Consider the Sunday NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. Both teams kicked field goals in the first half, which ended with the Niners up 6-3. The Cardinals tied it with a field goal in the third quarter. Then a touchdown by each side, a final field goal by San Francisco—after a rare but crucial 2-point safety—to give the home team a razor-thin 16-15 win.
It was like a boxing match won on jabs.
Then look at Healdsburg visiting Willits last Friday. That was a completely different kind of game, one of attack and counterattack and ultimately attrition. Healdsburg scored five touchdowns, as many as they have since the season opener on Aug. 29. But the Willits Wolverines were not to be denied in their house, and they scored two TDs for every one the Hounds did.
If nothing else the final score, 69-34, shows the Greyhounds were in the game, even after a forfeit the previous week kept them off the field. For the first time this year, they started with a full roster as the early season suspensions expired, giving the team a chance to get a tough game under their belt before the NBL-Mountain league debut this Friday in San Rafael.
As usual junior Frank Rea delivered for the team, his numbers topping both offensive and defensive categories. As quarterback he earned a strong 112.3 QB rating, 10 catches on 20 attempts for three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Rushing he carried 13 times for 101 yards, including a 33-yard TD run. Defensively, his three solo tackles led the team.
But don’t let anyone think he did it all alone. Senior Hayden Mariani led receivers with five catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Eduardo Diaz Ledesma followed with two catches for 18 yards and a touchdown. He also made three tackles altogether, including assists, as did Augie Strode and Dillan Jocius—who also had a rushing touchdown.
Rea’s numbers as quarterback were actually better than Willits’ starter Corey Rockey’s, who passed for fewer yards and only one touchdown. But the Wolverines won the game on the ground, amassing 311 yards rushing led by junior Isaac Silva.
The weary Greyhounds returned home late Friday after chasing the ball up and down the field. This week they can expect the same sort of hour-long commute except with more cars on the road. San Rafael is the opponent, currently sporting a 2-1 record but, like the Greyhounds, with league games yet to be played.
The next home game for the Hounds is the following Friday, Oct. 3, against Novato, another league school. The game starts at 7pm at Rec Park. Be ready for some action.
