It was a mixed bag for West County teams in a pair of pigskin
road openers on Friday, as the El Molino Lions slipped past
Fortuna, 14-7, while the Analy Tigers dropped a 21-7 decision to
Miramonte.
This Friday, Sept. 10, the Tigers host Piner at Karlson Field
(5/7:30 p.m.), while the Lions visit Drake on Saturday, Sept. 11
(11 a.m. /2 p.m.).
Lions set tone for improved campaign
Friday’s victory at Fortuna was seen as a very good sign for El
Molino, considering that a four-hour bus ride is not the easiest
way for a team to start a football season.
Throw in the fact that the Huskies are one of just two
Division-four opponents on El Mo’s schedule this year, and the
significance of the win is further magnified.
“Yeah, it was a great start for us, because you never know what
to expect in the first game,” said Lion’s head coach Mike Roan.
Even though we only scored one offensive touchdown, we got a great
game from our defense and special teams. Overall, there were a ton
of positives.”
The Lions, sporting their new all white road uniforms, set the
tone from the outset, as senior big-play return man Joe Douglass
took the opening kickoff and raced 97 yards to the house for a 7-0
El Mo lead. The Huskies came right back, mounting a scoring drive
to knot the contest at 7-7 at the half.
El Mo got the winning touchdown in the third quarter, when
senior quarterback Mike Pierson dove over from a yard out for a
14-7 lead.
The Lion’s defensive unit, behind defenders Douglass, Dylan
Licciardo (8 tackles, 4 assists), Jared Garner (5 tackles, 2
assists), Toree Smith (FR, INT), Angel Razo (8 tackles, 3 assists),
Ben Rhoades, Garret Afman (6 tackles, 2 assists), Aren Vierra, Jose
Rodriguez, and Chet “The Jet” Lambert, put together an outstanding
effort to help keep the Huskies off the board. El Mo dug in late
in the fourth quarter on a dramatic goal line stand to preserve a
hard-fought, 14-7 victory.
Pierson turned in a solid night in directing the El Mo offense,
completing 10 of 21 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown
rushing. Douglass did a little bit of everything for the Lions on
a sensational night (10-50 yards rushing, 7-45 yards receiving,
97-yard kick return, TD).
Tigers fall to Matadors
Analy had the unenviable task of opening the season at perennial
power Miramonte, not exactly a hospitable venue for opposing
teams.
The Tigers responded with a solid game plan, but failed to
finish off several promising drives throughout the contest.
“I think we did a lot of things really well, we just had some
mistakes that cost us,” said head coach Dan Bourdon. “Give
Miramonte credit, they’re a very solid team.”
An encouraging sign was the play of Analy’s offensive line,
consisting of left tackle Jimmy Pitkin, left guard Austin Beach,
sophomore center Rylind McAuliffe, right guard Cesar Inda, and
right tackle Sean Benfield.
Among the bright spots on offense were senior running back
Cooper Maloney, who turned in a strong night with 98 yards on just
13 carries, scoring the Tiger’s lone touchdown in the first half.
Junior quarterback Jake Zanutto was also solid, connecting on 15 of
26 pass attempts for 125 yards and no interceptions.
Other offensive standouts included receivers Julian Titus-Patino
(7-53 yards receiving), Aaron Maher (3-32 yards), and Mark Adams
(3-26 yards).
Top Tiger defenders included Maloney (6 tackles, 3 assists),
Titus-Patino (4, 4)
Issak Olsen (3, 4 sacks), Joe Clemmer (4, 3), James Tolliver (4,
3), Dallas Hamilton (4, 3), Jeff Silveria (4, 2), Tanner Fox (2,
1), and Pitkin (1, 4).
Injury notes
Junior receiver/DB Mark Adams suffered a serious knee injury
against Miramonte and is believed to be out indefinitely.
