You know, it's true what they say about the rivalry between Casa Grande and Petaluma.
The coaches respect each other, the players - many of whom grew up together - like each other and the annual contest is typically marked by hard play and good sportmanship. Well, not to worry. There wasn't a negative vibe Saturday when the Gauchos visited the Trojans in the 18th annual Egg Bowl.
But if the game, yet again, lacked trash talking, this year it did feature quite a tail-whipping.
In a stunning display of second-half dominance that lacked a certain friendliness, Petaluma scored 26 straight points to pound Casa Grande, 40-14, in a highly anticipated meeting between unbeaten intra-city and Sonoma County League rivals.
The Trojans improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1992 and handed the Gauchos, winners of six straight SCL titles, their worst regular-season loss in seven years. It was Petaluma's most lopsided win in the 35-year-old series since it beat Casa Grande 57-0 in 1996.
Petaluma's offense, which had 246 of its 371 rushing yards in the second half, was headlined by electrifying senior running back Sean Sullivan, who had 193 yards and second-half scoring runs of 20 and 74 yards. The defense, which harrassed Casa Grande quarterback Nick Sherry into five turnovers, was led by cornerback Dalton Johnson, who had two of the Trojans' four interceptions.
"We were on them the whole game," Petaluma fullback Ricky Sims said. "We played every down exactly the same - like it was going to be our last."
The Trojans' effort forced four first-half turnovers and helped them jump out to a 14-0 second-quarter lead. But despite the miscues and early hole, Casa Grande (4-1, 1-1 SCL) rallied to forge a 14-14 deadlock at halftime thanks to touchdowns runs of 57 and 1 yard by senior running back Kahlil Keys (18 carries, 132 yards).
The Trojans had, seemingly, delivered their best shot. And they were right back where they started.
"I think some deflation existed when we walked in at halftime," Petaluma coach Steve Ellison said. "But by the time we walked out, the focus was there again. There was no strategy involved there. The strategy came from the kids. They just buckled up their chinstrap, whatever you want to call it. They just turned it up a notch."
No kidding.
The Trojans outgained the Gauchos 277-74 in the final two quarters and, when it was over, the schools separated by 3.5 miles were separated by four touchdowns.
The tone was set immediately when the Gauchos opened the second half with a squib kick, a strategy designed to keep the ball away from Sullivan. However, the Trojans recovered the squib and Sims (15 carries, 79 yards) gave Petaluma a 21-14 lead nine plays later with a 3-yard run, his second touchdown of the day.
In response, the Gauchos went three-and-out and a short punt gave Petaluma the ball at Casa Grande's 30-yard line, establishing a pattern.
Casa Grande managed one first down and 18 yards on its first three second-half posessions. As a result, the Trojans began three of their first four second-half drives inside the Gauchos' 46.
When Casa Grande began its fourth possession, Petaluma led 33-14 with 8:50 remaining.
"You can't give a good team like that field position like that with the game breakers they have in Sean Sullivan and Ricky Sims," said Casa Grande coach Trent Herzog. "... The better team won today. They were the better team today and they deserve it. They've got a great football team."
Indeed, the Trojans were good enough to stifle Sherry, a rocket-armed 6-foot-5, 215- pound junior who had completed 58 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and one interception in his first four varsity starts.
Sherry, who threw four interceptions and lost a fumble, completed 9 of 21 passes for 82 yards. Linebacker Drew Pawlan and safety Joe Soares also had interceptions, and linebacker Braeden Ross forced a fumble with a first-quarter sack.
"I kind of let the pressure get to me," Sherry said. "I didn't do what I did in practice. I think I was getting too hyped. I was trying to force stuff and trying to make stuff happen when I should have just thrown it away."
Johnson, a senior who missed last week's game against El Molino with a shoulder injury, clearly returned at full strength. Besides his interceptions, he also broke up several long passes and added a 35-yard touchdown reception from Mike Russell to give Petaluma a 27-14 third-quarter lead.
"Sherry's a great talent, he's going to have a great career for sure," Johnson said. "But we worked on his tendencies all week and we were ready."
Petaluma took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter and Sullivan provided the exclamation points in the final 12 minutes.
In a span of two minutes and 47 seconds, the 5-8, 160-pound speedster broke loose for the long touchdown runs. Sullivan, who has 888 yards and is averaging 10.8 yards a carry this season, credited an offensive line composed of seniors Reggie Baker, Shawn Swanson, Justin Wambold and Nick Ziegenhagen, and junior Tama Emanuele.
"There were holes all over the place," Sullivan said. "I really could pick anywhere I wanted to go."
Like their star running back, it appears the Trojans are going places. Petaluma is in position to post its first perfect regular-season record since 1989 and its first league title since 2002.
But those achievements will have to be earned. Next up is 5-1 Analy, and games against Windsor (4-1) and Healdsburg (5-1) will conclude the regular season.
"When Monday comes, it's all about Analy," Sullivan said. "We want to go 10-0 and take this as far as we can."
For more Empire high school sports coverage, please visit Eric Branch's prep sports blog at prepsports.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.
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