Electrifying homecoming

As high school football games go, they don’t get any better.
Friday’s Homecoming Game against visiting Healdsburg may prove
to be the game of the year for the Jaguars, as they pulled out a
heart-stopping, 22-20 victory on the game’s final play.
The unlikely victory prompted hundreds of Windsor fans to spill
onto the field to watch the Jaguars hoist the Grape Bowl Trophy for
just the third time in the 12-year history of the series.
The win ran the Jag’s unbeaten season record to 7-0 and 3-0 in
the Sonoma County League, keeping them squarely in the title hunt
with three SCL games remaining.
“I’ve played and coached football since I was 10 years old, but
I’ve never been involved in a game that ended on the final play,”
said Jags head coach Dustin Davis. “I think years from now, those
that witnessed it will look back and say, ‘I was there.’”
The Jaguars won’t have much time to savor the win, as they
prepare to visit El Molino (5-3, 2-2) this Friday, Oct. 29.
Unlike recent years, the Lions represent a legitimate challenge,
coming into the game with a 5-3 mark, and 2-2 in league play.
“El Mo has some solid talent, starting with their quarterback
(Mike Pierson),” noted Davis. “We need to take care of business
this week before we worry about any other teams.”
Unlikely heroes
It was all Jaguars for the first 20 minutes of the game on
Friday, as they throttled the vaunted Greyhound ground game.
Windsor drew first blood with three minutes gone in the opening
period when McAlvain led the Jags on a 73-yard march culminating in
an 11-yard touchdown strike to receiver Kevin Brown. The PAT was
botched and the Jags led 6-0 at the end of one.
The Windsor defense forced a punt, and the offense mounted a
72-yard drive, fueled by a 35-yard pass to Kyle Smith and capped
with a four-yard scoring run by McAlvain on the first play of the
second quarter. Lee Aranda added the PAT kick and the Jags led
13-0.
Another defensive stand had Windsor smelling blood from
midfield, driving to the Hound’s 11 before settling for a 24-yard
Aranda field goal for a 16-0 bulge.
But the Hounds suddenly awoke late in the second period when
they mounted an 80-yard march, the big play being a 40-yard pass to
the Windsor 30. Healdsburg cashed in three plays later when
Opperman found a leaping Matt Spillane in the end zone to cut the
deficit to 16-6 with 59 seconds left in the half.
Healdsburg shocked the Windsor crowd moments later when Hounds’
cornerback Dom Tynan picked off a pass to give Healdsburg the ball
at the Windsor 20 with 18 seconds remaining. Opperman seized the
opportunity on the next play when he hit receiver George Brush in
the corner of the end zone, followed by a PAT kick to cut the
Windsor lead to just 16-13 at the break.
The Hounds came out with purpose in the third quarter, as
running back Carson Seanor led the team on a 70-yard march before a
fumbled snap at the Windsor 10 ended the promising drive.
The Healdsburg defense rose up on Windsor’s next possession late
in the third, as linebacker Adam Hendrickson blocked the Jaguar
punt to give the Hounds the ball at the Windsor 17. Seanor cashed
in two plays later on a two-yard touchdown run. The PAT kick gave
Healdsburg a 20-16 lead at the end of three.
With the Jaguars reeling, the Healdsburg offense worked the
clock in the fourth quarter. Windsor mounted a drive midway through
the period, but a 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked, giving
Healdsburg great field position. Looking to run out the clock, the
Hounds faced a third and long from midfield. Roman followed with
the defensive play of the game, nailing Opperman on a blitz to
force and recover the fumble at the Hounds 30.
“We felt like we had to make a play to win this game,” said
Roman. “We may have relaxed a little bit when we took a 13-0 lead,
but our defense stepped up when we had to.”
The Jags’ hopes appeared to be dashed when an incomplete pass to
Richardson had them staring down defeat with two ticks left. But
the lanky junior receiver gained redemption on the last play of the
game when he reached for the moon to pull down the McAlvain pass
and make his place in local sports history.
Leading the Windsor offensive unit were McAlvain (15-23, 165
yards passing, 2 TDs, 12-33 yards rushing, TD), Roman (11-69 yards
rushing), and Jerad Leon (11-54 yards). Top receivers were Kyle
Smith (3-62 yards), Richardson (2-25 yards), TD), Vince Valdes
(2-19 yards), Brown (2-18 yards), Taylor Biaggi (1-13), Shane
Hardisty (1-5), Carlos Gonzales (2-8), Roman (1-8), and Lorenzo
Camarena (1-7).
Leading defenders included Brown (8 tackles, 3 assists), Biaggi
(7, 3), Brady Stibi (4, 2), Roman (4, 1, CF, FR), Brad Grainger (3
tackles, INT), Camarena (2, 2, INT), Richardson (2 tackles), Louie
Correa (2 tackles), Brandon Jacobs (1, 1), Justin Oxford (2
assists), Josh Duke (2 assists, FR), and a tackle apiece from
Stephen Camilleri, Eric Greenlee, Valdes, and Jason Foell.