The Analy varsity football Tigers illustrated last week that
sometimes a good loss is better than an average win.
That was the story on Friday as the Tigers gave perennial power
Archbishop Mitty all they could handle before falling, 41-27 in a
tough pre-season clash in San Jose.
The close loss to Mitty, the 15th ranked team in the state, was
in stark contrast to the 40-6 shellacking Analy suffered last year.
The game served as a coming out party for the Tigers, stamping them
as one of the clear favorites in the SCL race and a major player in
the NCS post-season dance.
³Last year we got hit in the mouth by Mitty, but this year we
knew we had the team to compete with them,² said Analy head coach
Chip Castleberry. ³It was like a heavyweight fight out there, I
don¹t think we¹ll see any better teams the rest of the way.²
The Tigers¹ high powered offense figured to move the ball
against Mitty, but the big improvement came on defense and special
teams, where Analy surprised their opponent and maybe even
themselves with a tremendous showing on Friday.
³Our special teams is so much better than last year,²
Castleberry noted. ³And our defense did a great job against their
double wing all night. Overall, it was just a great team
effort.²
Mitty drew first blood in the opening quarter, pounding the ball
downfield to score on a one-yard dive for a 7-0 lead. The Tigers
didn¹t flinch, as quarterback Nick Maloney led the team on a quick
drive, capped by a 30-yard touchdown scamper by speedy running back
AJ Fox. Juan Moreno followed with a PAT boot to knot the game at
7-7. The Monarchs added another score on a five-yard burst, and
then used an interception to set up an 11-yard touchdown run to
grab a 21-7 lead the end of one.
Maloney was unfazed early in the second period, finding big-play
receiver Kyle Molkenbuhr on a 48-yard scoring bolt to cut the
deficit to 21-14. Mitty answered with an explosive half with a
54-yard touchdown bomb, which receiver Phillip Stapp hauled in with
a twisting acrobatic catch to put his team up by 13 points. The
Tigers ended the half with an impressive march, culminating in a
two-yard scoring plunge by Maloney to make it a 27-20 ballgame at
the break.
The Monarchs were on the move again early in the third quarter,
with a sustained drive leading to a one-yard burst for a 34-20
lead. The Tigers answered on their next possession when Maloney
lofted a perfect, eight-yard touch pass to Molkenbuhr in the corner
of the end zone to pull within a touchdown at the end of three
quarters, 34-27. Mitty finally iced the game in the final period
with a short touchdown dive for the eventual, 41-27 victory.
The Analy offense turned in a great effort in racking up 366
total yards on the night, including 138 on the ground and 228
through the air. Leading the charge were: Maloney (13-37, 228 yards
passing, 2 TDs, 11-95 yards rushing, TD), Fox (2-31 yards rushing,
TD, 2-47 yards receiving), Cameron Cook (7-12 yards rushing, 1-10
yards receiving), Molkenbuhr (4-87 yards receiving, 2 TDs), Daniel
Albert (4-36 yards receiving), Alex Houlemard (1-46 yards
receiving).
The special teams had a stellar night, led by Moreno (3 PAT
kicks,5-270 yards on kickoffs), Fox (2-85 yards on KO returns) and
Molkenbuhr (2-96 yards punting).
Anchoring a solid defensive effort for the Tigers were: Dominic
Patrick (5 tackles, 4 assists), Mike Stone (6 tackles, 3 assists),
Mike Paggi (4 tackles, assist), Mike Crivello (3 tackles, 2
assists), Moreno (2 tackles, 4 assists), Fox (4 tackles, assist),
Wells (3 tackles, 2 assists), Molkenbuhr (2 tackles, 2 assists),
Santiago (3 tackles), Malcolm Townsend (2 tackles, assist) and
Houlemard (2 tackles, assist).
The Tigers host Santa Rosa this Friday, Sept. 22 in a non-league
clash at Karlson Field. The JV and varsity play at 5 and 7:30
p.m.
