The sixth Healdsburg alumni football game had a little bit of
everything on Saturday. Former stars recapturing lost youth, a big
crowd at Recreation Park and a chance to see old friends again.
When the dust cleared after a 20-6 win for the Red team, all on
hand were reminded of the rich tradition of Greyhound football and
the many lives that it has helped shape over the years.
The gridiron clash, which pitted players from even numbered
graduating years against the odd, was all about renewing old
friendships, camaraderie and coming together for a common cause.
Although the clash was less a game for the ages and more one for
the aged, it didn¹t seem to matter as the event raised several
thousand dollars for Hounds football.
Healdsburg welcomed back former all-league quarterbacks Rand
Rodgers (class of ¹87), who served as one of the game coordinators,
and recent HHS Hall of Fame inductee Bob Stockham (¹89). Both have
played an active role in the Healdsburg Football Alumni Association
and the Steve Hockert Foundation, which serve as big fundraisers
for the football program.
Stockham, who went on to a successful college career at UNLV and
later played pro ball, flew in from his home in Las Vegas the day
of the game and received a bruising welcome from the opposing Red
squad. Despite suffering several sacks and frequent knockdowns, the
Hounds¹ all-time passing leader thoroughly enjoyed the chance to
rekindle old memories.
³I didn¹t mind losing to Rand¹s team, but I just wish they
hadn¹t beaten me up so bad in the game,² Stockham joked.
³Healdsburg has such a great football tradition and it¹s nice to
come back here and raise badly needed money for the program. It¹s
also nice to get a chance to meet a lot of the younger
players.²
Other former Greyhound stars included: Tyler Dugan (¹91), John
Nelson (¹95), Jacob Franco (¹01), Gerald Witherall (¹01), Tommy
Stine (¹99), Josh Jemelka (¹99), Bobby Arreguin (¹99), Jimmy Garcia
(¹00), Justin Geaslin (¹98), Todd Beth (¹92), Kyle Baumunk (¹99),
Matt Sayre (¹96), Nick Thomas (¹02), Felix Hernandez (¹92), Derek
Parrish (¹04) and Chad Matteri (¹06). Long-time Hounds football
coaches Tom Kirkpatrick, Gale Bach, Mike Ruiz and Bob Besancon
helped out with both teams.
After a defensive first quarter, the Red squad broke a scoreless
tie when running back Derek Parrish scored on a six-yard burst to
put the Red team up 6-0. The short scoring drive was set up by a
50-yard strike from quarterback Kyle Baumunk to receiver Jimmy
Garcia. The Red squad was on the march late in the second quarter
when David King (¹93) picked off a pass to stop the threat, sending
the Red team to the halftime locker room leading 6-0.
A Matt Sayre (¹96) interception had the Red team on the move
late in the third quarter, and Justin Geaslin (¹98) capped the
drive with a one-yard touchdown burst. Rodgers found Josh Smith
(¹02) with a touch pass in the corner of the end zone for a 14-0
Red lead. Early in the fourth quarter, Geaslin recovered a fumble
deep in White territory, leading to a one-yard plunge from Parrish
for a commanding, 20-0 bulge.
The White squad avoided the shutout and possible ridicule by the
opposition late in the game when Stockham hooked up with receiver
Jacob Franco (¹01) on a 40-yard pass play, setting up a 17-yard
scoring strike from Stockham to Franco for the final score of
20-6.
Standout efforts were turned in by: Nelson (interception, fumble
recovery), Geaslin (interception, FR, TD), Sayre (interception) and
Hernandez (interception).
Parrish, who scored twice and was the unofficial co-MVP of the
game along with Geaslin, summed up the night best after the
game.
³It was a blast, I really enjoyed it,² he said.
