Analy, El Mo eyes playoffs as league season ends week
FORESTVILLE – It was David versus Goliath on Friday in a rain-soaked 52nd edition of the Golden Apple Bowl, but there was no story-book ending in this one as the Analy Tigers cranked up their high octane offense to power past the home-standing El Molino Lions, 55-7.
The win extended the Tiger’s win streak over the Lions to six games, pushing their overall lead in the series to 29-23. The victory also assured the Tigers of their fifth straight Sonoma County League championship.
“We played with intensity and heart,” victorious Analy head coach Dan Bourdon said. “We dropped several passes and had a lot of penalty yards so we still need to clean up some things before playoffs.”
Both teams will wrap up the SCL schedule this Friday, Nov. 5 when the Lions (3-2, 4-5) visit Sonoma Valley, while the Tigers play host to Elsie Allen on Senior Night. Kickoff times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Also looming on the horizon are the North Coast Section playoffs, which are set to begin on Friday, Nov. 12. The Tigers are a lock to land a favorable seed in the Division-3 tournament, while the Lions are likely to land an at-large berth in the Division-4 tourney. The NCS selection committee will meet this Sunday, Nov. 6 to fill out the divisional brackets.
Tigers’ fast start sinks Lions
The Lions were out-manned and out-gunned in Friday’s annual clash of rivals, as the Tigers went for an early knockout. Analy drew first blood on its second possession of the opening period when quarterback Jack Newman directed a drive resulting in a 1-yard scoring plunge for a 7-0 lead.
Moments later, Analy linebacker Anthony Lepori picked off a Lion’s pass to set up a short field culminating in a 4-yard scoring pass from quarterback Jack Newman to receiver Spencer Vogel to make it 14-0. The Tigers recovered the ensuing on-side kick to mount another short march, this one resulting in a 1-yard touchdown dive from Cristian Fajardo. Another pick by Analy cornerback Kyle Johnson helped finished off an explosive quarter with a 6-yard scoring strike from Newman to Ross Simmons for a 28-0 bulge at the end of one.
With a steady rain falling, the Tigers padded their cushion in the second quarter, as Newman hooked up with big-play receiver Eric Bendyk on a 31-yard touchdown dagger to give Analy a 35-0 lead at the break.
The Tigers began to empty their bench after intermission with no let-up, as running back Bennett Simpson cashed in with scoring runs of 30 and 15 yards to make it a 48-0 ballgame at the end of three.
With a running clock and the game out of reach, the Lions avoided the shut-out midway through the fourth quarter when quarterback Avery Ransome broke loose on a 56-yard touchdown run. Analy’s Kyle Johnson administered the coups de grace when he returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards to the house en route to a 55-7 Tigers romp.
Offensive leaders for the Tigers included Newman (22-35, 337 yards passing, 3 TDs), Simmons (5-134 yards receiving, TD), Vogel (7-103 yards receiving, TD), Bendyk (5-57 yards receiving, TD), Simpson (16-92 yards rushing, 2 TDs, 5-57 yards receiving) and Fajardo (5-16 yards rushing, TD). Analy kicker Miguel Escamilla made good on 7 of 8 PAT boots.
Top Analy defenders were Nick Chase (11 tackles, sack), Theo Kolybakos (5 tackles), Darrick Smith (4 tackles, 5 assists), Connor Kearney (4 tackles), Austin Burnham (4 tackles, FR), Drew Valez (1, 1, FR), Kyle Johnson (2 INTs) and Lepori (2, 8, INT).
There were no stats available for El Molino.
