Top seeded Analy hosts #8 El Cerrito on Friday in quarterfinals
The Analy football train continued to roll in the first round of the North Coast Section Division 3 playoffs on Nov. 11, jumping all over visiting Tamalpais in a 55-7 rout.
Despite the lopsided score, the Tiger’s brain trust acknowledged there was plenty of room for improvement with strong playoff opponents on the horizon.
“We turned the ball over too many times, and that will cost us in upcoming games,” Analy head coach Dan Bourdon said. “Our defense continued to play great and got us out of some bad situations.”
The convincing victory extended Analy’s winning streak to eight games and advanced the top seeded Tigers into the NCS quarterfinals this Friday, Nov. 18 against number eight El Cerrito. Kickoff at Karlson Field is 7 p.m.
“El Cerrito could be a tough match-up for us,” Bourdon cautioned. “They are huge on the offensive and defensive line. They also have some tremendous athletes. We need to be able to make open field tackles this week.”
Should Analy get past El Cerrito, it will host the winner of #4 Marin Catholic vs. #5 Miramonte on Nov. 25. Check the NCS website at www.cifncs.org for updated bracket information as it becomes available.
Tigers in a rout
Analy got off to its customary lightning fast start again on Friday, with quarterback Jack Newman directed an early drive culminating in a 3-yard scoring run from Bennett Simpson. Miguel Escamilla added the PAT kick and the Tigers led 7-0.
Analy scored on its next four possessions, finding pay-dirt on touchdown passes from Newman to receivers Eric Bendyk (36 yards) and Ross Simmons (21 yards). The Tigers led 20-0 at the end of one.
Simpson continued the onslaught in the second period with a 9-yard scoring run, followed by a 29-yard touchdown pass from Newman to Simmons as the Tigers took a 34-0 cushion into the break.
The Analy defense refused to give an inch in a dominant second half and the offense obliged, cashing with a 14-yard strike from Newman to Simpson, followed by a 31-yard dagger from back-up quarterback Brendan Medina to Bendyk. Linebacker Nick Savage got into the act with a 50-yard pick six as the Tigers opened up a 55-0 bulge after three.
With the clock running, the visiting Hawks would avoid the shutout with 40 seconds left in the contest on a 73-yard scoring pass en route to a 55-7 Analy rout.
Newman added four more scoring passes on 27 completions for 395 yards, giving him 45 touchdowns on the season. Medina completed 3 of 5 pass attempts for 37 yards and one score. Top receivers included Bendyk (10-184 yards, 2 TDs), Simmons (7-120 yards, 2 TDs), Spencer Vogel (7-80 yards) and Simpson (4-39 yards, TD). Leading rushers were Cristian Fajardo (8-60 yards), Kyle Johnson (2-54 yards) and Simpson (7-49 yards, 2 TDs).
Top defenders included Savage (2 INTs, TD), Jordan Parks (7 tackles), Anthony Lepori (7 tackles), Darrick Smith (1 tackle, 8 assists), Drew Valez (1, 6, INT), Theo Kolybakos (4 tackles), Johnson (1, 1, INT), Toren Callison (2, 1, blocked field goal), Austin Burnham (2, 1), Dustin Wilson (2, 1), Joey Lucas (2, 1), Connor Kearney (1, 2), Nick Chase (1, 2), Vogel (1, 2), Todd Noonan (1, 1) and a tackle apiece from Donovan Hall, Tony Siri, Shaun Elledge, Jackson Parks, Gabe Tanner-Reyes, Zach Clausen, Brandon Phan and Escamilla.
