Pigskin fever is in the air once again as West County football
teams are set to open the fall campaign with renewed hope and
optimism.
Both Analy and El Molino will take the field this Friday, as the
Lions play host to visiting Berean Christian, while the Tigers
entertain Terra Linda at Karlson Field. Kickoff times beginning
with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Lions looking for winning season
Veteran head coach Mike Roan returns for his fifth season,
brimming with optimism that his squad will be the surprise team
this fall.
“I have a good feeling about this year- I think we have a good
chance to win some games,” said Roan. “If our line comes together
and we’re able to run the ball, I think we’ll be a better team than
last year.”
With just 27 players expected to suit up on Friday, the small
roster will dictate the necessity for many players to go both ways.
However, the Lions will feature talent at many of the skill
positions, and the brain-trust remains hopeful that their charges
can overcome the lack of depth.
“The key will be to keep our guys healthy through the first few
games until they get used to playing all the time,” noted Roan. “We
have a nice collection of players that hang together, with good
chemistry and leadership.”
The Lions are coming off of a 3-7 season in 2008, with their
lone league win coming in dramatic fashion- a 21-19 victory over
Analy in the 43rd Golden Apple Bowl.
The team will be led on offense by returning junior quarterback
Michael Pierson, who saw limited action last year, but has shown a
remarkable improvement in all phases.
“Pierson has made great strides in the off-season and is way
further along in knowledge and experience than he was last year,”
said Roan.
Pierson will be joined in the backfield by senior running back
Quante Brinson, who looks poised for a big season. Other running
backs expected to contribute are seniors Tommy Krausmann, and TJ
Monticello, and juniors Dylan Licciardo, and Jeff Rollings, the
latter currently rehabbing from off-season knee surgery.
Returning junior captain and wide receiver Joe Douglass is among
the team leaders, and will play a huge role in the Lion’s fortunes.
Other receivers are: junior Jordan Nordby, and talented sophomore
Chet Lambert. Senior tight end Dakota Lerner-Ross is an
outstanding blocker and pass catcher.
Manning the offensive line are: junior right tackle Gary Hill,
senior right guard Max Gram, junior center Ben Rhoades, junior left
guard Angel Razo, and junior left tackle Aren Vierra.
Toree Smith will open the season as the Lion’s kicker for PATs
and field goals, while Pierson handles the punting chores.
The defensive line will consist of ends Vierra, junior Hayden
Gutsch, senior Peter Minnifield, and interior linemen; senior Matt
Howard, and junior Jared Garner.
The line-backing corps will include: inside backers Gram and
Monticello, and outside backers Lerner-Ross, Brinson, senior Connor
Williamson, and Smith.
The defensive backfield will be manned by cornerbacks Lambert,
Nordby, and free safety Douglass. Also in the mix are juniors;
Krausmann, Hayden Gregonis, Spencer Hansen, and Garrett Afman.
The Lions will have a distinct home-field advantage this season,
with six of 10 home games on the schedule.
Young Tigers hope for return to playoffs
The 2009 Tigers may be young and largely untested, but they’ll
give second-year returning head coach Dan Bourdon plenty of
options. The Tiger coach hopes for a smoother journey this season,
following the wild rollercoaster season experienced by his team a
year ago that saw the team win its first five games before dropping
its final six.
“We lost a lot of kids to graduation last year, so our team is
young,” said Bourdon. “Obviously, we’d like to do as well as we did
last year, but we just want to be as competitive as possible. I’m
really excited to see how we play this Friday.”
The Tigers will be counting on a fast learning curve at several
key positions, most notably with promising sophomore quarterback
Jake Zanutto. The strong armed signal-caller looks like a star in
the making, but a lot will depend on his supporting cast. Top
running backs include; senior Nick Calkins, and junior Cooper
Maloney.
Another key player is junior all-purpose man Julian
Titus-Patino, a great athlete who figures to touch the ball often.
The Tigers will move him around, lining up at wide-out and in the
slot. Other contributors to the receiving corps are; seniors Chris
Bostock, Ryan Beretta, Wade Kaser, and junior Issak Olsen.
Three-year senior left tackle Brandon Riebli will be a force on
the offensive line, joined by seniors; left guard Kia Fuivia,
center James Libby, right guard Robert Leon, junior right tackle
Sean Benfield, and junior Jimmy Pitkin.
Sal Torres will handle both the kicking and punting chores.
The defensive line will include: ends Libby, and Pitkin, while
inside men are Riebli, Benfield, and senior Cory Corcran.
The line-backers are: Fuivia, junior Dallas Hamilton, Leon, and
senior Matt Michelsen. The DBs include senior Bo Swift,
Titus-Patino, sophomore Mark Adams, and safeties Torres, Calkins,
Maloney, and Olsen.
Mark your calendars
One of the highlights of the season will no doubt come on
Friday, Oct. 9, when the Tigers host the Lions in the 44th edition
of the Golden Apple Bowl.
2009 Analy football schedule
Friday, Sept. 4 – Terra Linda @ Analy, 5/7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – Analy @ Piner, 10 a.m./1 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 18 – San Marin @ Analy, 5/7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26 – Analy @ Santa Rosa, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 2 – Analy @ Healdsburg, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 9 – El Molino @ Analy, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 16 – Analy @ Casa Grande, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 23 – Petaluma @ Analy, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 – Bye
Friday, Nov. 6 – Analy @ Sonoma, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 13 – Windsor @ Analy, 5/7:30 p.m.
2009 El Molino football schedule
Friday, Sept. 4 – Berean Christian @ El Molino, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11 – Fortuna @ El Molino, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 18 – El Molino @ Elsie Allen, 5/7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26 – El Molino @ Piner, 10 a.m./1 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 2 – Petaluma @ El Molino, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 9 – El Molino @ Analy, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 16 – Sonoma @ El Molino, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 23 – El Molino @ Windsor, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 – Healdsburg @ El Molino, 5/7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 6 – Bye
Friday, Nov. 13 – Casa Grande @ El Molino, 5/7:30 p.m.
