Windsor looking for redemption in Friday’s NBL finale at Ukiah
The varsity football Jaguars came within a whisker of their third win of the 2017 campaign in an Oct. 27 clash at Casa Grande, but a last-second touchdown spoiled the party as the Gauchos pulled out an unlikely 20-14 victory.
The first North Bay League game in three weeks following the North Bay fires was a crushing blow for a Windsor team with North Coast Section playoff aspirations, pushing the Jags’ NBL record to 1-3 and 2-5 on the year.
“Our offensive line won the battle at the line of scrimmage and I was proud of their effort,” WHS head coach Kevin Ballatore said later. “But we had a holding penalty on every drive and that makes it tough when you’re facing second and 20 all game long.”
With just one date left on an abbreviated schedule, the Jaguars will close out the NBL season this Friday, Nov. 3 when they visit Ukiah. The Wildcats (3-1, 5-3) are coming off a 35-28 win over Montgomery and should present a tough obstacle for the Jags in the finale. Kickoff times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Tale of two halves
Friday’s meeting at Casa Grande was a tale of two distinctly different halves, as Windsor dominated the trenches in the early going. Sophomore quarterback Nick Pariani directed a bruising ground game on the Jags’ first possession, a drive culminating in an 8-yard burst from fullback Max Gonzalez. Kicker Otis Cain added the point after boot and Windsor led 7-0 at the end of one.
The Jags’ offensive line continued to dominate in the second quarter, as Windsor mounted another run-oriented march, this one resulting in a 1-yard Gonzalez plunge to make it 14-0. The Gauchos found pay-dirt late in the period on a short run, but a missed extra point had them trailing 14-6 at the half.
The Gauchos stayed within striking distance in the third quarter, cashing in on a 5-yard run with three minutes left in the period to make it a 14-13 ballgame. The mistake-prone Windsor offense squandered chances to close it out in the fourth quarter, coughing the ball up at midfield. Casa Grande seized the opportunity, using the short field to mount winning drive resulting in a 1-yard touchdown dive with 12 seconds left for a 20-14 win.
“At the end we were in a great spot to overcome a lot of adversity,” Ballatore said. “But little details we’ve preached all season long cost us the game in the final two minutes.”
