by Greg Clementi
Sonoma West Sports Editor
gp********@ya***.com
The long wait is over for West County high school football fans, with the preseason openers for both Analy and El Molino slated for this Friday, Aug. 26.
The four-time defending Sonoma County League champion Tigers will play host to visiting Maria Carrillo at Karlson Field in a 7:30 p.m. varsity kickoff, while the Lions entertain Willits in Forestville at 7 p.m.
Both schools will enjoy plenty of home cooking this season after playing all games away from the friendly confines last year due to the installation of new all-weather turf fields. The teams will play their first games on their new surface on Friday.
Tigers heavy favorites
Any local fans fearing a drop-off in production for the Tigers can rest assured that those fears are unfounded. Having not lost a league game since 2011, Analy will continue to be an offensive juggernaut under head coach Dan Bourdon in 2016.
Last season the Tigers advanced to the NCS Division-3 title game before falling to Campolindo 38-28 to end the season at 13-1, and may take the next step in the progression of the program this year.
Analy returns some of the top offensive weapons in the Section, led by third-year senior quarterback Jack Newman. Last year Newman was among the state leaders in most passing categories, shattering school records in touchdown passes in a game (7) and for a season (54).
The veteran signal-caller will have plenty of weapons at his disposal this year, most notably returning senior running back Osiris Zamora (1,033 rushing yards, 11 TDs, 52-620 yards receiving, 13 TDs). He’ll be joined by a stable of backs that include seniors Joey Lucas and Andy Noonan.
The receiving corps will be led by speedy senior wideout Ross Simmons (44-663, 12 TDs), senior Spencer Vogel (29-424, 7 TDs), and senior Eric Bendyke. In addition, look for senior slot back Kyle Johnson to make a big offensive contribution this season. The O-line looks solid again this year.
On defense, the Tigers return several standouts from 2015, including linebackers Nick Savage, Todd Noonan, and Valez, defensive end Jordan Parks, senior tackles Connor Kearney and Nick Chase, and senior safety Donovan Hall and cornerback Kyle Johnson in the backfield.
Lions eye return
to playoffs
The Lions enter the 2016 campaign with unbridled enthusiasm, and with dramatically increased numbers and a strong nucleus of returning talent, why not?
Head coach Randy Parmeter is back to lead a solid group of 25 (up from 16 last year) that should be much improved, with a return trip to the NCS Division 4 playoffs a reachable goal.
“Hopes are high,” Parmeter reported this week, citing the addition of offensive coordinator and former St. Vincent coach Taylor Galloway, along with the first frosh team in three years as reasons for optimism. “Our O-line is full of skill guys and should keep the pressure off the quarterback. Overall, we’ve got a lot of good athletes at the skill positions.”
With more players, El Mo has made a big shift on offense from last year’s double-wing, run-oriented scheme to a wide-open spread offense led by returning senior quarterback Avery Ransome.
Ransome will be joined in the backfield by a solid core of running backs that include talented junior Carmelo Salas and senior Alex Radia. Receivers include Daniel Diaz, Jack Fricker and promising freshman Jalen Hall. The offensive line will be anchored by senior veteran Jake Peter, along with juniors Clay Serrano and Curtis Lewis. Ransome and Fricker will handle the punting and kicking chores respectively.
The D-line will be manned entirely by one-way players, led by Sire Clark and Travis Adams. The linebacking corps will be led by Jake Peter and Jason Winamaki, while the defensive backfield will consist of Fricker, Diaz, Ransome, Hall and Salas.
2016 Analy varsity
football schedule
Aug. 26 – Maria Carrillo at Analy, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 – Rancho Cotate at Analy, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 – Analy at Cardinal Newman, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – Acalanes at Analy, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 – Analy at Petaluma, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 – Bye
Oct. 7 – Sonoma Valley at Analy, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 – Analy at Piner, 2 p.m.
Oct. 21 – Healdsburg at Analy, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 – Analy at El Molino, 7:30 p.m. (Golden Apple Bowl)
Nov. 4 – Elsie Allen at Analy, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 – NCS playoffs
2016 El Molino varsity football schedule
Aug. 26 – Willits at El Molino, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 – El Molino at Fort Bragg, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9, El Molino at Orestimba, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – Ferndale at El Molino, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 – Piner at El Molino, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 – El Molino at Healdsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 – Bye
Oct. 14 – Elsie Allen at El Molino, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 – El Molino at Petaluma, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 – Analy at El Molino, 7:30 p.m. (Golden Apple Bowl)
Nov. 4 – El Molino at Sonoma Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 – NCS playoffs
