The painful truth about playoff football is that only one team
can finish the season with a victory.
That reality hit home on a chilly night in Middletown on
Saturday, as the fourth-seeded Mustangs turned back fifth-seeded El
Molino, 27-13 in the North Coast Section, Division-4
quarterfinals.
The loss put an abrupt end to the Lion’s best season in over a
decade, finishing the year with an overall record of 7-5.
El Mo’s quest for a coveted NCS title was a season of
accomplishment, equaling the win total of the past three years
combined. The Lions were arguably the most improved team in the
North Bay during the fall season, posting a 3-3 record in the tough
Sonoma County League and highlighted by a heart-stopping, 24-17
overtime win over Analy on Oct. 15 in the 46th Golden Apple
Bowl.
“It was a great season,” said El Mo head coach Mike Roan. “I’m
proud of the way these guys believed in themselves all season long,
up until the very end. Our seniors will be sorely missed, not only
for their talent, but their leadership and commitment.”
The Lions opened the postseason with a 35-0 rout over
Kelseyville on Nov. 20 to set up the second-round clash at
Middletown.
Saturday’s game began as a defensive battle, as the teams played
a scoreless first quarter. But the Mustangs would use the power
tandem of running backs Jake Davis (189 yards rushing) and David
Pike (151 yards) to score three times in an explosive second period
to grab a commanding, 20-0 lead at the half.
The Lions clawed back in the third quarter, as quarterback Mike
Pierson directed a scoring drive culminating in a 25-yard touchdown
pass to senior receiver Joe Douglass to make it a 27-7 game at the
end of three. Pierson would hook up with senior wide-out Jordan
Nordby on a 14-yard scoring pass in the final quarter, but the
Mustangs held on to an eventual, 27-13 win.
Pierson finished up one of the best seasons ever for a Lion’s
signal-caller, completing 15 of 37 pass attempts for 151 yards and
a pair of touchdowns. For the season, he threw for 1,705 yards and
18 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, adding two scores on
the ground.
Other offensive standouts against Middletown were Tommy
Krausmann (16-86 yards rushing), Nordby (5-55 yards receiving, TD),
and Douglass (5-43 yards receiving, TD).
Defensive stalwarts included Douglass (13 tackles, INT), Dylan
Licciardo (13 tackles, fumble recovery), and Jared Garner (5
tackles).
Injury notes
Junior all-purpose back/receiver Chet “The Jet” Lambert suffered
a concussion in the first half of Saturday’s game and did not
return. He’s expected to make a full recovery.
