Offense reigned supreme in week two of the North Bay League football season on Friday, as El Molino and Analy erupted for a combined 83 points in a pair of Homecoming victories.
The Tigers pushed their record to 1-1 in the NBL Oak Division and 3-4 overall with a 41-35 explosion over visiting Maria Carrillo, while the Lions (1-1, 2-5) got healthy in a 42-20 rout over Piner.
For Analy, which has endured its struggles in the first season following league realignment, the win over the Pumas was a welcome result, with a string of challenging games coming up.
“Maria Carrillo was a tough team, and they played us close, but our playmakers really came up big for us,” Tigers’ head coach James Foster said. “It’s great to get that first league win under our belt.”
Analy will be back on the field this Friday, Oct. 12, when they visit Ukiah, finishing up league play with dates against Rancho Cotate (Oct. 19) and Cardinal Newman (Oct. 26), teams with a combined record of 17-4.
“Ukiah has been playing really good football this year,” Foster noted about his next opponent. “We’re going to have to play our best game.”
Tigers start fast, hold off Pumas
Analy has long been known for ambushing opponents with a quick start, and that was certainly the case on Friday against Maria Carrillo. The Tigers jumped on the Pumas for three touchdowns in the opening period.
The Tigers got on the board early when quarterback Nic Visser hit receiver Tyler Nebozuk on long pass play for a 7-0 lead. Moments later, defender Colin Walker deflected a Carrillo punt to give the Tigers great field position. The play led to the second score of the game. Analy led 34-21 at the half and held off a would-be Puma comeback to preserve a 41-35 win.
Visser finished up a stellar night with 22 completions on 35 pass attempts for 334 yards and five touchdowns. Nebozuk led all receivers with 11 catches for 229 yards and two scores, while Kolby Elledge hauled in four catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Vince Willis and Chris McGowan each had an interception for the Analy defense.
Lions rout Prospectors
El Mo’s Oct. 5 meeting with the visiting Piner Prospectors was just what the doctor ordered, snapping a four-game losing skid.
The Lions shocked the visitors with a series of big plays, most involving quarterback Wyatt Stringfellow, running back Sam Wilson-Mietz and emerging sophomore receiver Jackson Dunkle.
The Lions jumped out to a fast 14-0 lead after one, matching a pair of Piner touchdowns with two scores of their own in the second period to take a 28-14 halftime lead.
El Mo kept its foot on the gas after intermission, opening up a 35-14 lead after three enroute to a 42-20 rout.
“Our defense didn’t play well, but we’ll take it,” Lions head coach Randy Parmeter said later.
Wilson-Mietz continued a remarkable campaign with a pair of rushing touchdowns and one receiving. Also finding pay dirt for the Lions were Dunkle (2 receiving TDs) and Jordan Hamner (rushing TD).
The Lions will take a break this week with their second bye on the schedule, this one due to Healdsburg canceling their varsity season.
