FORESTVILLE — There is something about a great high school
football rivalry that can make teenage girls scream and grown men
cry.
The 46th edition of the Golden Apple Bowl did all of that and
more on Friday, as El Molino overcame all obstacles to defeat
visiting Analy in overtime, 24-17.
The win snapped the Lion’s three-game losing skid and pushed
their record to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in league, while the Tigers
moved to an identical, 4-3 and 1-2. Both teams will try to avoid
the dreaded Apple Bowl jinx this Friday, Oct. 22, when the Tigers
host Casa Grande, and El Mo visits Sonoma (5/7:30 p.m.).
Golden Apple thriller
The 46th Golden Apple Bowl, witnessed by a huge spillover crowd
estimated at 3,500, lived up to all advanced billing and hype.
On a perfect night for football, hundreds of rabid El Mo fans
stormed the field as the Lions hoisted the coveted trophy following
the first-ever overtime in the 46-year history of the rivalry.
The Lion’s victory was the second in the past three years under
head coach Mike Roan, and evened the overall series between the
teams at 23 wins apiece.
“This Apple Bowl win was a lot different than the last one,
because we went in thinking that we were the better team this
year,” said Roan, referring to the 2008 victory. “But this win
ranks up there at the top because of this great group of seniors we
have.”
The annual battle for the Apple had a little bit of everything
for the West County faithful, with an emphasis on lessons in
overcoming extreme adversity.
The Lions built up a stunning, 17-0 lead before losing their
star quarterback/punter Michael Pierson, running back Tommy
Krausmann, and kicker Taylor Davis to injuries in the second
quarter. All three would not return.
Enter Lion’s junior back-up quarterback John Carlson, who was
thrust into the spotlight and would become an unlikely hero by
night’s end.
“At halftime our mindset was that it was 0-0,” said El Mo
lineman Aren Vierra, one of the defensive stars of the game.
“Pierson was gone and we knew we’d have to step up if we were going
to win this game.”
Step up they did, in one of the great inspirational performances
in Apple Bowl history.
El Mo set the tone in a tremendous first quarter of power
football, as the offensive line and the 5’ 7” 150-pound Krausmann
put the team on their backs and carried it on a 73-yard march. The
drive culminated in a 33-yard scoring pass from Pierson to senior
receiver Jordan Nordby. Davis added the PAT boot and the Lions led
7-0.
Following an Analy punt, the Lions mounted a five-minute,
60-yard smash-mouth drive ending on a 14-yard scoring burst from
Krausmann for a 14-0 bulge.
The El Mo defense rose up again on the Tiger’s ensuing drive,
stopping Analy on a fourth and long to take over on downs at the
Lion 30.
But the next possession would be a costly one for El Molino,
losing both Pierson (concussion) and Krausmann (separated shoulder)
on the drive before Davis split the uprights on a 32-yard field
goal for a shocking, 17-0 lead at the end of one.
Analy mounted their best drive early in the second quarter when
quarterback Jake Zanutto found receiver Mark Adams on a couple of
key first-down passes to move deep into El Mo territory. The Tigers
cashed in when senior running back Cooper Maloney scored on a
five-yard burst, followed by an Omar Galvan PAT kick to make it a
17-7 ballgame at the half.
The third quarter looked bleak for the Lions, as Carlson
replaced Pierson, who was headed to the hospital with a mild
concussion. Senior all-purpose receiver Joe Douglass and speedy
wide-out Chet “The Jet” Lambert moved to running back, while senior
Toree Smith took over the kicking and punting chores.
Analy wasted little time in seizing momentum early in the third,
as Zanutto hit emerging sophomore receiver Aaron Maher over the top
on a 43-yard lightening bolt for a touchdown. The Galvan PAT cut
the deficit to 17-14 at the end of three.
The El Mo defensive unit accepted the challenge in the final
period, putting pressure on Zanutto to slow down the Tiger offense.
The crowd held its collective breath midway through the fourth
quarter when Analy drove to the El Mo 11, but the Tigers would
settle for a 28-yard Galvan field goal to send the game into
overtime knotted at 17-apiece.
Overtime rules similar to college dictated that each team get
the ball at the other’s 10-yard line and alternate possessions
until one emerges with the win. The Tigers won the toss and elected
to defend.
With Carlson thrust in a hero’s role, the first three plays
netted two yards. Faced with a fourth and goal from the eight,
Carlson found Lambert in the corner of the end zone for a
touchdown, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Smith nailed the
critical PAT kick and El Mo led, 24-17.
The Tigers took their turn from the 10 moments later, but
Carlson would make the defensive play of the game when he picked
off a pass on third and goal to lift the Lions to the seven-point
win.
With his solid play at quarterback and game-saving pick, Carlson
has cemented his place in Apple Bowl lore.
“John hasn’t gotten a lot of reps in practice this year, that’s
just the way it is for a back-up quarterback,” said Roan. “But he
was a leader on the field and kept us in the game, and that’s all
you can ask. He’s now an instant legend around here.”
Zanutto turned in a solid night for the Tigers with 16
completions on 27 attempts for 215 yards and one touchdown. Maloney
(15-55 yards, TD) led the ground game, while top receivers included
Adams (5-80 yards), Maher (3-54,TD), Julian Titus-Patino (5-52),
and Issak Olsen (3-29).
Leading Tiger defenders were Dallas Hamilton (7 tackles, 3
assists), Tanner Fox (5, 8), Jeff Silveria (5, 1), Maloney (4, 2),
Olsen (4, 1), Sean Benfield (3, 2), Joe Clemmer (3, 2), Matt
Anderson (3, 2), Titus-Patino (3 tackles), Dylan Anderson (3, 1),
Jimmy Pitkin (2, 2), and James Toliver (1 tackle, sack).
Pierson (3-5, 48 yards, TD), and Carlson (3-10, TD) did just
enough to get the job done, while Krausmann finished up with 15
carries for 88 yards and a touchdown in just over a quarter of
play. Other offensive leaders were Douglass (14-66 yards rushing),
Lambert (6-32 yards rushing, 2-17 yards receiving, TD), and Nordby
(2-43 yards receiving, TD).
Although no official defensive stats were available at press
time, the Lions got great efforts from Vierra, Dylan Licciardo,
Eric Reab, Calvin Sandeen, Jared Garner, Ben Rhoades, Levi Karns,
Garrit Afman, Carlson, Douglass, Lambert, and Nordby.
