http://www.pressdemocrat.com Local News from The Press Democrat en-us Copyright, http://www.pressdemocrat.com Editorial http://www.pressdemocrat.com http://www.pressdemocrat.com/images/logo2.gif http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091126/sports/911269963
]]> Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys had their way with the Oakland Raiders, piling up their most yards of the season and getting another solid performance from the defense. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:29:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091126/sports/911269963 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091126/sports/911269965
]]> Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye is confident the 49ers have found their quarterback of the future. Now, if Alex Smith can demonstrate the same confidence, the 49ers might be onto something. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:21:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091126/sports/911269965 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091126/sports/911269947
]]> Petaluma coach Steve Ellison, 65, leads unbeaten and top-seeded Petaluma against No. 9 Cardinal Newman today in the North Coast Section Division II quarterfinals. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:57:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091126/sports/911269947 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091126/sports/911269971
]]> Press Democrat staff writer Eric Branch provides information and predictions for Friday night's playoff games. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:13:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091126/sports/911269971 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259886
]]> At Tom Cable's press conference Monday, someone asked him if he had any specific plans for celebrating Thanksgiving. “Win,” the Raiders coach said. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:04:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259886 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259889
]]> WHERE: Cowboys Stadium, Dallas WHEN: 1:15 p.m. TV: CBS RADIO: KSFO 560-AM THE LINE: Cowboys by 13½ (40½ total) THE SERIES: The Raiders lead 6-3, and have never lost in Dallas (3-0). Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:34:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259889 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259893
]]> SANTA CLARA - Cornerback Tarell Brown surprisingly replaced the 49ers’ highest-priced defensive player in the starting lineup four weeks ago. But it will not be a shock if Brown is demoted Sunday when the 49ers take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at Candlestick Park. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:23:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259893 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259883
]]> SAN ANTONIO - Tony Parker scored 32 points and the San Antonio Spurs overcame another iron man performance by Monta Ellis in a 118-104 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:30:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259883 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259864
]]> CANCUN, Mexico - Freshman sensation John Wall scored a season-best 23 points, including clutch shots in the final minute that sent the game to overtime, and No. 5 Kentucky closed with an eight-point run for a 73-65 victory over gritty Stanford on Wednesday night in the championship game of the Cancun Challenge at the Moon Palace Resort. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:29:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259864 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259865
]]> Marian Hossa scored twice in his first game for Chicago, and the Blackhawks rout San Jose for their eighth straight victory. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:30:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/sports/911259865 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249892
]]> A volleyball season that began with high expectations, then escalated to wildly successful with a share of the Sonoma County League title and a North Coast Section Division II championship, is now downright off-the-charts superb. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:24:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249892 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249903
]]> Santa Rosa Junior College’s women’s soccer season ended Tuesday in the second round of the junior college playoffs with a frustrating home loss to conference rival Cosumnes River. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:13:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249903 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249897
]]> The good news for the Santa Rosa Junior College men's soccer team is that the State Junior College North Regional Tournament is down to a Final Four and SRJC is still involved. The bad news is that the Bear Cubs' opponent in Saturday's semifinals will be the tournament's No. 1 seed, Taft, and SRJC will have to play the 2 p.m. game at Taft. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:46:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249897 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249915
]]> THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Casa Grande senior Jacque Taylor, one of the top distance runners in Empire history, has verbally committed to the University of North Carolina. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:45:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249915 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249929
]]> WHAT HE DID: Bostock, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver, continued his brilliant season with six catches for 128 yards in 10th-seeded Analy’s 19-17 win over No. 7 Acalanes in the first round of the North Coast Section Division III playoffs. Bostock, who has 50 catches for 951 yards and 11 touchdowns, has caught a TD in eight games and has... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:24:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249929 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249927
]]> WHAT SHE DID: Andrade defended her North Coast Section Div. III cross country title and led the Petaluma girls to their first state finals last weekend in Fresno. The team’s accomplishment was as important to Andrade as her win. “I’m so proud of our girls,” she said. “I’m so excited for our team to go this year. It’s going to be so fun.”... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:28:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249927 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249931
]]> Each week Press Democrat sports writer Eric Branch ranks the Top 5 Large and Small school football teams. Following are his rankings for this week: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:06:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091124/sports/911249931 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239894
]]> The combo of Jimmy Raye in the booth and Alex Smith on the field will be under the microscope during the season's final month-and-a-half. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:48:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239894 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239916
]]> Bill Belichick, New England’s normally unassailable coach, was all but crucified a week earlier for running a play on fourth-and-2 at his own 28-yard line instead of punting to the Colts with a little over two minutes left in a game the Patriots ultimately lost. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:09:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239916 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239898
]]> The Petaluma girls’ volleyball team will take the next step on its journey into uncharted territory at 7 tonight when the fourth-seeded Trojans play host to Rocklin in the first round of the eight-team NorCal Regionals. The regional champion will meet the Southern California champion on Dec. 5 at UC Irvine in the state-title game. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:08:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239898 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239900
]]> With his team trailing late in its first-round playoff game at Acalanes on Friday night, Analy sophomore quarterback Jake Zanutto attempted an ill-advised pass. It was just the type of high-degree-of-difficulty attempt that had resulted in many of Zanutto’s 21 interceptions this season. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:37:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239900 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239896
]]> Round 1 of the California Community College north regional women’s soccer championships is over and it went according to plan. Sixteen teams seeded Nos.1-16. Gone are Nos.9-16. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:38:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239896 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239914
]]> My blog, the Cohn Zohn, is flooded with comments condemning 49er coach Mike Singletary and his offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:58:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091123/sports/911239914 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229979
]]> Aaron Rodgers made San Francisco pay for a draft-day snub in 2005 and the Green Bay Packers survived a second-half surge by the 49ers for a 30-24 victory Sunday. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:20:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229979 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229977
]]> GREEN BAY, Wis. - Coming off a takeaway fiesta against the Chicago Bears, the 49ers’ defensive backfield knew the standard had been set. Coach Mike Singletary spent extra time in meetings with the 49ers’ secondary last week to emphasize that forcing turnovers was something he expected from the team’s cornerbacks and safeties. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:59:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229977 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229975
]]> After every 49ers' game this season, Press Democxrat staff writer Matt Maiocco grades the Niners' performance. Following are his grades for Sunday's loss at Green Bay: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:02:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229975 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229971
]]> OAKLAND - When Louis Murphy hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Bruce Gradkowski with 33 seconds left, setting up a game-tying extra point against the Cincinnati Bengals, it seemed like a miracle. It wasn’t, at least not compared to what happened next. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:27:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229971 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229969
]]> OAKLAND - Nothing smoothes out the rough patches like a come-from-behind win. If the Raiders hadn’t managed one against the Bengals on Sunday, we’d all be talking about their three potentially crippling turnovers. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:29:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229969 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229967
]]> After every Raiders' home game this season, Press Democrat staff writer Phil Barber will grade the team's performance. Following are his grades for Sunday's effort at the Oakland Coliseum against the Cincinnati Bengals. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:32:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229967 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/news/911229973
]]> OAKLAND - Raiders wide receiver Louis Murphy said JaMarcus Russell is as good as Bruce Gradkowski. This was in answer to a journalist asking him to compare the leadership of both quarterbacks after the Raiders had come back, improbably, to beat the Bengals - largely because of Gradkowski. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:25:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/news/911229973