Windsor to host Mt. Eden on Saturday in postseason opener
The varsity football Jaguars will take a full head of steam into the postseason this week as they represent the #5 seed in the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs.
Windsor (2-3, 3-5) finished a tough North Bay League schedule on Friday at Ukiah, turning in their most complete game of the season in a stunning 29-0 rout over the Wildcats.
“We came out with passion to play for one another and had huge performances across the board,” Jags head coach Kevin Ballatore said. “To shut out a team that averages over 30 points a game is an incredible achievement.”
The Jags will open the NCS playoffs in the friendly confines this Saturday, Nov. 11 when they host #12 Mt. Eden (6-4) in a 7 p.m. kickoff. Should Windsor emerge victorious, it will advance to meet the survivor of #4 Livermore vs. #13 Alameda in the quarterfinals (time and location TBD).
Windsor is one of six NBL teams that make up the NCS Division 2 bracket, with Cardinal Newman and Rancho Cotate also landing spots in the Division 3 tournament.
The complete list of NCS Division 2 teams in seeding order is Campolindo, Granada, Northgate, Livermore, Windsor, Ukiah, Casa Grande, Maria Carrillo, Santa Rosa, Montgomery, College Park, Mt. Eden, Alameda, Hayward, Redwood and Washington.
The Windsor brain trust didn’t waste any time after learning of their next opponent, pouring over game tape on Sunday.
“Mt. Eden is very disciplined with very few penalties and doesn’t turn the ball over,” Ballatore noted. They have a Division 1 back (Isaiah McGlown) that has rushed for 1,134 yards and 11 touchdowns and will be tough to stop. At 6-4 they will be a great challenge for us.”
Jags blank ‘Cats
Windsor was focused and ready when it took the field on Friday at Ukiah, stunning the Wildcats with a balanced offensive attack that would quickly produce points.
Sophomore quarterback Nick Pariani directed first-half scoring drives resulting in touchdown passes to receivers Jorgen Sarganis, Patrick Tappin and recent varsity call-up Landen Estrala. Sarganis added a rushing score as the Jaguars raced to a 29-0 cushion at the half.
The Windsor defense continued to throttle the Ukiah attack after intermission, dominating the line of scrimmage to keep the ‘Cats off the board.
“The defensive line was incredible, applying pressure all game,” Ballatore said. “Offensively we had a balanced attack for the first time all season. Pariani made all the right checks and threw the ball extremely well for the wet conditions.”
Pariani finished up his best night under center with 12 completions on 21 pass attempts for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Other top offensive performances came from Estrala (6-91 yards receiving, TD), Sarganis (16-70 yards rushing TD, 2-25 yards receiving TD), Tappin (2-43 yards receiving, TD), Lorenzo Leon (20-151 yards rushing), Max Gonzalez (3-15 yards rushing), Nick Landeros (1-6 yards rushing) and Clay Woo (2-5 yards rushing).
Leading defenders included Thomas Kulas (11 tackles, 5 assists), Brett Stibi (11, 3), Leon (10, 1, sack), Bas Osborn (8, 4, 2 sacks), Jairo Mejia (8, 2, 2 sacks), Oscar Mayorga (7, 3), Ryan Weir (6, 1, 2 sacks), Patrick Tappin (4, 2), Dylan Sosa (3,1), Landeros (3,1), Austin Jacob (2,1), Estrala (2, 1) and Gonzalez (INT).
