The 33rd edition of the Kiwanis all-star high school football
game at Bailey Field in Santa Rosa on Friday lived up to all
expectations both on and off the field.
Re-named the Richard Bigham Memorial All-Star Bowl Game for the
longtime Kiwanis organizer and supporter who died unexpectedly last
fall, this year¹s clash pitting the graduating senior all-stars
from the North Bay League against the Sonoma County League was a
showcase of talent, sportsmanship and on-field excitement.
Unlike last year¹s game, which was marred by trash talk and bad
blood, Friday¹s contest was brimming over with good will and
camaraderie on both sides. In a contest marked by big plays, the
SCL powered to a 35-20 win.
³This was a great group of kids that got along well and really
gelled as a team,² said SCL head coach Gale Bach, assisted by his
Healdsburg coaching staff. ³As coaches, we talked about the type of
game we wanted to have, and it worked out the way we hoped it
would.²
Windsor¹s representatives included lineman David McCready and
linebacker Joe Galvan, although McCready was unavailable to play on
Friday. Galvan turned in an outstanding outing, making several
tackles on defense and special teams.
³It was a lot of fun out there, I thought we played pretty
well,² Galvan said, who hopes to play football this fall at Santa
Rosa Junior College.
The NBL drew first blood on its opening drive when Rancho Cotate
quarterback Grady Sheehy directed an 80-yard march, capped by a
two-yard scoring plunge from Maria Carrillo running back Will
Hinkle to stake their team to a 7-0 lead at the end of the first
quarter.
The SCL answered midway in the second period when Casa Grande
quarterback Chris Forni scampered 36 yards on a draw play to knot
the game at 7-7. Moments later, Casa running back and all-time SCL
yardage leader Joe Trombetta broke loose on a 53-yard bolt, the
first of several big runs on the night. The play set up a four-yard
scoring strike from Forni to Gaucho receiver Frankie Barone to put
the SCL up 14-7at the half.
The SCL stars gained separation in the third quarter when
Healdsburg quarterback Mitch Sindle found big-play teammate Justin
Arowcavage on a 78-yard bomb, putting their team up 21-7. The NBL
countered on its next possession when Sheehy found receiver Robbie
Bloyd with a 21-yard scoring pass, cutting the deficit to 21-14.
The SCL quickly re-gained momentum when a long pass from Sindle to
Healdsburg receiver Andrew Rogers, followed by a miracle
fourth-down conversion at the two-yard line set up another score.
On the fourth-down play, Analy running back Mark Ryan hauled in a
deflected pass near the goal line. The big conversion led to a
two-yard touchdown plunge by Trombetta and a 28-14 lead.
Forni put the contest out of reach in the fourth quarter when he
scampered 52 yards on another keeper, giving the SCL a
three-touchdown advantage. The NBL capped the fireworks with a
two-yard scoring pass in garbage time for a final score of
35-20.
The victory gave the SCL an 8-7 lead in the all-star game
series, since the teams began playing each other in 1992.
