The Lions and Tigers suffered a similar fate in their Sonoma
County League football openers last Friday, as the Tigers fell to
Healdsburg, 21-7, while the Lions dropped a 48-7 decision to
Petaluma.
This Friday, both teams will be looking to rebound when Analy
hosts El Mo in the 44th annual Golden Apple Bowl in
Sebastopol.
Tigers fall from the ranks of the unbeaten
Analy saw its vaunted aerial attack grounded in Friday’s game at
Recreation Park, as Healdsburg held the Tiger’s star sophomore
quarterback Jake Zanutto to just 105 yards through the air. The
ground game was nearly non existent, as the Tigers ran for a net
total of just 19 yards.
The loss was the first of the year for Analy, which fell to 4-1
overall and 0-1 in league. Although disappointing, the setback may
have come at the perfect time.
“Losing to Healdsburg may have been a blessing in disguise for
us,” said Tiger head coach Dan Bourdon. “It allows us to re-focus
and get ready for El Molino.”
The Hounds played a nearly flawless game on Friday, as
quarterback Killian Collins threw for 180 yards, while running back
Dillon Cattalini amassed a total of 227 yards from scrimmage.
The game started well enough for the Tigers, as Zanutto drove
his team deep into Healdsburg territory on the opening possession.
The Hounds’ defense held on a fourth and short, taking over on
downs at the Healdsburg 39.
The Greyhounds, employing an effective no-huddle offense and a
good mix of run and pass, proceeded to mount an impressive scoring
drive. Collins engineered a 71-yard march that was highlighted by
key completions to receiver Ian Gallagher, and capped by a two-yard
scoring burst from Cattalini. Kicker Thomas Kozel added the PAT
boot and the Hounds led 7-0.
Healdsburg took full command of the line of scrimmage on its
next possession, driving 77 yards to the house for a two-touchdown
bulge. The drive culminated in a three-yard touchdown scamper from
Cattalini, putting the Hounds up 14-0 at the break.
Healdsburg put the hammer down on its second possession of the
third quarter, when a short field led to a 45-yard scoring drive.
Cattalini set things up with a 33-yard gain on a screen pass to the
Analy six. Collins capped the short march with a six-yard touchdown
strike to Nick Sweeney for a 21-0 advantage at the end of
three.
The Tigers refused to go quietly in the final period, as
all-purpose receiver Julian Titus-Patino took over as quarterback
for Zanutto. With time running down, Titus-Patino engineered the
Tigers’ best march of the night, culminating in a six-yard scoring
strike to star receiver Chris Bostock for the eventual 21-7 Hound’s
win.
Zanutto finished the night completing 12 of 21 passes for 105
yards. Titus-Patino was successful on four of eight pass attempts
for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Leading the receiving corps were Ryan Beretta (5-66 yards),
Issak Olsen (1-15 yards), Titus-Patino (3-37 yards receiving, 6-32
yards rushing), and Bostock (6-58 yards, TD).
Trojans power past Lions
The good news in Forestville on Friday was that the Lions
improved on last year’s 57-0 shellacking at the hands of Petaluma.
The bad news- they still lost by 41 points.
This time around, the Petaluma ground game was nearly
unstoppable, churning up 492 yards in rushing offense.
“We knew it was going to be tough against them,” said El Mo
coach Mike Roan. “They have all the pieces they need to be a great
team.”
The Lions were able to move the ball early, as quarterback
Michael Pierson led his team on an impressive drive into the Trojan
red zone. The march ended in a missed field goal.
Petaluma got it going midway through the first quarter when
running back Sean Sullivan busted loose for a 41-yard dash and a
7-0 lead. The Trojans cashed in on their next possession when a
nice drive led to a two-yard scoring dive from Ricky Sims and a
14-0 lead at the end of one. Petaluma gained separation in the
second period with another 33-yard scoring burst by Sullivan,
followed by a five-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mike Russell
for a 28-0 bulge at the break.
The Lions (2-3, 0-1) got on the board in dramatic fashion in the
third quarter, when Pierson hooked up with junior big-play man Joe
Douglass on a 45-yard scoring strike. Josh Hoener added the PAT
boot and the Lions trailed, 28-7. The Trojans would finish off a
dominant performance with a three-yard touchdown run by Drew
Pawlan, followed by a 25-yard scoring burst by Casey Rodd in the
final period en route to a 48-7 win.
Pierson ended his night 15 of 32 for 200 yards passing, one
touchdown, and three interceptions. Douglass finished up with six
receptions for 119 yards and a score.
