by Greg Clementi
Sonoma West Sports Editor
gp********@ya***.com
The Sonoma County League season arrives this week for high school football teams, as Analy and El Molino dig in for what should be an exciting campaign.
Both schools wrapped up pre-league play on Sept. 16 in a pair of home dates, with the Tigers easily dispatching Acalanes, 49-30, while the Lions weathered a 28-7 setback to Ferndale.
On Friday, the Tigers (3-1) will visit Petaluma in their league opener, while the Lions (1-3) play host to Piner in the Homecoming Game. Kickoff times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Tigers’ offense
keys win
The Analy offensive unit was too much for the visiting Dons on Friday, as quarterback Jack Newman continued to dice up opposing defenses.
The quick-start Tigers wasted no time against Acalanes in the first quarter, as Newman got the party started with a 19-yard scoring pass to Spencer Vogel. Kicker Miguel Escamilla added the PAT boot and Analy led 7-0.
With the Analy defense swarming, the Tigers found pay-dirt on their next three offensive possessions. Analy cashed in on a 2-yard run from Bennett Simpson, followed by an 8-yard touchdown grab by Ross Simpson (from Newman) for a 21-6 lead after one.
Up 21-14 in the second quarter, the Tigers gained separation with another 44-yard hook-up to Simmons, followed by an 88-yard scoring pass to Eric Bendyk. Analy finished the half with a 3-yard touchdown burst from Simpson to take a 42-14 advantage at the break.
The Dons mounted the lone scoring drive of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 42-22 heading into the final period, but the Tigers would ice it with another 62-yard touchdown strike from Brendan Medina to Bendyk as Analy cruised to a 49-30 win.
Newman finished up with 35 completions on 50 pass attempts for a whopping 518 yards and four touchdowns. Medina was 2 of 6 for 69 yards passing and one score. Other offensive leaders included Bendyk (8-188 yards receiving, 2 TDs), Vogel (10-169 yards receiving, 2 TDs), Simmons (6-88 yards receiving, TD), Simpson (5-78 yards receiving, 15-61 yards rushing, 2 TDs), Carson Pforsich (5-52 yards receiving) and Cristian Fajardo (5-15 yards receiving).
Top defenders were Jordan Parks (5 tackles, 2 assists, sack), Toren Callison (5 tackles), Connor Kearney (4 tackles), Todd Noonan (1 tackle, 5 assists, 3 INTs), Vogel (4, 4), Joey Lucas (1, 9), Kyle Johnson (2, 5), Anthony Lepori (1, 8), Nick Chase (1, 3), Drew Valez (1, 3, FF), Austin Burnham (2, 2), Darrick Smith (1, 2, sack) and Andy Noonan (2 tackles).
Lions fall to ‘Cats
The pre-league finale was not as kind to El Molino, which watched an early 7-0 lead over the visiting Ferndale Wildcats disappear under a full moon in Forestville.
Jack Fricker got the Lions on the board in the opening period on an 80-yard scoring run, but it proved the lone highlight of the night. The tough Wildcat defense would not let El Mo get untracked, as Ferndale went to a strong ground attack.
“They were able to grind us out in the run game,” El Mo head coach Randy Parmeter said. “We held them to 14 points until late in the fourth quarter when the wheels fell off.”
Down 14-7 in the fourth, Ferndale returned a fumble 80 yards to set up a score, and iced it with another late touchdown en route to a 28-7 win. There were no stats available for the Lions.
