Casa Grande sparkles in win over Sonoma

Casa Grande had too many offensive weapons for host Sonoma Valley, and the Gauchos rolled to a lopsided 41-6 victory at Arnold Field Friday night.

Almost every club in the bag was effective for coach Trent Herzog’s team as it dominated field position by limiting the Dragons to only two trips across the mid-field stripe.

Quarterback Nick Sherry and running back Kahill Keys were the statistical leaders, but the Gauchos got a complete team effort to run off their second consecutive convincing victory. Sherry completed 12 of 18 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, while Keys had his best rushing total of the season, with 157 yards and a pair of scores in three quarters of play.

Herzog was encouraged by the play of the Gauchos, who fielded an entire healthy roster after battling the flu bug for three weeks. “They were all out there tonight,” he said. “We moved the ball very well behind all five players on offensive line, and it looked like Casa Grande football again. Nick Fausone was outstanding.”

The Gauchos quickly took the energy out of a late-arriving Sonoma crowd on homecoming night by rushing to a 20-0 first-half lead.

Two-way performers Makana Garrigan and Conner Waggoner made important stops on the defensive side of the ball by combining for 11 tackles in addition to some good work when Casa Grande had the ball. Junior linebacker Alan Vargas chipped in with six tackles to increase his team leading total to 51 for the season.

Sherry created an immediate buzz from the Sonoma spectators by completing three passes on a 66-yard touchdown march in the first quarter. The lanky quarterback calmly picked out Javonnie Oden on a pair of completions, and finished the job with a 10-yard scoring strike to Garrigan in the end zone.

Casa Grande scored twice in the second quarter in the space of 15 seconds. A couple of loud tackles by Waggoner and a critical Dragon penalty on a fake kick turned over the ball to the Gauchos on their 17-yard line.

Keys broke a 42-yard run to highlight an 83-yard march on only eight plays from scrimmage, and he bulled it in from the four to give Casa a two-touchdown advantage. Keys also scored on a two point PAT, and it was 14-0.

It didn’t take long for the Gauchos to strike again. In fact, it happed on the next play from scrimmage. Waggoner alertly picked up a Sonoma fumble after a short delay and bolted past the dazed Dragons for 21 yards and a touchdown.

Waggoner came back after the homecoming show at halftime to hook up with Sherry for pass completions of 9, 41 and 10 yards. The last pass was good for his second touchdown, and the Gauchos were in complete command, 27-0.

Casa Grande stuffed the next series on a couple of Garrigan tackles and an 11-yard sack by onrushing 180-pound Matt Samet.

The visitors then quickly drove 45 yards to score again. Sherry connected with Keys on two first-down pass plays to keep the drive alive. Keys then broke into the open field on a 24-yard scoring run.

Herzog and his staff liberally substituted in the final quarter. Sherry was lifted in favor of Jimmy Cerf, but the Gaucho onslaught continued without missing a beat.

Cerf completed two passes and Oden broke for the final touchdown on a 22-yard running play.

Finally, the Dragons gave the home folks something to cheer about when they marched into Casa Grande territory for the only time in the half. Powered by the determined running of senior back Jordan Winslow, the Sonoma team got the ball inside the red zone. Winslow's 16-yard run was the longest play from scrimmage for the night by the Dragons.

It appeared that the Gauchos might stop the long, game-ending march on a fourth-and-long play, but quarterback Steve Murden connected with Cody Montgomery in front of a Casa defender for six points from the 8-yard line.

Herzog was quick to credit Waggoner and Garrigan on their play on both offense and defense. “Both of those kids are smart and they have heart,” he said. “They stand for the type of program that Rick O’Brien developed here.”

Waggoner led the Gaucho receivers with four catches good for a total of 77 yards and a touchdown. Oden hauled in three passes for 36 yards.

Brayan Araiza was in on four defensive plays for Casa, including a 10-yard sack of Murden. Waggoner finished with six individual tackles.

Casa Grande looked strong in building late-season momentum with its second straight Sonoma County League victory, to keep its post-season hopes alive. The Gauchos improved to 6-1 for the season. Sonoma Valley slipped to 1-3 in league and 3-5 for the season.

The preliminary game had a similar tone, with Casa rushing to a comfortable lead and allowing a late score in a 26-6 victory.