Week two of the football pre-season held vastly different
results for West County high school teams, as Analy ran past Piner,
39-14, while El Molino stumbled in a 44-7 loss to Fortuna.
Lions’
forgettable night
When all is said and done this fall, Friday’s nightmarish loss
to visiting Fortuna will no doubt serve as the low-light of the
season. Very little went right for the Lions, including three
interceptions thrown by quarterback Michael Pierson that were
returned for touchdowns.
The dismal performance is one that players and coaches will be
quick to put behind them.
The lone highlight of the game for the Lions came in the second
quarter when El Mo senior linebacker Dakota Lerner-Ross scooped up
a fumble and raced 75 yards for a touchdown.
“Sure we’re disappointed, but not discouraged,” said El Mo head
coach Mike Roan. “We just need a win right now to re-gain some
confidence.” The El Mo JV squad dropped a barn-burner to Fortuna,
31-26.
The Lions will look to get off the schneid this Friday when they
travel to take on Elsie Allen in Santa Rosa. Game times are 5 and
7:30 p.m.
Tigers on a roll
Any Tiger fans anticipating a rebuilding season could be in for
a pleasant surprise this year, as Analy continues to roll over
pre-season opponents. The Tigers made Piner its latest victim,
overcoming an early 14-6 deficit with 33 unanswered points.
The host Prospectors, featuring a huge line, figured to test the
Tigers’ ability to control the line of scrimmage, but it was
actually Piner that wore down in the second half.
The Tigers fell behind early in the first quarter when Piner
mounted a 90-second march ending in a short scoring pass for a 7-0
lead. A failed on-side kick attempt gave Analy the ball at
midfield, and the Tigers cashed in moments later on a wild, pass
deflection that was hauled in by receiver Issak Olsen who raced 45
yards for a touchdown. The PAT kick failed and Analy trailed,
7-6.
Piner came right back on its next possession, mounting a
seven-play, 90 yard drive that ended with an eight-yard scoring run
for a 14-6 bulge. It would serve as the high-water mark of the day
for the Prospectors.
Analy would use a fumble recovery from linebacker Matt Michelsen
to start its next drive, culminating in a spectacular, six-yard
leaping touchdown grab by Chris Bostock. The Tigers failed on the
two-point conversion try and trailed, 14-12.
It was all Tigers from that point on, as emerging sophomore
quarterback Jake Zanutto led his team on a decisive march that led
to a 20-yard scoring dash from Cooper Maloney, followed by the PAT
kick from Sal Torres for a 19-14 lead.
The Analy defense stepped up, when defensive back Bo Swift
picked off the first of his three interceptions to kill a Piner
threat. Bostock broke loose on a 53-yard pass play with seven
minutes left in the half to set up a seven-yard scoring burst by
Julian Titus-Patino for a 25-14 halftime lead.
Analy’s stout defensive unit continued to throttle the
Prospectors in a scoreless third quarter. The Tigers would ice the
contest in the final period with a one-yard touchdown dive by
Zanutto and a 39-yard scoring dash from Andrew Dannenbring en route
to a 39-14 win.
The JV squad beat Piner 21-12.
Zanutto turned in another outstanding game in leading the
offensive unit, completing, six of 17 pass attempts for 137 yards
and two scores.
Top ground-gainers included: Maloney (8-134 yards, TD), Nick
Calkins (12-65 yards), Dannenbring (1-39 yards, TD), Zanutto (5-11
yards, TD), and Titus-Patino (2-5 yards. Leading the receiving
corps were: Olsen (3-76 yards, TD), and Bostock (3-61 yards,
TD).
Top defenders included: Adams (3 tackles, 4 assists, INT), Swift
(3 tackles, 5 assists, 3 INTs), Maloney (5 tackles, 6 assists,
caused fumble), Kia Fuivia (3 tackles, 3 assists), Eli Alcantar
(tackle, 3 assists), Olsen (3 tackles, 4 assists), Calkins (2
tackles, 6 assists), Brandon Riebli (2 tackles, 3 assists, caused
fumble), Dallas Hamilton (2 tackles, 4 assists), Michelsen (tackle,
2 assists, FR), Brandon Mantooth (tackle, 2 assists), Sean Benfield
(2 tackles), and James Libby (tackle, 2 assists), and a tackle each
from Bostock, Torres, Shane Pitkin, Tanner Fox, and Dominic
Fomasi.
