FORESTVILLE — The El Molino football squad ended seven years of
frustration on Sunday, landing the fifth seed in the North Coast
Section Division-4 playoffs.
The coveted post-season berth was a just reward for a Lion’s
team that enjoyed its best season in over a decade, finishing the
league campaign at 3-3 and a solid, 6-4 overall.
“It’s pretty exciting, and means a lot to us,” said veteran El
Mo head coach Mike Roan. “It’s why you work as hard as you do all
season. We battled in a tough league, so it’s nice to be placed in
a pool of like-sized teams.”
The Lions will make their first playoff appearance since 2003
and host the first-ever post-season game in Forestville this
Saturday, Nov. 20, when they entertain 12th-seeded Kelseyville.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Should El Mo advance, it will play the
winner of the St. Helena-Middletown game on Nov. 26 or 27.
“We like our chances but we’re not looking past anybody,” noted
Roan. “Our motto is: go 1-0 each week.”
The list of NCS Division-4 teams in seeding order is Healdsburg
(7-3), St. Patrick/St. Vincent (9-1), Salesian (8-2), Middletown
(9-1), El Molino (6-4), Fortuna (6-4), Ferndale (7-2), Fort Bragg
(9-1), Berean Christian (7-3), St. Mary’s (5-5), Valley Christian
(4-6), Kelseyville (7-3), and St. Helena (5-5).
The Lions are part of a six-team SCL contingent in the NCS
playoffs this season, with Healdsburg (D-4), Analy (D-3), Petaluma
(D-3), Windsor (D-2), and Casa Grande (D-2) all landing berths in
their respective divisions.
Injury update
The Lions are getting healthy at just the right time, most
notably with the possible return of running back Tommy Krausmann.
The 155-pound senior dynamo has been out since Oct. 15 when he
suffered a separated shoulder in the Golden Apple Bowl.
