Windsor falls to 2-4, hosts Santa Rosa on Friday
The varsity football Jaguars continued to navigate a tough stretch in the North Bay League schedule on Friday at powerhouse Rancho Cotate, falling to the Cougars, 55-17.
The loss pushed Windsor’s league mark to 1-2 and 2-4 on the season.
“Rancho was pretty darned good,” Jags head coach Kevin Ballatore said. “Defensively we played extremely physical but just couldn’t keep up with their team speed.”
The Jaguars will enjoy some home cooking this week when they host an improved Santa Rosa squad on Friday, Oct. 13. The Panthers (1- 2, 2-4) will take a full head of steam into this year’s meeting after posting a surprising 40-7 romp over Montgomery on Friday.
The Jags have dominated the series with Santa Rosa in winning the last nine meetings between teams dating back to 2008, including a 50-26 rout over the Panthers last year.
Cougars get offensive
Friday’s clash at league leading Rancho Cotate started well enough for the Jaguars, matching a Cougars score with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from big-play man Patrick Tappin knot the contest at 7-7. Windsor found pay-dirt later in the first quarter when senior Max Gonzalez scored on a four-yard run.
It proved to be the high water mark of the ballgame, as quarterback Jake Simmons led Rancho Cotate on a pair of scoring drives to put the Cougars up 20-14 at the end of one.
It was all Rancho from there, adding three more touchdowns in the second quarter to break it wide open for a 41-14 cushion at the half. Trailing 55-14 in the fourth quarter, Windsor sophomore kicker Otis Cain made good on a 40-yard field goal but the Cougars rolled to a 55-17 win.
Sophomore quarterback Nick Pariani finished the night with six completions on 20 pass attempts for 65 yards, while running backs Lorenzo Leon, Jorgen Sarganis and Max Gonzalez combined for 125 rushing yards on 27 carries.
