Cardinal Newman vs. Rancho Cotate preview

<p class="bold allcaps">Cardinal Newman vs. Rancho Cotate</p> <p><b>TIME:</b> 7:30 p.m.</p><p><b>TV::</b> Monday, 7 p.m. (tape) Comcast Ch. 400</p><p><b>RUPE’S PICK: </b>Cardinal Newman 31, Rancho Cotate 14</p><p><b>RECORDS: </b>Cardinal Newman (7-0, 4-0 in NBL); Rancho Cotate (7-0, 4-0)</p><p><b>LAST MEETING: </b>Cardinal Newman beat Rancho Cotate, 26-7, in the Redwood Empire 3A championship game last year as QB Max Pond completed his first 10 passes. The Cardinals also beat the Cougars, 29-10, in the regular season in 2007.</p><p><b>WHAT’S AT STAKE</b></p><p>The winner will have the inside track on the North Bay League title. Rancho will end the regular season against Piner (1-6) and Santa Rosa (2-5). Newman finishes against Ukiah (6-1) and Maria Carrillo (5-2).</p><p><b>SPOTTING TRENDS</p><p>CARDINAL NEWMAN: </b>Despite playing a brutal non-league schedule, the Cardinals have only had to sweat out one game, a 34-33 win against Palma. Newman has won its other six games by an average margin of 37 points. WR Wade Amaral has emerged as QB Randy Wright’s favorite target. Amaral has 19 of his 23 catches and all 10 of his TDs in the past four games. Wright has thrown 19 TDs and 1 INT this season. He has thrown 13 TDs and 0 INTs in NBL games.</p><p><b>RANCHO COTATE: </b>The Cougars are allowing an average of 10.6 points a game and have allowed more than 19 points in a game just once this season — in last week’s last-minute 35-32 win at Ukiah. In a triple-option rushing attack averaging 278 yards a game, RB Brian Dworkin, QB Cody Allen and FB Anthony Bernard have amassed 1,522 yards, 23 TDs and are averaging 7.8 yards a carry. Dworkin is averaging 161.8 yards and has scored 9 TDs in his past four games. Rancho’s defense has collected 43 sacks led by DEs Jonathon Torres (10) and Anthony Alicea (10).</p><p><b>QUOTE TO NOTE</b></p><p>“Newman is so precise on offense. We’re hoping to get in the backfield and cause some disruption.”</p><p><i>— Rancho Cotate coach Ed Conroy.</i></p><p><b>Rancho Cotate will win if ... </b>They control the ball and keep Newman’s offense off the field.</p><p><b>Cardinal Newman will win if ...</b> They shut down the Cougars’ triple option and stay balanced on offense.</p><h3>KEY MATCHUPS</h3> <p><b>NEWMAN RBs vs. RANCHO D-LINE</b></p><p>The Cardinals’ Jeff Badger and Joe Ferguson have combined for 1,018 rushing yards. They figure to meet up with the Cougars 310-pound two-way lineman Adam Murray more than once.</p><p><b>RANCHO TRIPLE OPTION vs. NEWMAN D-LINE</b></p><p>Led by running back Brian Dworkin, the Cougars average 278 rushing yards a game. The Cardinals, who feature 275-pound two-way lineman Jacob Gowan, have allowed an average of 3.5 points in four NBL games.</p><p><b>NEWMAN WRs vs. RANCHO SECONDARY</b></p><p>Highlighted by QB Randy Wright and WR Wade Amaral (10 TDs), the Cardinals have thrown 21 TDs and average 210 passing yards a game. Rancho QB/safety Cody Allen had four INTs, two of which he’s returned for scores.</p>