Trojans write their own script

<p>WINDSOR — Windsor was primed for the upset. The Jaguars were ready to deny Petaluma at least a tie for the Sonoma County League title. The stands were packed Friday night at the Jaguars’ new field. The fans were excited and highly vocal, they could sense an upset in the making. Everything was in place.</p><p>Evidently, Petaluma didn’t get the memo. The Trojans (9-0, 5-0 SCL) remained undefeated, crushing the Jaguars 55-21. So, now only a win against Healdsburg remains between them and a perfect regular season, their first since 1989. Windsor (6-3, 3-2) needed to win to retain any chance of winning or sharing the SCL crown.</p><p>Getting to 10-0 will not be a walk in the park against the Greyhounds, who will be looking to end the season on a high note after a 25-14 loss to Casa Grande, the defending SCL champs. Casa (8-1, 4-1) remained one game behind Petaluma with one to play. Petaluma clinched at least a share of the SCL title. </p><p>Petaluma’s potent ground attack did plenty of damage in the first half. Sean Sullivan and Ricky Sims, running behind a powerful offensive line that controlled the line of scrimmage, had 169 yards rushing. Sims, who gets most of his yardage between the tackles, broke a 63-yard run in the second quarter and piled up 99 yards in the first half. He had touchdown runs of 2, 2 and 6 yards.</p><p>Sullivan, the Trojans’ leading rusher, broke his single-season rushing record on his second carry, just two minutes into the game on a 7-yard scamper. Sullivan then tacked on another 54 in the first half, including a 37-yard touchdown sprint that gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead. He finished with 74 yards to raise his total to 1,227.</p><p>“I think our team can run against anyone when the O-line does their job. I give them all the credit, I just carry the ball,” Sims said. “They make me look good.”</p><p>Later in the first quarter, Sims got his 14th TD on a 2-yard smash. The Trojans led 14-0 at the end of one and 28-14 at the half. Quarterback Mike Russell bolted off right tackle for a 6-yard score and then found Joe Soares open in the corner for a 12-yard strike.</p><p>“It starts with the offensive line,” said Petaluma coach Steve Ellison. “They were getting off the ball. I thought Russell did a great job of running the team. I have a lot of respect for Windsor’s defense, they are a physical team. I expected a tough game.”</p><p>Windsor had several good drives hurt with fumbles. Late in the first quarter, the Jaguars drove to the Trojans’ 22 before the Petaluma defense stopped them on fourth down. A 9-yard loss on a mishandled pitch was the stumbling block. Then an 8-yard loss on a fumble cost them a possible score late in the second quarter.</p><p>Michael Campbell provided the Jaguars’ score on a 12-yard pass from D.J. King. Campbell set up the score with a nice 13-yard catch as he was being smashed. King also had a 26-yard strike down the middle to his favorite target, C.J. Landwehr.</p><p>Steven Hutchinson led the Jaguars with 131 yards rushing and 3-yard TD score. Dalton Johnson electrified the crowd with a 78-yard kickoff return for Petaluma. Late in the game, Ellison had many of his reserves in the game, both on defense and offense. Will Walls, an offensive lineman, got into the action with a pair of carries for positive yards.</p><p>Ryan Dentoni completed the night for Petaluma with a 7-yard run with 23 seconds remaining. The score came after a Windsor fumble, one of four in the game. A second bad snap over the punter’s head set up one of Sims’ 2-yard scores. It was that kind of game for the Jaguars, who did a lot right, but made too many mistakes to stay with the Press Democrat’s top-ranked team.</p><p>Ellison said he expects a tough game against Healdsburg. The Trojans will need to defeat the Greyhounds, most likely, to win the championship outright.</p><p>“They will be gunning for us,” he said. “They are a well-coach team.</p>