Homecoming fans cheer Jags to last-second victory

Jags first ever homecoming victory a 43-41
thriller
by GREG CLEMENTI, Staff Writer
The Windsor Jaguars varsity football team thrilled homecoming
fans last Friday night, as they fought off a 41-point scoring
barrage by visiting Petaluma to win 43-41. Noel Gaytan kicked the
winning 23-yard field goal with no time remaining to lift the
Jaguars to their first-ever win over the Trojans, and first ever
homecoming win.
The victory also represents the first four-win season for the
team, as they continue to write a new chapter in school football
history. The Jaguars are now in a tie with Analy for second place
in the Sonoma County League standings with a record of 2-1, 4-2
overall.
“We’re obviously happy with where we are right now and hope to
keep it going,” said Windsor Head Coach Jason Fayter. “We had
plenty of chances to go into the tank against Petaluma, but the
guys stuck with it and hung in there.”
The Jags scored first, mounting an impressive drive in their
first possession of the game. The drive culminated in a 10-yard
touchdown strike from quarterback Billy Hughes to receiver Gaytan.
Windsor struck again midway through the first quarter when Brett
Burton returned a blocked punt 65 yards for a touchdown, giving the
Jags a 13-0 lead.
Petaluma fought back on Windsor’s second offensive series,
picking off a tipped pass that gave the Trojans good field
position. They subsequently scored, then scored again late in the
period to grab a 14-13 lead.
The Trojans continued to run the ball effectively in the second
quarter. Two more scoring drives gave them 26 unanswered points and
a 26-13 lead. A 70-yard interception return by Windsor’s Aaron
Duran for a touchdown pulled the Jags to within 26-20 at
intermission.
Both teams turned the ball over in a scoreless third period,
including a Trojan pick at their own five with the Jaguars driving.
“That interception came on a third and long and was actually better
than a punt,” noted Fayter.
The Trojans opened up a 33-20 lead early in the fourth quarter
before a six-yard touchdown scamper by Burton, followed by a
47-yard scoring strike from Hughes to Gaytan that knotted the game
at 33-all. The big Windsor crowd had now come alive and was
erupting with every play.
The Jags took a 40-33 lead midway through the final period, then
the Trojans rallied to score on a 20-yard run, adding a two-point
conversion to grab a 41-40 advantage with one minute remaining.
However, Hughes coolly directed his team on a final drive to set up
the winning 23-yard field goal by Gaytan as the clock ran out.
Hughes enjoyed his best offensive game of the year (14-24, 282
yards, 3 TDs passing, 6-34 rushing). Gaytan set a school receiving
record (10-200, 3 TDs), with Burton (8-35, TD rushing) and Kevin
Young (7-22 rushing) all contributing to the attack.
Burton anchored the defense (7 tackles, fumble recovery, sack,
blocked punt, TD), with Gaytan (7 tackles), Duran (4 tackles,
interception, TD), Joe Galvan (5 tackles, fumble recovery) and
Jeremy Castillo (6 tackles) all playing well for the Jags.
Windsor travels to Analy on Friday, Oct. 24 in their next league
game. The JV and varsity kick off at 5 and 7:30 p.m.