The varsity football Jaguars climbed back into the win column on Friday in the annual Homecoming Game against visiting Montgomery, throttling a talented Viking’s squad with a great defensive effort to claim a 14-0 victory.
The win was just what the doctor ordered from a Windsor standpoint, snapping a three-game losing skid in the pre-league finale, while improving its season record to 2-3.
“We came into the game with our backs to the wall and we knew it was a must-win game,” Jags head coach Brad Stibi said. “Our game plan was to manage their athletes by getting to the quarterback and we were successful.”
The Jags will enjoy a bye in the schedule this week before kicking off the league campaign in the Oak Division at Analy on Sept. 28. The Tigers (2-3) are coming off a 14-7 win over El Molino in the 54th Golden Apple Bowl.
“The bye this week is good timing and will allow us to heal up,” Stibi noted. “Analy can be a threat with their pass game so we will have to be ready for that. Offensively we need to continue to improve and really establish our identity.”
Defense steps up
Windsor was locked in a defensive battle for the second straight game on Friday, effectively controlling the line of scrimmage with a swarming defensive effort. The Jags, who finished with four sacks and three interceptions in the game, set the tone early with a strong pass rush that clogged running lanes and allowed few receivers to get open.
Windsor drew first blood in the opening quarter when quarterback Nick Pariani engineered a drive resulting in a rushing touchdown from Jeremiah Pignataro. The Jags went to halftime locker room up 7-0.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Windsor iced the contest in the final period with another drive culminating in another scoring run from Octavio Vega en route to a 14-0 win.
Pariani finished up a workmanlike performance with 5 completions on 18 attempts for 39 yards passing, while back-up quarterback Billy Boyle (2-4, 30 yards passing) also saw a few snaps. Leading rushers were Lorenzo Leon (13-90 yards), Vega (8-32 yards, TD), Nick Landeros (4-22 yards), Pariani (3-11 yards), Boyle (1-7 yards) and Pignataro (5-6 yards, TD). Top receivers were Jake Seivers (2-30 yards), Mikey Contreras (1-21 yards), Leon (2-17 yards) and Landon Estrela (1-10 yards). Otis Cain made good on both extra point kicks.
Leading defenders included Ben Smith (8 tackles, 2 assists, 2 sacks), Cristian Sanchez (5 tackles), Cy Soltanizadeh (4 tackles), Oscar Mayorga (3, 2, sack), Pignataro (3,1), Estrela (2 tackles), Vega (1, 2, 2 INTs), Leon (1, 2, sack, INT), Christian Jernigan (2, 1), Aryan Charaniya (2 tackles), Estrela (2 tackles), Contreras (1, 1) and a tackle apiece from Austin Jacob and Seivers.
