz, who started in the state-title game against St. Bonaventure as a sophomore, makes the task less daunting.

“Obviously, you're happy when you have a guy that's already been a starter for one-and-a-half years going into the season,” Canepa said. “It's a good feeling.”

Cardinal Newman will counter with senior quarterback Jack James, a former wide receiver who will be making his first varsity start at the position. The Cardinals also return seven other players who were part- or full-time starters on last year's 13-1 team, including two-way starters in OL/DL Tucker Maggio-Hucek, WR/DB Chris Reuter and RB/LB Steven Stout.

It looks promising on paper. But Cronin says he won't really find out about his team until the games begin. And playing Central Catholic can help foreshadow the type of season to come.

In last year's season opener, for example, the Cardinals trailed the Raiders, 14-3, at halftime before roaring back for a 38-20 win. They didn't stop rolling until they reached Carson three months later.

“The character of that group showed up,” Cronin said. “They had a lot of adversity. They went into halftime trailing 14-3 and they could have been pointing fingers. But they came out in the second half and took control.”

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.
AT A GLANCE
Cardinal Newman (0-0) vs. Central Catholic (0-0)

Time: 5 p.m.

Location: Folsom High School

TV: Comcast Hometown Network

Notable: Central Catholic has 34 players on its roster. Cardinal Newman has 49 ... Central Catholic junior RB Billy Flamion is expected to take snaps from the “Wildcat” formation. Flamion had 353 yards on 42 carries as a sophomore ... Raiders senior QB Dylan Swartz threw two interceptions and no TDs against Newman last year. He threw 22 TDs and 6 INTs in Central Catholic's other 12 games ... Newman has a 2-1-1 record against Central Catholic since 2005 ... Folsom High has a 6,000-seat stadium with a synthetic-turf field.

Number to note — .877: Combined winning percentage (71-10-2) of the two schools since 2006.

TODAY'S GAMES

Large schools

Analy at Piner, 1 p.m.

Cardinal Newman vs. Central Catholic (Folsom High, “Battle at the Capital”), 5 p.m. (“Battle at the Capital” schedule: 11 a.m. — Franklin vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco; 2 p.m. — Granite Bay vs. Pittsburg; 8 p.m. — Del Oro vs. California of San Ramon).

Redwood at Windsor (Santa Rosa High), 7:30 p.m.

Small schools

Round Valley at Point Arena, 2 p.m.
..........................................................................








Gaucho, Wildcat coaches to make their debuts

By ERIC BRANCH
PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, September 10, 2009

Casa Grande's Trent Herzog and Ukiah's Jeff Schueller will be debuting as varsity head coaches tonight when the Gauchos host the Wildcats.

Ukiah (0-0) at Casa Grande (0-0), 7:30 p.m.Notable: The Wildcats return just two starters on offense and one on defense from last years 8-3 edition ... Ukiah senior QB Chad Pittman will be making his varsity debut at the position after playing LB last year ... Casa Grande RB Kahlil Keys carried the ball on 59 percent of the Gauchos rushing attempts in 08.
Number to note: 0, combined years of varsity head-coaching experience for Casa Grande coach Trent Herzog and Ukiah coach Jeff Schueller.
The pick: Casa Grande 35, Ukiah 14

So the coaches have that in common. But the teams they're leading couldn't be much different.

Call this one Speed vs. Power. Or maybe Flash vs Force. Casa Grande is headlined by a plethora of talent at the skill positions, including all-Empire running back Kahlil Keys and highly touted junior quarterback Nick Sherry. In contrast, Ukiah is being made in the image of Schueller, a longtime offensive line coach who believes his underdog team must play keep-away tonight if it has any chance to win.

I think that's where it's going to have to come from for us, Schueller said. We're going to have to run the ball and be a little more blue-collar team. We're going to have to control the clock and keep it away from their offense because they have a lot of weapons on that side of the ball.

Said Herzog, It will be our athletes and speed against their big guys on the line.

It should be noted that Casa Grande won't exactly be all finesse. Herzog will remain the Gauchos defensive coordinator, a position he's held for the past eight years, and Casa Grande figures to showcase the same rugged defense that's helped produce seven Sonoma County League titles since 2000.

But a high-powered offense tends to overshadow a stingy defense. And the Gauchos could have just the attack to steal some headlines.

Among the weapons are returning starters in Keys, who rushed for 1,282 yards last year, and wide receiver Conner Waggoner (20 catches, 276 yards). In addition, the Gauchos will add explosive junior running back Javonnie Oden and Sherry, a 6-foot-4, 210-pounder who is being viewed as a Division I prospect before taking his first varsity snap.

I think our offense is really going to be one of our strong points, Waggoner said. We have so many athletes. I think we're going to be one of the fastest teams in our league.

On a team filled with fleet feet, Oden and Keys are the fastest. The 5-10, 165-pound Oden made his varsity debut in the regular-season finale against El Molino last year and rushed for 124 yards and five carries and scored on a 70-yard run.

Oden and Keys figure to create quite a duo, but Schueller knows Sherry can create headaches of his own after watching the Gauchos' scrimmage against Cardinal Newman last week. Sherry has been offered a scholarship by Div. I-AA Sacramento State.

He's pretty cool, Schueller said. He had guys draped all over him and it didn't seem to bother him back there. He's pretty legit. He has great presence in the pocket.

Schueller made a discovery of his own in the Wildcats' scrimmage against Rancho Cotate, Maria Carrillo and Hogan. Running back Aric Cordell, a 5-7, 170-pound junior, rushed for over 100 yards on about nine carries while displaying surprising strength.

Cordell, of course, will likely play a vital role if Ukiah succeeds in playing keep-away tonight.

We knew he was pretty quick, Schueller said. But he's also a pretty powerful kid.

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com
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Grant opens season with rout of Montgomery..

By Joe Davidson
jdavidson@sacbee.com

Published: Saturday, Sep. 5, 2009 -

Mike Alberghini was curious to find out what his latest edition of the Grant Pacers would have to offer this high school football season.

Big guys with big hair in the trenches? A given, as Alberghini, the 19th-year coach, has long had a surplus of proud Polynesian movers and bruisers. And skill players? Plenty of those, always. But where to put them, how to use them and what to expect as a whole? Alberghini cracked that he never has to worry about entering a Kentucky Derby with a mule, though he has something of a workhorse back with thoroughbred speed and mule reliability and grit.

Senior tailback Devontae Butler rushed for 212 yards and four touchdowns in three quarters of work Friday night, and the top-ranked Pacers overwhelmed Montgomery of Santa Rosa 42-0 in a season opener in Del Paso Heights.

Typical Grant, the Pacers were too fast, too physical and too inspired to be stalled as the defending Open Division state champions kicked off another season of great expectations. And typical Grant, the Pacers always are a work in progress early in the season, with too many penalties, too many near-miss touchdowns, too many reasons to raise the ire of their coaches. Butler had a beauty of an 80-yard touchdown burst called back in the third quarter, but all in all, the pieces are in place for another title run. So says the coach, and so say the players.

"We're all ready," said Viliami Moala, Grant's 330-pound two-way lineman who absolutely flattened players. "We want more of the same. We just lack experience, but we'll get better and better."

Grant returned just two starters from its 14-0 team that finished ranked No. 6 in the country, the highest such finish for a local team since Cordova was fifth in 1979, well before any state bowl games. But the returnees are centerpiece leaders Butler and Moala. Butler ran for 1,964 yards and 37 touchdowns a year ago, and Moala has become a national recruit since he dominated in the state title game against national No. 2 Long Beach Poly.

"I have to be a leader now," Moala said. "I like it. I'm following in the footsteps of (2008 Grant stars) Jeremiah Toma and Alesana Laban. They gave me the motivation to be a leader."

The newcomers include sophomore Shaq Thompson, brother of Cal All-America cornerback Syd Thompson. Shaq scored on a 20-yard run and returned an interception 51 yards to set up a score.

Butler worked behind an offensive line of Moala, Tuungusipa Fisiiahi, Adrian Hill, Darryl Paulo and Puka Lopa (with reserves in Filipo Sau and Bernard Wilson). Lopa, Moala, Paulo and Butler also keyed a defense that yielded just 24 first-half yards.

Per the tradition of Alberghini's six Sac-Joaquin Section championship teams, a showcase runner has been paramount. Butler said he wants to chase down some of the gaudy numbers produced by Pacers legend Onterrio Smith a decade ago when he set Northern California rushing and scoring records. It's not brash, his teammates and coaches say.

"It's confidence," Alberghini said. "The great players are like that. They want the ball.

"Butler is something else. He's a quiet Onterrio."

Though he overthrew some and had other passes dropped, Grant quarterback Glenn Deary showed promise. And he has speed receivers in Ronald Fields, Dezmon Epps and Thompson, also a superb defender.
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2008...2008...2008...2008...2008...2008...2008...2008...2008...2008...2008




Ranchos Allen leads rout against Piner,
QB rushes for two scores, throws for another and returns pick for a TD.
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Saturday, November 8, 2008

Cody Allen rushed for two touchdowns, threw for another and returned an interception for a score to lead Rancho Cotate to 63-7 North Bay League win at Piner on Saturday.

Allen rushed for 150 yards on 13 carries and had touchdowns runs of 62 and 1 yard. He also tossed a 11-yard pass to Anthony Alicea and had a 30-yard interception return.

Allen has rushed for 655 yards, scored eight touchdowns and had five interceptions this season.

The Cougars rushed for 465 yards and had 518 total yards to improve to 8-1 and 5-1 in the NBL.

Rancho Cotate was coming off a 42-7 loss to unbeaten Cardinal Newman a team Cougars coach Ed Conroy hopes to see again.

I dont think we played particularly well against them, but it is what it is. We lost the game, Conroy said. Our goal is to finish out the season, get in the playoffs and see Cardinal Newman and give our kids a chance.

Anthony Bernard had 61 rushing yards and scored on runs of 20, 3 and 11 yards. Wayne Capers scored Ranchos final two touchdowns on 11- and 27-yard runs.

The Cougars will finish the regular season by hosting Santa Rosa (3-6, 2-4) next week.

If we have a nine-win (regular) season weve had a great season, Conroy said. Thats obviously what were hoping to do.


AT PINER
Rancho Cotate 14 21 14 14 63
Piner 7 0 0 0 7
P-Logan Still 28 yard pass to Andrew Flohr (Kameron Rose Kick)
RC-Cody Allen 62 yard run (Eduardo Farias Kick)
RC-Anthony Bernard 20 yard run (Farias Kick)
RC-Allen 30 yard Interception Return (Farias Kick)
RC-Bernard 3 yard run (Farias Kick)
RC-Allen 11 yard pass to Anthony Alicea (Farias Kick)
RC-Allen 1 yard run (Farias Kick)
RC-Bernard 11 yard run (Farias Kick)
RC-Wayne Capers 11 yard run (Farias Kick)
RC-Capers 27 yard run (Farias Kick)
Records: Rancho Cotate 8-1, 5-1 NBL; Piner 2-7, 1-5 NBL
Notes: Rancho Cotate-Rushing: Allen 13-150-2 TDs, Bernard 7-61-3 TDs, Capers 4-64-2 TDs.
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And then there was one...
Cardinals down Cougars, emerge as last unbeaten big school in Empire
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT


Published: Friday, October 31, 2008

ROHNERT PARK, Rancho Cotate was on the Cardinal Newman 1-yard line with time running out in the first half. A touchdown and the Cougars would trail by only seven points, in a half dominated by the Cardinals.


Two runs up the middle were snuffed by Newmans defense, the Cougars didnt score and that was pretty much game, set, match.

Newman, the only undefeated large school left in the Redwood Empire, won handily on Halloween, 42-7.

Theyre the best team around, conceded Rancho Cotate coach Ed Conroy, who took the blame for his team not scoring at the end of the first half.

We never got untracked offensively and their defense did a tremendous job. We knew we needed to throw, but we didnt always read the blitz and Cody (Allen) was running for his life.

Stars for Newman? As usual there was a mixed batch.

Joe Ferguson caught and ran 30 yards for a touchdown on the first series of the game.

Then, after Rancho scored on a 59-yard pass play from Allen to Matt Egelhoff early in the second quarter, Ferguson returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a score. Most impressive? Ferguson may have been touched slightly by a couple of his own linemen as he flew through the blocking wedge, but he was untouched by Rancho Cotate defenders.

Ferguson also scored untouched on an 8-yard run early in the third quarter.

Jeff Badger led the Cardinals with 14 tackles from his linebacker position, intercepted a backward pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown, and led Newman with 81 yards rushing on 10 carries.

And the score could have been even more one-sided if officials hadnt ruled that Badger fumbled into the end zone on a 47-yard run in the opening period. Badger said he thought he touched the pylon and fumbled at the half-yard line.

Pick a Newman starting defender and more than likely you have a standout.

With the game already decided, Blake Ratto made three straight tackles and then picked up a fumble and returned it 33 yards for a final touchdown.

Asked about the Newman defense, Badger said, I think we were extra focused this week in practice. Badger said there were certain players to key on, in Ranchos triple-option offense and everyone handled their assignments.

Of the interception, Badger said, I was blitzing, just looked up and the ball was there.

Newman is now 8-0 and the only undefeated team in the North Bay League at 5-0. The Cardinals, ranked 24th in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and the top-rated Division III school in Northern California, finishes the regular season with NBL games against Ukiah and Maria Carrillo.

Rancho Cotate is now 7-1 and 4-1 in the NBL.

Things didnt look good from the opening kickoff for Rancho. Newman won the toss and as it normally does, opted for direction, wanting to get its defense on the field first. The decision also had Rancho punting into a stiff wind. So the Cardinals started their first scoring drive on the Ranchs 37-yard line. They started their next drive on the Cougars 46, and thats when Badger appeared headed for a score, but was ruled to have fumbled into the end zone.

Newmans offensive numbers werent as gaudy as usual probably because Newmans defense was on the field more, the Cardinals scoring off big plays.

Newman quarterback Randy Wright attempted only 10 passes, completing seven for 103 yards. Casey Miller led with five catches for 64 yards. Miller also had an interception in the third quarter.

They just did a tremendous job, said Conroy, who echoed most of Newmans opposing coaches this season. Now its whether we lay down or pick ourselves up.

Game Recap
1. After closing the gap to 14-7 on QB Cody Allens 59-yard TD pass to Matt Egelhoff in the second quarter, Rancho Cotates home crowd was energized. The momentum was short-lived, however. Cardinal Newmans Joe Ferguson took the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead.

2. With Cardinal Newman leading 21-7, Rancho Cotate drove 66 yards to the Cardinals 2-yard line with less than a minute left before halftime. On 3rd-and-goal from the 2, Cougars QB Cody Allen gained a yard. On 4th-and-goal, Allen was stuffed for no gain. That was huge, Newman defensive coordinator Dennis Bruno said. Twenty-one to 7 is a lot better than 21-14.

Stars of the Game

Cardinal Newman RB/LB Jeff Badger had 81 rushing yards and scored on a 1-yard run. He also had 14 tackles and returned an interception 22 yards for a score.

Newman RB/LB Joe Ferguson scored on an 8-yard run, a 30-yard pass and a 93-yard kickoff return.

Cardinal Newman WR/DB Casey Miller had 5 catches for 64 yards and added an interception.

Cardinals DL Jonathan Steele had two sacks.

Eric Branch, The Press Democrat..


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Cardinals, Cougars collide in Halloween confrontation
Two undefeated teams meet in critical North Bay League contest
By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER


Published: Friday, October 31, 2008 at

No pun intended, but tonights football Halloween bash featuring undefeated Cardinal Newman and Rancho Cotate could be scary good.


Neither team has stumbled yet in seven games, mainly because they are loaded with talent, from Newmans dynamic backfield and precision passing game to Rancho Cotates hard-charging defensive line and deceptive running game.

And even should it rain tonight, the North Bay League contest will be held on Ranchos new synthetic field, making it almost a moot point. Perhaps the wet stuff will cut down on an estimated crowd of 3,000, but dont count on it.

Ukiah coach Chris Burris saw Rancho Cotate up close last week, his team losing in the final minutes, 35-32. Ukiah still has to play Newman, but Burris has seen enough of the Cardinals to know they’re very good.

I know Ranchos big line can wear you down, No. 77 (Adam Murray) blocked three of our guys on one play, Burris said. But the offense might be too one-dimensional. Youve got to be able to sustain drives against Newman and keep the ball away from Newmans offense.

Montgomery has played both Rancho and Newman and gave Newman its first test on turf last week. The Cardinals came alive in the third quarter with 28 points and nearly hit their game average of 46 points.

Theyre just so precise on offense, Franci said of Newman. Theyre the best balanced team.

Burris and Franci both say Rancho could win and both agree that ball control is the favorable method for achieving victory against the Cardinals.

Newman is going to score, Franci said. You have to keep the ball out of their hands as much as possible, Burris added.

Cardinal Newman coach Paul Cronin said hes not emphasizing closing in on a league championship with a victory or staying unbeaten.

We just like playing good teams and Rancho is a very good team, Cronin said.

Cronin is in his sixth season at Newman. His first year, 2003, was the last time the Cardinals lost to the Cougars, 25-20. Since then, Newman has won six times, including twice last year and in 2005 when the two met in the regular season and the playoffs. Included was a 26-23 Cardinal Newman win in overtime in the 2005 playoffs and last years 26-7 win in the North Coast Section 3A Redwood Empire championship game.

Rancho coach Ed Conroy agrees that ball control and using time on the clock are key tonight. In tonights game, turnovers are worse than getting egged.

I think were bigger and with the speed element we can match up, Conroy said. Their running backs scare the heck out of me.

Conroy believes hes got to mix up coverages on defense and, as difficult as it may be, put pressure on Newman quarterback Randy Wright, who is completing 70 percent of his passes, but can also run the ball.

Ranchos defensive line of ends Jonathon Torres and Anthony Alicea and tackles Murray and Bud Guinn have helped the Ranch post 42 sacks in seven games. Torres and Alicea have 10 each.

Torres and Alicea also try and push run plays toward the middle, for the 6-7, 310-pound Murray and the 6-3, 295-pound Guinn.

Conversely, while Newmans defense, particularly its line is not as big, the Cardinals are quick to the ball and rarely is it just one defender making the tackle.

Jeff Badger and Joe Ferguson, Newmans 1-2 running punch, also are top tacklers as linebackers.

The only ones maybe not looking forward to the game is Cronins children. They want to know why dad cant go trick or treating.

You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@pressdemocrat.com.


SCHEDULES
CARDINAL NEWMAN (7-0)
Date Opponent Result
9/13 Central Catholic W, 38-20
9/20 at Del Oro W, 52-25
9/26 Palma W, 34-33
10/03 at Elsie Allen W, 63-0
10/10 Piner W, 49-0
10/17 Santa Rosa W, 40-0
10/24 at Montgomery W, 42-14
Tonight at Rancho Cotate 7:30 p.m.
11/07 Ukiah 7 p.m.
11/14 at Maria Carrillo 7:30 p.m.

RANCHO COTATE (7-0)
Date Opponent Result
9/12 Terra Linda W, 56-10
9/19 Bethel W, 27-6
9/27 Petaluma W, 14-7
10/03 Montgomery W, 33-0
10/11 at Maria Carrillo W, 41-19
10/17 Elsie Allen W, 58-0
10/24 at Ukiah W, 35-32
Tonight Cardinal Newman 7:30 p.m.
11/08 at Piner TBA
11/14 Santa Rosa 1 p.m.

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NORTH BAY LEAGUE
Cardinals, Cougars in battle of unbeatens
RANCHO COTATE: No time to savor last-minute victory at Ukiah
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT


Published: Tuesday, October 28, 2008

In the pros, a football victory is probably savored for a few hours.


Rancho Cotate maybe had a day to celebrate its last-minute win at previously unbeaten Ukiah Friday night.

Next up for the unbeaten No. 2-ranked Cougars (7-0), and he unbeaten No. 1-ranked Cardinal Newman (7-0). The winner takes over sole possession of the North Bay League lead.

Its shaping up as a game with as much entertainment value as the best Halloween party, and a crowd of about 3,000 is expected in Rohnert Park.

That was a great win for us, but as coaches, when you look back at the films there are things we should have done differently, said Rancho head coach Ed Conroy. We were lucky to win.

It took a screen pass and 60-yard touchdown run by sophomore Brian Dworkin with less than a minute to go for Rancho to defeat Ukiah, 35-32.

As difficult a time as Ukiah quarterback Kyle Morris gave the Cougars he passed for 260 yards and two TDs Newmans balanced offense can cause a fright a minute.

We know we have to control the clock and the ball, Conroy said.

Newmans offense is so precise. If he (quarterback Randy Wright) doesnt throw to one receiver, he just picks out another one. Hes agile too. Its hard to put pressure on him and its hard to make him hold the ball. Plus, they probably have the two best running backs (Jeff Badger and Joe Ferguson).

Ranchos strengths are running out of its triple option offense and the size and strength of its offensive and defensive lines.

Rancho ran for 471 yards, led by Dworkin with 242 yards and quarterback Cody Allen with 142 yards. But it still took the screen pass and long run to win the game.

Defensively, Ranchos veteran line came up with three sacks against Ukiah, but Morris elusiveness probably prevented him from being sacked another five times.

We cant sit in one front the whole game, Conroy said. We are bigger and I think we kind of match up in speed. Well try some different things.

NOTES

Rancho athletics director Henri Sarlatte said the exciting win against Ukiah was all the buzz on campus Monday. He said he expects a capacity crowd of 3,000 Friday on Ranchos new synthetic field and there is also standing room around the track.

Rancho Cotate didnt have a home game last year while the stadium was being rebuilt. It now runs east to west. The old field ran north to south. Comcast will televise the game (channel 400) on a tape delay basis. It will be carried Monday at 7 p.m.

Two injured players, out for a couple weeks, saw some playing time last week and should get more this week linebacker Hambing Li and linebacker Sione Misi. Backup quarterback Poueu Peleti-Gore, also out the last two weeks with an injury, could play.
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With Allen at controls, Rancho's triple option in good hands
Cougars' offense running on all cylinders in past few weeks
By RICH RUPPRECHT
Press Democrat Staff Writer


Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Rancho Cotate senior quarterback Cody Allen runs like a tailback, blocks like a fullback and hits like a strong safety perhaps because during his high school career hes played all those positions and more.


Allen, a 6-foot, 210-pounder who runs 40 yards in 4.7 seconds, hits hard enough to cause fumbles and stiff-arms tacklers to the ground, is playing just his second season at quarterback in the Cougars triple-option offense.

Allen, who played mostly running back and defensive back his freshman and sophomore years, caught the eye of Rancho Cotate head coach Ed Conroy when the latter was looking for QB candidates before last season.

We try to find a kid who fits the system, Conroy said. Cody is smart, plays hard and hes a very good athlete.

We feel confident, Allen said about Fridays game, against Cardinal Newman. We need to control the ball and eat up yards and take away the big play.

Last week, Allen rushed for 148 yards, pitched to tailback Brian Dworkin, who ran for 242 yards, found Dworkin on a game-winning, 60-yard swing pass and sealed a 35-32 win against Ukiah with an interception in the end zone. Rancho and Newman are both 7-0.

Cody Allen is perfect for their offense, said Ukiah coach Chris Burris. He runs it so well. He knows when to give the ball to the fullback, when to keep it and when to pitch it to the tailback.

While Allen seems born to play football some might say born to run Ranchos option considering hes lived his entire life in B section in Rohnert Park hes tried a lot of sports, including baseball and soccer, but hasnt liked any more than football.

Allen began played baseball when he was 5, but stopped playing following an injury his freshman year at Rancho. Football teammate Anthony Bernard was batting while Allen attempted to steal home. Unaware Allen was headed to the plate, Bernard swung and hit Allen in the face with the batted ball. Allen broke his nasal cavity, nose and cheekbone.

Allen said he focused on football after that. As a freshman, he starred as a fleet running back and defensive back. He did the same as a sophomore on junior varsity.

Allen has his own personal fan club at all Rancho home games. In addition to his mom Margo and dad Shawn, there are six disabled adults who live with the Allens, who run Kennemer Homes care facilities in Rohnert Park. All come to the games and root hard for Cody who, in turn, said, My mom is my hero.

Conroy said it didnt take a genius to figure out Allen could play quarterback.

Hes fast enough and strong, Conroy said. Hes probably our most powerful runner and very elusive.

Conroy identified one of Allens signature plays this season as a touchdown run against Petaluma, during which Allen stiff-armed the tackler to the ground.

While Allen and Dworkin have combined for nearly 1,300 yards rushing, its only been the last few weeks in which Ranchos triple option has been running on all cylinders.

Conroy said Ranchos defense, particularly the line, played so well early that a lot of offense wasnt needed. Also, Allen is the only returning starter among the skill positions.

I think early, Cody shouldered the responsibility, Conroy said. It was like, Ill get it done myself.

Now, with the emergence of the sophomore Dworkin (a 5-foot-7, 150-pound rocket) and the return from injury of Bernard, the fullback, there are more options in the Rancho triple option.

Rancho can surprise opponents with a pass, but Allen is only 20-of-52 throwing and Ranchos offense is geared toward the run.

Defensively, Allen leads the Cougars with four interceptions and has returned two for TDs. Colleges have shown interest in Allen the defensive back.

Hes also proud of the fact hes never missed a practice or game because of injury. Conroy calls him Iron Man.

Allen is an intense competitor, but talks calmly about needing to be able to read Newmans defense correctly. He determines whether the fullback gets the ball or whether he or the tailback get it by making the decision in a split second.

His team never has beaten a Newman team (Newman has won the past six meetings, including playoffs. Rancho last defeated Newman, 25-20, in 2003). He doesnt hate Newman, however. In fact, he sends text messages to Newman star running back/linebacker Jeff Badger just to ask how the latters game went.

This is my championship game, Allen said. This game is probably for the league title.

Allen attended the Newman/Palma game, won by Newman on a Randy Wright touchdown pass on the last play of the game.

It was real exciting, Allen said. After that, everyone was saying Newman is unbeatable. I just feel if we play like were capable of, if we block and run correctly, we can be unbeatable.

You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@press

democrat.com.
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Newman's dynamic duo thrives with unselfishness
Running backs Jeff Badger and Joe Ferguson root for each other's success
By ERIC BRANCH
Press Democrat Staff Writer


Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Cardinal Newman seniors Jeff Badger and Joe Ferguson, who first met 10 years ago as Pop Warner rivals, are often referred to as Salt and Pepper.



The nickname is a nod to their skin color Badger is white and Ferguson is black. But beyond that, it hints at something else: These guys just go together. Everywhere.

They play the same positions. They take the same classes. They study together. They stretch together. They spend the night at each others house. They get together after Saturday practices and do drills together. Ferguson, the more elsuive running back, will show Badger how to burst out of a defenders grasp. Badger, the more bruising runner, will demonstrate how to deliver a blow into a would-be tackler.

When first asked about Badger, Ferguson doesnt hesitate.

That guy, he said, hes my brother.

Their tight-knit relationship is a huge reason a potential source of friction has become a source of seemingly endless yards and touchdowns for the Cardinals, who enter Friday nights showdown at Rancho Cotate with a 7-0 record, thanks to huge contributions from two of their biggest stars.

Badger and Ferguson, both of whom also play linebacker, not only share a history. They also share carries. And tackles. And glory.

But they also share the same outlook: Who cares?

They are both completely unselfish and theyre really great friends, Newman quarterback Randy Wright said. They push each other, but they could care less who gets the touchdowns. It definitely sets the tone. If they were selfish and they were getting into fights and arguments, it would make things hard. But people look at them and say Hey, thats unselfish. I want to do the same thing.

On a team averaging 45.4 points and 419.7 yards a game, Badger and Ferguson have done much of the heavy lifting.

The 6-foot, 210-pound Badger has 612 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and averages 10.7 yards a carry. The 5-9, 200-pound Ferguson has 406 rushing yards and seven touchdowns and averages 8.1 yards carry.

Throw in their receiving totals and they have combined for 1,541 yards 52 percent of Newmans yardage this season and have scored 20 of the Cardinals 41 offensive touchdowns.

In addition, they rank first and second on the team in tackles Badger has 28 and Ferguson has 27.

They play the same positions, but its not Im better than you, or I had more carries or yards, Cardinals coach Paul Cronin said. They cheer for each other and they support each other. A lot of times you have stars in that position and its not like that.

Nearly a decade ago, however, Badger and Ferguson were on opposite sides in a Pop Warner playoff game.

And in the final seconds, Badger, a tight end, ran by Ferguson, a linebacker, and caught a long touchdown pass to give the Windsor Knights a win over the Santa Rosa Stallions and a berth in the Pop Warner title game.

Asked if Badger still reminds him about the play, Ferguson laughs.

Oh yeah, he said. Every day.

Now, years later, instead of competing, Badger and Ferguson complement each other. And in the process, they have adopted traits thats helped make the other successful.

For example, Ferguson, a small, darting runner during his Pop Warner days, has added a ruggedness to his running style. And Badger, previously a straight-ahead, bulldozing back, has run a 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds.

Hes become more of a power back, Badger said. And he says Im getting faster.

In other words, they have made each other better.

Thats what friends are for.

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.
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CARDINAL NEWMAN 42, MONTGOMERY 14
Vikings stay close before Cardinals shake free
Top-ranked Newman routs Montgomery, thanks to 28-third-quarter points
Eric Branch
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER


Published: Friday, October 24, 2008

After two quarters Friday night, it appeared the cliche regarding cross-town football rivalries would hold true.

Indeed, it seemed, you could throw out the records whenever Cardinal Newman and Montgomery got together.

But then the third quarter started.

And forget about the records.

You could throw out any suspense.

In a stunning display of force and domination, heavily favored Cardinal Newman scored 28 points in a nine-minute span of the third quarter to cruise to a 42-14 win against host Montgomery.

From a nail-biter to a no-doubter.

Just like that.

We played with them in the first half, said Montgomery coach Jason Franci. And in the third quarter they showed us just how good they really are.

The Cardinals (7-0, 4-0 in NBL) entered averaging 46 points per game and had outscored its first three league opponents 152-0. Meanwhile, Montgomery (1-5-1, 1-3), a team with eight seniors and 34 underclassmen, hardly seemed to be the opponent to get in the way of Newmans dream season.

But the halftime score Newman 14, Montgomery 7 suggested otherwise.

The Vikings outgained the Cardinals 102-99 in the first half and took the momentum into intermission with a 14-play, 88-yard drive capped by James Berthiniers 1-yard run with 37 seconds left in the second quarter.

It was Montgomery-Newman, a big rivalry game, and our guys were really excited, Newman coach Paul Cronin said. We didnt do a very good job of doing the right thing. We just did everything very aggressive out there. Sometimes you just have to go out and relax. I think thats what happened.

The Vikings might be still trying to figure out what happened.

The Cardinals took the second-half kickoff and went on a 3-play, 70-yard, 76-second drive highlighted by Jeff Badgers 58-yard scamper and capped by Joe Fergusons 7-yard run. Newman 21, Montgomery 7.

Five minutes later, quarterback Randy Wright ran 74 yards around right end after faking a dive play to Badger. Newman 28, Montgomery 7.

Two minutes later, Wright threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Wade Amaral. Newman 35, Montgomery 7.

Finally, 17 seconds later, Casey Miller scooped up a fumble and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. Newman 42, Montgomery 7.

The final tally: Eight offensive plays, 216 yards and 28 points in 8 minutes, 54 seconds.

When we get in a rhythm, Cronin said. We can score points at will.

The running back tandem of Badger and Ferguson accounted for much of the damage.

Badger had 123 yards on 14 carries while Ferguson added 69 yards on 11 carries and scored on runs of 8, 5 and 7 yards.

We came out fired up in the second half, Badger said. We just said Lets go out and put some points on the board and show them that we can play.

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com

AT MONTGOMERY
Cardinal Newman14 0 28 0 42
Montgomery 0 7 0 7 14
CN Joe Ferguson 8 run (Randy Wright kick)
CN Ferguson 5 run (Wright kick)
M James Berthinier 1 run (Nico Spann kick)
CN Ferguson 7 run (Wright kick)
CN Wright 74 run (Wright kick)
CN Wade Amaral 55 pass from Wright (Wright kick)
CN Casey Miller 23 fumble return (Wright kick)
M Justin Mendoza 26 pass from Max Heller (Spann kick)
Rushing, CN: Jeff Badger 14-123, Ferguson 11-69, Wright 4-60, Teyo Green 2-7, Jack James 4-(-2). M: Heller 12-48, Berthinier 13-33, Alexis Andrade 3-10, Jake Haas 1-7, Alexis Cuidad-Real 1-(-2), Derek Klomhaus 3-(-6). Passing, CN: Wright 7-10-0-91. M: Heller 15-23-1-170, Klomhaus 1-1-0-3. Receiving, CN: Amaral 5-73, Casey Miller 1-15, Badger 1-3. M: Berthinier 5-33, Josh Lafontaine 4-52, Haas 3-19, Mendoza 2-42, Klomhaus 2-27.
Records: CN 7-0, 4-0; M 1-5-1, 1-3.







..........................................................................








RANCHO COTATE 35, UKIAH 32
Cougars win a wild one
Dworkin's 60-yard scoring reception wins it in final minute
By DEWEY FORGET
FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT


Published: Friday, October 24, 2008

UKIAH, Rancho Cotates vaunted running game was everything advertised, but it took a 60-yard pass play in the final minute for the Cougars to pull out a 35-32 North Bay League win against Ukiah on Friday night.


Rancho quarterback Cody Allen, who completed just three passes against an inspired Wildcats team that took an unbeaten record into the game and was looking to improve to 7-0 in front of 2,000 fans, found Brian Dworkin in the right flat with 41 seconds left. Dworkin raced up the sideline almost untouched for the winning touchdown.

It was a screen pass we run a lot, said Dworkin, who ran for 242 yards. I was confident I was going to make it happen.

Said Ukiah coach Chris Burris: We gave it away. We had it won, then they had it won. But if we had tackled on that last play, we would have won it. If we had stopped them on that fourth-down play, we would have won.

The fourth-down play Burris was referring to came in the Cougars final drive on 8-yard carry by Anthony Bernard. It was a gutsy call by Rancho coach Ed Conroy, given the Cougars needed 5 yards to keep the drive and their NBL title hopes alive.

Dworkin, all 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, had a career game. The sophomore had two TD runs of 67 yards, plus a 1-yard score. Allen added another 142 yards running.

Ukiah didnt go away easily after giving up the disheartening late TD. The Wildcats, led by quarterback Kyle Morris, who passed for 240 yards and two scores, drove down the the Cougars 31 with four seconds left. Morris desperation pass was intercepted in the end zone by Allen.

This was an unbelievable game, a great game, said Rancho coach Ed Conroy. We couldnt tackle that No. 7 (Morris). Hes a great athlete. In open space, hes scary.

We knew they were good. Down five with less than two minutes left, we still were having to grind it out. The kids never gave up.

Morris had a 56-yard TD strike to Kyle Mayfield and kept numerous drives alive with completions after scrambling. He added a 12-yard TD pass to Chris Frasier.

As expected, Rancho came out running its triple option to perfection, taking the opening kickoff and going 61 yards with Anthony Bernard bursting up the middle for the final 26 and the touchdown.

The fans hadnt settled back into their seats when Gabe Ott took the ensuing kickoff and rambled 98 yards for a tying TD. Ott, Ukiahs Mr. Everything, kicked the extra point.

The Wildcats took a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter on Marcos Hernandezs 1-yard TD run. The big play in the 43-yard drive was a 30-yard pass completion from Morris to Brett Furman on third-and-15.

Hernandez also had a 3-yard TD run for the Wildcats, who dropped to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in league. Rancho improved to 7-0, 4-0 in the NBL. Hernandez, who averages around 18 carries per game, was held to 22 yards on eight attempts.

Rancho dominated time of possession in the first half and was poised to take a lead into the locker room at the intermission, driving to the Wildcats 18 with two minutes left in the half. Allen, who runs the Cougars offense with unique efficiency, broke over left tackle and bulled his way to the 5. Allen appeared to be going in for a go-ahead TD when Ronnie Green stripped him of the ball. The Wildcats recovered and ran out the clock.

The Rancho defense, sometimes overlooked because of the attention given the Cougars highly rated offense, held Ukiah to 48 yards rushing, and 19 yards came on a fourth-down fake punt by Ott. The Wildcats had only 10 called running plays, most of their yardage coming on broken pass plays.

We thought that would give us a lot of momentum coming into the second half, stopping them like we did, Burris said. It was sort of like we scored and then they would score. It was a funny game where the momentum seemed to be going back and forth the entire game.

Rancho ran for 471 yards. Bernard, running frequently behind tackle-guard Adam Murray, chipped in with 82.

When we need yards, we run behind Adam, Allen said. We have a lot of confidence in him.

Ukiah plays Maria Carrillo on Friday night. Rancho takes on Newman on Friday in a showdown for first place.

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CARDINAL NEWMAN 40, SANTA ROSA 0
Cardinals relentless in easy win...
Newman rolls to 40-0 halftime lead, then coasts to improve to 6-0 overall
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT


Published: Friday, October 17, 2008
Coincidence or not, Cardinal Newman played like a team capable of reaching a state championship game the same week it was ranked the 25th best high school team in California.


Performing about as well as a team can, Newman totaled 402 yards in offense in the first half and built a 40-0 lead at intermission against Santa Rosa Friday night at Ed Lloyd Field. With everybody seeing action in the section half, the final score was also 40-0.

We tried to spread out their defense and take them by surprise, said Santa Rosa coach Russell Ponce. We thought we might pull off a miracle.

As good as Newmans offense was the Cardinals needed just 25 plays to accumulate the 402 first half yards and 16 of the plays were for 10 yards or more its defense was even better.

Against a team that totaled 340 yards last week against Ukiah and has averaged over 200 yards a game rushing, despite a dearth of injuries and missing players, the Panthers managed just 68 yards in the first half.

Its fun to play them, Ponce said. I just wish we could have given them a better game. Theyre a blue collar team that plays their tails off.

One common combination in Newmans last three games has been quarterback Randy Wright throwing to wideout Wade Amaral. It worked three times in the first half, all for touchdowns. Amarals TD receptions went for 46, 31 and 34 yards. It makes three consecutive games Wright has thrown three TD passes to Amaral.

I just throw it and hes (Amaral) been open, said Wright. Its a great system to be in. Our running game has been pretty good and then were able to pass.

All the Newman offensive stars played a part in the first half scoring.

Wright and Amaral hooked up on the 46-yarder in the first quarter and a few minutes later back Joe Ferguson burst through the line and cut to the sideline, going 42 yards for a score. Amarals second TD catch finished the scoring in the first quarter.

Newmans leading rusher, Jeff Badger, opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 34-yard TD run. It was no ordinary run. Badger broke five tackles after bursting through the line, scattering defenders like bowling pins.

Ferguson added a 13-yard TD scamper and the final score was a 34-yard pass from Wright to Amaral.

Wright, who didnt play a down in the second half, was 9-of-13 passing for 215 yards and the three TDs. He now has 18 TD passes and just one interception. Hes also completing 70 percent of his throws.

Ferguson ran six times for 101 yards and Newman rushed for 270 yards.

Cardinal Newman improved to 6-0 and 3-0 in the North Bay League. Santa Rosa is 1-5 and 0-3. Cal-Hi Sports ranked Newman 25th in the state this week. De La Salle of Concord is ranked fourth.

Ponce said Newman looks like a state championship team and hell be rooting for them.

Im proud of our guys; we played hard, but thats a great team. Ill be rooting for them to win state,Santa Rosa has been using a single-wing offense because of its lack of quarterbacks. One problem Friday was Dennis Bruno, Newmans longtime defensive coordinator, played the same offense when he was on the Santa Rosa football team.

Bruno said this years defensive starters may be quicker than last year. For football smarts these kids are good, Bruno said. They make their own checks on the field.

Defensive standouts included linemen Jonathan Steele and Ryan Rodriguez, Ferguson and Badger at linebacker, free safety Jack James (who also quarterbacked in the second half) and cornerback Casey Miller.

Theyre getting a personality, Bruno said of the defense. On Friday, that personality was physical and relentless.

You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@pressdemocrat.com.
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Newman ranked No. 25 in state
I've been working and writing for the PD a long time, and this is the first time I can remember an Empire football team earning a top-25 ranking in the state from Cal-Hi Sports.

Usually our better teams get ranked by division or in Northern California. This week Mark Tennis and Cal-Hi Sports have ranked Cardinal Newman at No. 25 overall. It's probably because in past seasons, even during Newman's state championship appearance in 2006, Newman had a loss or tie in preseason.

The No. 1 team in the state as ranked by Cal-Hi is Poly of Long Beach and De La Salle (4-1) is ranked No. 4.

Bellarmine Prep of San Jose is No. 3, Valley Christian of San Jose is No. 8 at 5-0, Grant of Sacramento (beat Montgomery in season opener) is No. 12 at 6-0, San Ramon Valley, which came from behind to beat Newman last year in the NCS 3A championship game at the Coliseum is No. 18 at 5-0, Gilroy is No. 22 at 5-0, St. John Bosco is No. 23 at 5-0 and Edison of Huntington Beach is No. 24 at 4-1.

Cardinal Newman is also ranked No. 1 in Division III (for state purposes) in Northern California, immediately ahead of Palma and Central Catholic.

If Newman runs the table in the regular season and wins the NCS Div. II championship game, the state championship game committee would have a hard time keeping the Cardinals out of the state title game. And if, and its a big if, Newman were to represent the North, its likely St. Bonaventure (5-0) or Oaks Christian (5-0) will be the opponent from the South. St. Bonaventure is currently ranked sixth in the state and Oaks Christian is not ranked in the top-25.

Pretty heady stuff.
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RANCHO COTATE 41, MARIA CARRILLO 19
Big plays key Rancho
Allen leads the way as Cougars roll past Pumas
By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER


Published: Friday, October 10, 2008

The new public address system was working just fine at Maria Carrillo on Friday night, although at times the PA announcer sounded like a recording as often as he repeated the name of Rancho Cotate quarterback/defensive back Cody Allen.


The biggest defensive hit of the night was also delivered by Allen, who caused a fumble when it looked as if Maria Carrillo would score in the first half.

Allen, a senior who runs the Cougars triple option near flawlessly, passed more than usual, connecting on two long throws for 111 yards in the first quarter, and throwing for two touchdowns. Allen also ran for 19 yards for the first score of the game.

Rancho Cotate, 5-0 and 2-0 in North Bay League play, led 20-0 at the half.

Kicker Eduardo Farias, who kicked a school record 53-yard field goal last week against Montgomery, was good on two modest-distance field goals (34 and 23 yards) and was 5-for-5 on extra-point kicks.

Maria Carrillo, which suffered even more injuries, held Rancho to six yards on its first five offensive plays, but then Allen tossed a home-run ball, 54 yards to Garrett Johnson, and on the next play faked a handoff and rolled around the left side for his touchdown.

The next time Rancho got the ball, Allen hooked up with Matt Egelhoff on a 57-yard pass and run, setting up Farias first field goal.

The big play was key to Ranchos offense all night. In the second quarter, after a 14-yard run by Allen, Sergio Orduna broke a 67-yard run. That set up another field goal.

Allen also returned punts and his 17-yard run set up Ranchos final score in the first half, naturally instigated by Allen.

Allen faked a handoff, dropped back and found a wide open Egelhoff for a 29-yard score.

Maria Carrillo made it 20-6 midway through the third quarter, a score set up by Zack Sheets on a 27-yard punt return. Sheets, one of the Pumas top rushers, later left the game with a leg injury. Puma lineman Daniel Farris also left with a shoulder injury.

Terry Reid scored on a 15-yard run for the Pumas.

Rancho scored on its next possession and introduced 5-foot-7 Brian Dworkin to the triple option. Dworkin showed his moves on a 47-yard run, setting up another passing TD for Allen, who found Ben Kane for a 14-yard score.

Later Dworkin would show his shiftiness, stopping and starting and darting through a small opening for a 22-yard TD.

Rancho wound up with two 100-yard rushers. Dworkin had 138 yards on 12 carries and Orduna had 117 yards on 14 carries.

Allen finished 7-for-15 passing for 176 yards.

Carrillo scored twice late in the game, sparked by running back Tyler Schieder, who ran for 78 yards on 11 carries and scored on a 1-yard run.

Carrillo fell to 3-2 and 1-1 in league.

Rancho Cotates defense played well, particularly in the first half. Jonathon Torres roamed the Puma backfield and recorded a 12-yard sack.

You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@pressdemocrat.com.

AT MARIA CARRILLO
Rancho Cotate 10 10 7 14 41
Maria Carrillo 0 0 6 13 19
RC Cody Allen 19 run (Eduardo Faria kick)
RCFarias 34 field goal
RC Farias 23 field goal
RC Matt Egelhoff 29 pass from Allen (Farias kick)
MC Terry Reid 15 run (kick failed)
RC Egelhoff 14 pass from Allen (Farias kick)
RC Sergio Orduna 4 run (Farias kick)
RC Brian Dworkin 22 run (Farias kick)
MC James Nobles 8 pass from Hunter Odom (Odom kick)
MC Tyler Schieder 1 run (kick blocked)
..........................................................................







Wildcats dominate in NBL opener
Ukiah routs Piner, 47-7
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT


Published: Sunday, October 5, 2008

Ukiahs first pass attempt at Piner on Saturday was intercepted. The Wildcats fumbled four times. But when they held onto the ball, they pretty much dominated the Prospectors, winning 47-7 in the teams first North Bay League game.

Ukiah is 4-0 overall, while Piner fell to 1-3.

Kyle Morris completed 13 of 20 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns for Ukiah, with just the one interception. He threw two scoring passes on slants to Matt Gang, and halfback Marcos Hernandez took a screen pass 50 yards for a TD.

Hernandez rushed for 98 yards and another score, and Chris Frasier took a slot reverse 30 yards for a touchdown.

Linebacker Cody Allen played a typically strong defensive game for Ukiah. And Gabe Ott, a bit subdued on the offensive side, turned in the play of the game on defense. With Piner moving the ball less than a minute before halftime, Ott jumped a short out pattern and returned the interception 70 yards for a back-breaking TD.
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MARIA CARRILLO 26, SANTA ROSA 14

Pumas light it up in win against Santa Rosa..
Maria Carrillo, playing its first illuminated home game, rallies from 14-0 deficit vs. Santa Rosa
By RICH RUPPRECHT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT


Published: Friday, October 3, 2008 at 3:00 a.m.

It was a perfect night to make history for Maria Carrillo football, whose fans were loud and wet and, given the final result, didnt seem to mind.


The Pumas showed they can thrive on a wet field, spotted Santa Rosa a 14-0 lead and won going away, 26-14. Maria Carrillo is 1-0 in the North Bay League and 3-1 overall.

Maria Carrillo scored twice in the fourth quarter and two of its three second-half touchdowns came on turnovers.

Matt Hart picked up the ball after it popped loose on a hard tackle and ran 22 yards for a score.

After Hart ran two yards for the TD that gave the Pumas the lead for good, Zack Sheets intercepted a hanging pass and returned it 75 yards for a capping TD.

The game was the first sporting event held at night at Maria Carrillo, which recently completed a long campaign to secure lights.

The parking lot was full, there were hundreds of high school and middle school students in attendance and the fear there would be little sound because of the forbiddance of the old public address system disappeared quickly by the yells and screams for both schools.

A gentle mist turned into a near monsoon in the second half and both teams seemed content to run the ball. Santa Rosa passed to catch up and it led to two interceptions.

Santa Rosa coach Russell Ponce used a couple different players in a single wing offense, caused because of injury to a couple of his quarterbacks.

Taking direct snaps from the center were back Jaden Rosselli and 6-foot-1, 295-pound Chris Smith, usually the Panthers right tackle. Smith set up the Panthers first score with a 41-yard run that could best be described as a serious rumble. Rosselli scored two plays later on a 1-yard run and Santa Rosa made it 14-0 on a 23-yard scoring pass from Darryl Thomas to Rosselli. Rosselli added the two-point conversion.

Penalties and a fumble slowed down Carrillo early, but they did score in the closing minutes of the half on a 31-yard run by sophomore Sam Atoe.

It was all Carrillo in the second half, Atoe and Sheets doing the running and quarterback Hunter Odom, also starting because of injury, doing most of the handing off, not an easy job given the conditions.

Atoe finished with 130 yards on 14 carries and Sheets had 100 yards on 18 carries.

We just had to stop making mistakes, said Carrillo coach Jay Higgins. It was kind of uncharacteristic of us, maybe we were a little jumpy because of the lights and the night.Santa Rosas defense appeared to come up with a key 4th down stop late in the third quarter, stilling holding a 14-6 lead, but on the next play was the fumble recovery for a TD by Hart. Carrillo was unsuccessful on a 2-point run try.

It was Carrillos turn to come up with a big defensive play and stopped Santa Rosa on 4th down on the Panthers 35. Seven running players later, Hart was celebrating in the end zone as Carrillo had its first lead.

Smith wound up the Panthers leading rusher with 77 yards on 12 carries. Darryl Thomas was 3-for-3 passing for 67 yards and a TD.

Santa Rosa is now 1-3 and 0-1 in league.

We were just trying to control the ball and get some first downs, Ponce said. Our boys played hard.

Injuries have taken a heavy toll on the Panthers. Staring QB Kellen Alexander tore an ACL against Windsor and backups have also been hurt.

On the opening kickoff, Joe Lyle took a hard hit and remained prone for 20 minutes. He was taken off the field by a gurney and raised his arm to Santa Rosa rooters. Ponce said Lyle was at the hospital and had suffered a neck injury.

You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@press

democrat.com.


AT MARIA CARRILLO
Santa Rosa 6 8 0 0 14
Maria Carrillo 0 6 6 14 26
SR Jaden Rosselli 1 run (kick failed)
SR Rosselli 23 pass from Darryl Thomas (Rosselli run)
MC Sam Atoe 31 run (kick blocked)
MC Matt Hart 22 fumble return (run failed)
MC Matt Hart 2 run (pass failed)
MC Zack Sheets 75 interception return (Hunter Odom run).
MC rushing: Sam Atoe 14x130, Zack Sheets 18x100, Matt Hart 7x34;
MC passing: Hunter Odom 2x5, 32 yards, 1 int.
SR rushing: Chris Smith 12x77, Jaden Rosselli 11x30;
SR passing: Darryl Thomas 3x3, 67 yards, TD.






Let there be lights at Carrillo....
Posted October 3, 2008

It was a great Friday night at Carrillo for (Oregon) ducks. Sure the rain was a pain, but it was kind of neat to see kids proud of their school and supporting one of their sports team, Carrillo playing its football game under lights for the first time. Lots of face paint and balloons (some of which kept floating onto the field) and lots of excitement.

One Carrillo parent who is also a teacher said she recognized a lot of Rincon Valley Middle School kids at the game, kids who will go to high school at Carrillo.

The lights were plenty bright enough and Carrillo's grass field filters water pretty well. It wasn't really that muddy, although second half conditions were pretty bad with heavy rain.

There was no PA because the stipulation with neighbors was a new PA system must be installed and it won't be in place until next week. Student bodies for both Santa Rosa and Carrillo were loud. It wasn't all that quiet.

The game was a good one with lots of running and big defensive stops. Santa Rosa coach Russell Ponce had to be innovative because of so many injuries to quarterbacks and backs. One of the highlights of the night was 295-pound Chris Smith turned from a tackle into a running back, breaking a run for 41 yards. He was stopped 4 yards short of a TD. Smith, an outstanding rugby player, rushed for 77 yards, leading Santa Rosa.

Maria Carrillo was the better team in the second half and took advantage of a couple big turnovers, Matt Hart picking up a fumble and going 22 yards for a score and Zack Sheets returning a last ditch Hail Mary pass 75 yards for a TD on the interception.

Sam Atoe, No. 1 for Carrillo and just a sophomore, is already one of the best backs around and rushed for 130 yards and showed very good speed on a 31-yard TD run. Sheets, another back in Carrillo's hard-to-follow Delaware Wing-T offense, ran for 100 yards on 18 carries.

Carrillo's defense did a good job of taking away the run in the second half.

Carrillo looks like a team that's going to get better, especially with new QB Hunter Odom gaining experience.



..........................................................................



A 295-pound QB at Santa Rosa?
Injuries have taken their toll at Santa Rosa, with quarterback Kellen Alexander expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL and running back Darryl Thomas, filling in at QB during practice, suffered a leg injury and will try and play defense only tonight at Maria Carrillo.

Santa Rosa head coach Russell Ponce calmly said his right tackle, 6-foot-1, 290 pound Chris Smith, was next in line to play QB. Asked if Santa Rosa would try and run the ball with Smith, Ponce said that is the plan.

Smith may be the biggest NBL QB in sometime. Smith is no slug. He played rugby and starred for the combined Newman/Santa Rosa club team. He is also Santa Rosa's best lineman and opened most of the holes for Therman McGowan last season. McGowan is serving an academic suspension and is not playing.
..........................................................................



From Press Democrat Staff Writer Eric Branch:

The streak is over.

Elsie Allen snapped its 21-game losing streak, a skid that dated back to Sept. 8, 2006, with a come-from-behind 25-12 win at Richmond on Friday night.

The uncharitable will point out Richmond's less-than-stellar tradition. The Oilers have a 2-29 record dating back to 2005, with one of their wins a 15-12 victory over Elsie Allen last year.

Still, it's a start for the Lobos, who rallied from a 12-6 fourth-quarter deficit on the strength of three touchdowns runs from Ronald Burt, who had 148 yards on 22 carries.

Burt wasn't the only Empire player to put up big numbers this weekend. A look at the rest of the honor roll:

Cardinal Newman (34-33 win against Palma)

Jeff Badger, 18 carries, 136 yards, three TDs

Randy Wright 13-21, 189 yards, 1 TD passing, 1 TD rushing
..........................................................................



Newman-Palma lives up to hype...

Newman/Palma was one of the best high school games I've seen recently.

Both offenses moved the ball all night and there were plenty of big plays. Jeff Badger is one tough running back. He scored three TDs and had about 10 tackles from his linebacker spot. He also rushed for 130 yards. Palma's strategy was to take away the passing lanes, which enabled Wright to run free most of the night. He rushed for 105 yards in the first half and scored the first Newman TD on a 64-yard run.

Palma didn't have the skill players Newman had, although halfback Justin Olivarria was as good as advertised. He rushed for 190 yards and caught 4 passes for 81 yards. And it was clear how Palma QB David Fales got a scholarship to Nevada-Reno. He had a sweet touch and great presence. He was 17-of-21 passing for 222 yards.

Few high school teams can cover a lot of yards in a short time, because they lack sophisticated passing games. It's why Newman can mount game-winning drives, like Friday's, when they got the ball on their own 28 and only 2:07 to go. If there hadn't been three drops, Newman may have scored before the last play of the game.

On the final play, with Newman scrambling to the line of scrimmage because they had no timeouts, the play given Wright was a draw play. But he figured out there was no one left in the back field, rolled out and found a wide open Jack James in the back of the end zone. Again, there are so many options, chances are one will play off. A PAT kick miss doomed Palma and their coach admitted after the game, kicking has been a problem area so far and their snapper was injured.

The one area that Newman looked vulnerable at times was defensive line where at times they lack size. But in the fourth quarter, when they needed to slow down Olivarria they did with big plays from Jonathan Steele and Peter Pham, the 5-10, 205-pound nose tackle. Plus, the Newman linebackers -- including Badger and Joe Ferguson -- are very good.

This Newman team may not be as good as its 2006 state team, but it's pretty good and probably going to get better. And wins against Central Catholic, Del Oro and Palma is a pretty fair accomplishment.

Now Newman just has to win in league. The next tests will be at Montgomery Oct. 24 and at Rancho Cotate on Halloween night.

Next year Newman will play Palma at Salinas. They should continue to meet. Both are very, very good programs.


AT CARDINAL NEWMAN
Santa Rosa 0 0 0 0 0
Cardinal Newman19 21 0 0 40
CN Wade Amaral 46 pass from Randy Wright (kick failed)
CN Joe Ferguson 42 run (pass failed)
CN Amaral 31 pass from Wright (Wright kick)
CN Jeff Badger 34 run (Wright kick)
CN Ferguson 13 run (Wright kick)
CN Amaral 34 pass from Wright (Jack James kick)
..........................................................................