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]]> 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/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/20091125/video/911252000
]]> The Petaluma High School football team has gone undefeated in regular season, first time since 1989. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:17:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/video/911252000 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/community50/911252001
]]> Outtakes from a video shoot with 6 of the Petaluma High School football players. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:09:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091125/community50/911252001 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/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/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/20091122/sports/911229998
]]> Cardinal Newman won yet again when it mattered most Saturday night. This time, however, the Cardinals did it with seven points. And zero style points. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:32:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091122/sports/911229998 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219985
]]> The Press Democrat will provide live scoring updates from three of Saturday's NCS football playoff games. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:52:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219985 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219947
]]> Sometimes a champion cruises through the competition like a shark through saltwater. And sometimes you need “the error game.” Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:31:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219947 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219958
]]> HAYWARD - More than two miles into their North Coast Section cross country championship duel, Jacque Taylor and Julie Nacouzi were Nos. 1 and 2 respectively and well ahead of the field when Nacouzi surprised herself and Taylor. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:26:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219958 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219952
]]> HAYWARD - Led by a handful of top runners and two particularly strong teams, Empire boys ran a remarkable string of races at the North Coast Section cross country championships on Saturday. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:23:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219952 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219963
]]> It took St. Vincent less than two minutes Saturday afternoon to validate its North Coast Division V lofty ranking. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:49:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219963 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219948
]]> CLOVERDALE — How long does it take a school to become a football power? Well, if you are Valley Christian, one year. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:06:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219948 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219942
]]> Rincon Valley Christian used its superior height to maximum advantage Saturday night, defeating Anderson Valley in straight games. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:43:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091121/sports/911219942 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209855
]]> With four seconds left and the ball six inches away from their end zone, the 11 seniors on Petaluma's defense could almost taste their high school mortality. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:05:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209855 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209862
]]> Down by five points, Rancho Cotate had the ball on Petaluma’s one-yard line Friday night. There was 4.8 seconds left in the game. The Cougars had just completed a 30-yard pass. “I was scared,” said Petaluma’s Ricky Sims. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:16:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209862 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209858
]]> Maria Carrillo was one play away from writing one of the most dramatic endings in the history of its football program. But Casa Grande stole the ink. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:56:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209858 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209856
]]> Montgomery is a North Coast Section Division II playoff fixture. Last year the Vikings sat home and watched, the first time in eight years. Evidently, they didn’t like the experience. On Friday night the Vikings successfully returned to the tournament after their one-year hiatus. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:02:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209856 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209922
]]> The Press Democrat will provide live scoring updates from three NCS football playoff games today. The blog starts at 6:45 p.m. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:03:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209922 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209903
]]> Division II No. 9 Cardinal Newman (6-4) at No. 8 Windsor (6-4), 7 p.m. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:19:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209903 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209875
]]> A fast and deep field of runners could give Sonoma County high schools one of the region’s best showings Saturday at the North Coast Section Cross Country Championships. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:57:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209875 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209870
]]> The top-seeded Petaluma girls’ volleyball team will play for its first North Coast Section title when the Trojans host second-seeded Redwood in the Division II finals at 7 tonight in Petaluma. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:09:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091120/sports/911209870 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199863
]]> The NCS Football Championships begin tonight. Here's a look at the best games to watch. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:51:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199863 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199865
]]> The Montgomery defense has dominated this season thanks to size, speed, quickness and, well, burpies. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:01:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199865 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199868
]]> In the past 31 years, the Casa Grande and Petaluma football programs have combined to win 378 games and make 23 playoff appearances. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:38:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199868