Lions maul Willits 34-0; Tigers tame Carrillo 40-14
The varsity football Lions and Tigers left nothing to chance on Friday in the opening week of the 2016 high school football season, jumping all over a pair of overmatched visiting opponents in impressive outings for both teams.
The resurgent Lions avenged a 28-6 loss to Willits last year with a total reversal of fortune, combining a balanced offensive attack with a swarming defensive effort en route to a 34-0 romp. .
Just up Highway 116, it was business as usual for the Tigers in a thorough dismantling of a solid Maria Carrillo squad, disarming the Pumas with a first quarter explosion that would propel them to a 40-14 win.
Both teams will be back in action this Friday, Sept. 2, when the Lions visit defending NCL-1 champion Fort Bragg, while the Tigers play host to perennial power Rancho Cotate at Karlson Field. Kickoff times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Adding to the usual excitement associated with a football opener, each school showcased their newly installed all-weather turf fields in a short ceremony prior to kickoff.
Lions in a rout
What a difference a year has made for the Lions, who look like a team that few will take lightly this season.
El Mo’s defensive unit took charge from the outset, throttling the Wolverines’ attack to provide the Lions with good field position. The offense, led by senior quarterback Avery Ransome and running back Alex Padia, was happy to oblige, finding pay-dirt on a pair of first half touchdown runs to grab a 13-0 lead.
“Our defense played well across the board,” Lion’s head coach Randy Parmeter said. “Our offense was slow getting started but finally got moving and was able to put up 34 points.
El Molino put the game away after intermission, gaining separation with another three touchdowns in powering to a 34-0 rout.
“We were in the red zone several times and did not capitalize,” Parmeter noted. “I’d like to see our offense be more crisp in our execution.”
Ransome turned in a spectacular 2016 debut, cashing in on scoring runs of 64 and 72 yards, while also connecting on a touchdown pass to gifted freshman receiver Jalen Hall. Padia found pay-dirt on a scoring burst of 47 yards.
Sire Clark led a ferocious defensive effort with a team-high 14 tackles, while other leading defenders included Daniel Diaz, Robert Raderand Jack Fricker.
Tigers out fast
Analy senior quarterback Jack Newman didn’t skip a beat on the heels of a record-shattering 2015 campaign, torching the visiting Pumas on Friday with a patented quick-strike offensive assault.
The veteran signal caller got the party started early in the opening period, capping a drive with a three-yard scoring strike to senior receiver Spencer Vogel. Jordan Parks followed with the PAT kick and Analy led 7-0.
Parks cashed in on the defensive side moments later when he pounced on a blocked punt by Vogel in the end zone for a 14-0 cushion. The Tigers passing tandem of Newman to Vogel struck again late in the quarter on a 41-yard touchdown strike for a 20-0 bulge at the end of one.
The Tigers answered a Pumas’ touchdown in the second quarter with another dagger, this one coming on an 86-yard return by Osiris Zamora on the ensuing kickoff to put Analy up 27-7 at the break.
The Tigers followed a familiar script after intermission, with the big lead allowing them to empty their bench. Up 27-14, Newman added a pair of second half touchdown passes to receiver Eric Bendyk en route to a 40-14 romp.
Newman turned in a terrific season debut (22-33, 343 yards passing, 4 TDs), while backup QB Brenden Medina (1-2, 4 yards passing) also saw action. Top receivers included Vogel (12-152 yards, 2 TDs), Bendyk (4-109 yards, 2 TDs), Zamora (4-37 yards), Todd Noonan (1-28 yards), Jacob Ponzo (1-17 yards) and Sam Ballenger (1 for 4 yards). Top rushers were Zamora (10-38 yards, 2-111 yards, TD on KO returns) and Cristian Fajardo (4-7 yards).
Leading defenders were Donovan Hall (3 tackles, 5 assists), Nick Chase (5 tackles), Parks (3, 8, FR, TD), Connor Kearney (1, 7, 1.5 sacks), Nick Savage (2, 8), Anthony Lepori (1, 5, FF, FR, sack), Bennett Simpson (2, 6), Kyle Johnson (2, 5), Darick Smith (1, 4), Theo Kolybakos (4 tackles), Toren Callison (1, 8), Austin Burnham (3 tackles), Gabe Reyes (3 tackles), Joey Lucas (2, 2), Drew Valez (1, 3), Remi Foggetti (1, 2), Vogel (tackle, blocked punt), Shaun Elledge (1, 1) and a tackle apiece from Todd Noonan, Andy Noonan, Carson Pforsich and Clayton Bowles.
