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High school football previews
Fort Bragg's Brent Moyer steps up and throws in the first half of the Timberwolves game against St. Vincent in Petaluma on Saturday afternoon Sept. 27, 2008.
Scott Manchester / The Press DemocratPublished: Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 5:32 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 11:38 p.m.
TONIGHT’S GAMES
Cardinal Newman (7-0, 4-0) at Rancho Cotate (7-0, 4-0), 7:30 p.m.
Looks like the game of the year with the Cardinals’ high octane offense matching up against Rancho’s dynamic defensive line (42 sacks). Newman’s lowest point total was 34 in a win against Palma. Jeff Badger and Joe Ferguson have rushed for a combined 1,000 yards and 15 TDs. QB Randy Wright has completed 69 percent of his passes for 1,360 yards, 19 TDs and has just one interception. Rancho soph Brian Dworkin rushed for 242 yards last week against Ukiah and is close to 800 for the season. QB Cody Allen is close to 500 yards rushing. Winner of this game has inside track to NBL championship.
Ukiah (6-1, 3-1) at Maria Carrillo (5-2, 3-1), 7:30 p.m.
The winner of this game moves into a tie with the loser of Newman-Rancho for second place in the NBL. Ukiah is coming off a 35-32 loss to Rancho, in a game the Wildcats seemed to have won. QB Kyle Morris threw for 260 yards and two TDs and avoided Rancho’s rush much of the night. Carrillo is still banged up, but getting good performances from QB Hunter Odom and RBs Sam Atoe and Terry Reid. Reid, a rugby player from New Zealand, dropped kicked a 27-yard field goal last week.
Petaluma (4-3, 3-0) at Sonoma (2-5, 2-2), 7:30 p.m.
The Trojans are starting to roll and on a wet night it can be especially difficult to stop their triple option running game. Petaluma is coming off a 45-7 win against Analy. Sean Sullivan rushed for 160 yards and two TDs on just eight carries. Sonoma lost 35-0 to Casa Grande. Petaluma is the only undefeated team in the SCL.
El Molino (3-5, 1-3) at Healdsburg (6-1, 2-1), 7:30 p.m.
El Molino hasn’t won since its upset over Analy in the Golden Apple Game, losing 38-7 last week to Windsor. Healdsburg is coming off a bye and has consecutive league wins against Windsor and Sonoma. Healdsburg co-league champs last season, still has to play Petaluma.
Montgomery (1-5-1, 1-3) at
Santa Rosa (2-5, 1-3), 7:30 p.m.
Still referred to as the ‘Big Game’, this one looks fairly even, although Montgomery has dominated the series. Montgomery stayed close to Newman for a half and junior QB Max Heller has played well the last couple of weeks. Santa Rosa, another team hit hard by injuries, routed Piner, 34-6, last week and continues to run the single wing offense.
Middletown (6-1, 1-0) at Fort Bragg (6-1, 2-0), 7:30 p.m.
One of the biggest games of the year on the small-school level. Both teams have been cruising since close early-season losses to St. Vincent. No. 3-ranked Middletown has shut out three of its last four opponents and yielded just one TD last week in a 35-7 win over St. Helena. Fort Bragg has scored 62 points against Lower Lake and Kelseyville in each of its last two games. Jake Cimolino rushed for 356 yards and four TDs last week and is well over 1,000 yards. Middletown won last year 21-0 and 35-0 in 2006.
St. Vincent (7-0, 2-0) at Clear Lake (4-2-1, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.
The winner of this game takes command of a league title. Clear Lake won last year, 14-7, on the way to an NCL I South championship. The last time the Mustangs played on the road it was in a rainstorm at Willits and won by a touchdown. It could be deja vu all over again. Clear Lake edged Cloverdale, 32-29, last week. St. Vincent came from behind to beat Cloverdale, 20-14.
St. Helena (4-3, 1-0) at Cloverdale (3-4, 0-2), 7:30 p.m.
St. Helena is coming off a 35-7 loss to Middletown, but has a league win over Upper Lake. Cloverdale is one of the hard-luck teams, losing by three to Clear Lake and by six to St. Vincent. Both teams have solid running games.
Tomales (4-2, 3-0) at Anderson Valley (5-0, 5-0), 7:30 p.m.
Obviously, the winner of this game looks like a good bet to win the NCL II championship. Tomales had a bye last week and hasn’t had a close league game. Anderson Valley has played only league and edged RVC last week, 14-12, after beating Pt. Arena, 30-28.
Lower Lake (0-7, 0-1) at Kelseyville (3-3-1, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.
It hasn’t been much of a season for the Trojans after last year’s reversal of fortune netted them an NCL I North title. But coach Stan Weiper was the longtime coach at Kelseyville, which is coming off a rout of Willits.
Upper Lake (3-4, 0-2) at Willits (0-7, 0-2), 7:30 p.m.
Upper Lake has lost three in a row, including 28-7 last week at St. Vincent. Willits’ offense has not gotten untracked and is coming off a 47-0 loss to Kelseyville.
Calistoga (2-5, 1-2) at Potter Valley (2-5, 1-3), 7:30 p.m.
The Wildcats didn’t play last week after defeating Laytonville in its last action. Potter Valley’s league win came against Point Arena, but was blanked 52-0 by Tomales a week ago.
RV Christian (3-2) at Calif. School for the Deaf (2-5), 7 p.m.
Rincon Valley has lost its last two game, 14-12 to Anderson Valley and 34-16 to St. Bernard. One of CSD’s wins has come against Potter Valley, 28-19.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Elsie Allen (1-6, 0-4) at Piner (1-6, 0-4), 1 p.m.
The Lobos are coming off a 53-6 loss to Maria Carrillo, while Piner lost to Santa Rosa, 34-6, last week.
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