The varsity football Lions continued their remarkable fall
campaign on Friday, shocking previously unbeaten Windsor, 20-7. The
stunning victory was the sixth of the season for El Molino, a
milestone not seen in more than a decade.
The Analy Tigers did not fare as well on a mud-soaked Durst
Field in Petaluma, falling to the Trojans, 35-21.
This week, the Lions (6-3, 3-2) will visit Recreation Park in
Healdsburg for a key, Division-4 clash, while the Tigers (4-5, 1-4)
will enjoy a much-needed bye this week before finishing up the SCL
season against Sonoma on Nov. 12.
Lions spring trap
Friday’s game in Forestville proved to be a dangerous trap for
Windsor, which entered the game with a perfect 7-0 record and
represented the only remaining unbeaten team in the Redwood
Empire.
Although it may have looked like a mismatch on paper, it was
just another reminder of why they play the games.
“It was a big win, but to be honest, I don’t think it was our
best game of the season,” noted El Mo head coach Mike Roan, citing
a fine performance by receiver Nate Palmer and running back Chet
“The Jet” Lambert. “I think the key to beating Windsor was our
ability to run the football against a good defensive team.”
Following a scoreless first quarter, El Mo capitalized on a
Jaguar miscue early in the second period when a bad snap on a
Windsor punt attempt had the Lions smelling blood inside the
Windsor red-zone. The play set up a 17-yard touchdown strike to
favorite receiver Joe Douglass on the next play. Kicker Toree Smith
drilled the PAT boot for a 7-0 El Mo lead at the half.
The Jags clawed back on the first play of the third quarter when
quarterback Christian McAlvain called his own number, busting loose
on a 70-yard keeper for a touchdown. The Lee Aranda PAT kick was
good and the game was knotted at 7-7.
The Lions answered on the ensuing possession as quarterback Mike
Pierson directed an eight-play, 80-yard march, capped by a 35-yard
scoring burst by Lambert for a 14-7 Lion’s advantage at the end of
three.
The Jaguars sealed their fate midway through the final period
when a short punt gave El Molino great field position, setting up a
10-yard scoring pass from Pierson to receiver Toree Smith. The PAT
kick was blocked by Stephen Camilleri and the Lions took a 20-7
lead.
The Jaguars threatened late in the game, driving deep into El Mo
territory before a McAlvain pass was picked off. The Lions ran out
the clock to preserve a stunning 20-7 victory.
The game featured the return of senior quarterback Mike Pierson,
who turned in a solid game after sitting out last week with a mild
concussion. Pierson connected on 14 of 20 passes for 160 yards and
two scores. Other offensive leaders were Lambert (23-153 yards,
TD), Joe Douglass (5-53 yards receiving, TD), Palmer (5-61 yards
receiving), Garrit Afman (1-12 yards receiving), Smith (2-28 yards
receiving, TD), and Levi Karns (1-9 yards receiving).
Leading defenders included Dylan Licciardo (7 tackles, 1
assist), John Carlson (4, 1), Eric Reab (4, 1), Aren Vierra (4
tackles), Jared Garner (4 tackles), Lambert (3 tackles), Douglass
(3 tackles), Nordby (3 tackles, INT), Dalton Hemphill (2 tackles),
Calvin Sandeen (2 tackles), Afman (2 tackles), Karns (2 tackles),
and Matt Mori (1 tackle).
Tigers fall in mud-bowl
There wasn’t a clean jersey to be found following Friday’s
mud-soaked loss to Petaluma, as poor weather conditions effectively
grounded the Tiger passing attack.
The big exception was a pair of touchdown passes of 65 and three
yards from Analy junior quarterback Jake Zanutto to talented
sophomore receiver Aaron Maher. The Tiger wide-out has emerged as
one of the top pass-catchers in the Redwood Empire and seems
destined for stardom.
The bye week comes at a good time for the Tigers, who have now
dropped three straight games, but still have hopes of a post-season
playoff berth.
“The playoffs are still our goal, and we feel like a win over
Sonoma will give us a shot at an NCS berth,” said Analy head coach
Dan Bourdon. “We just need to re-group and get back to playing good
football again.”
The Trojans drew first blood early in the opening period when
cornerback Tyler Tuck picked off a Zanutto pass and raced 55 yards
for the score. Analy knotted the game on their next possession when
Zanutto hooked up with Maher on a 65-yard strike, followed by an
Omar Galvan PAT kick to make it a 7-7 game. Trojan quarterback
Spencer Nieve put his team ahead on the next series when he found
Adam Nizbian on a 52-yard scoring pass for a 14-7 Petaluma lead at
the end of one.
With the Trojans up 20-7, Analy found pay dirt again in the
second quarter when Zanutto marched his team 70 yards, fueled by a
long pass to receiver Mark Adams and capped by a three-yard
touchdown strike to Maher to make it a 20-14 ballgame at the
break
Petaluma gained separation in the third quarter, scoring on a
four-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point
conversion for a 28-14 lead at the end of three. Down 35-14, the
Tigers made it respectable with a 12-yard scoring pass from Zanutto
to Issak Olsen en route to a 35-21 Petaluma win.
“Those were the worst field conditions I’ve ever seen,” noted
Bourdon. “Petaluma has more of a smash-mouth running team so the
weather definitely affected us more. We’ve been doing a lot of
things well every Friday, but we’ve been hurting ourselves with
mistakes and penalties.”
Zanutto finished up a solid night under tough conditions with 14
completions on 31 pass attempts for 220 yards and three
touchdowns. Other offensive leaders were Maher (4-74 yards
receiving, 2 TDs), Adams (3-47 yards receiving), Julian
Titus-Patino (3-39 yards receiving), Olsen (2-26 yards receiving,
TD), Cooper Maloney (12-47 yards rushing, 1-34 yards receiving),
and Andrew Dannenbring (1-13 yards rushing). Note: there were no
defensive stats available.
