Dissa and data: Montgomery football needs to shore up run defense

The Montgomery High School football team only trailed by one touchdown after the first quarter of Friday’s contest, and the defense that showed up in the first quarter is what needs to stick around in order to get into the win column this season.

The Vikings found themselves trailing 41-0 at half time and finished with 11 turnovers as they let the visiting Napa Indians rush for a total 431 yards.

“That second quarter will never happen again,” quarterback Bryce Burroughs promised head coach Marcella Baustista after the game.

LAY DOWN THE LAW

When Windsor quarterback Max Brown threw a 6-yard pass to teammate Anthony Spallino in Friday’s 21-9 road win against Petaluma, it represented more than one connection.

Brown and Spallino’s fathers have worked together for years as deputies with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, since even before their kids were born.

There are at least four other sons of law enforcement officers on the team, including a Santa Rosa Police Department sergeant’s boy, and the elder Spallino is even the junior varsity coach this year.

NO SHORTAGE OF PLAYERS

Cardinal Newman’s tennis team has more girls on the roster than some football squads in the Redwood Empire. Twenty-four players are participating.

North Bay League play begins Thursday and the Cardinals figure to be one of the top teams. Their top singles players are Anna Hartman, Molly Wolmuth, Rachael McGregor and Gigi Swenson-Aguirre.

NEW JERSEY BOUND

Maria Carrillo’s girls soccer team is flying to New Jersey this weekend where the Pumas play Immaculate Heart Academy on Friday and Northern Highlands the next day. Both matches will be decided on Highlands turf field.

Carrillo has won the North Coast Section Division 1 title four years in a row. The Pumas are off to a 2-0 start this season and haven’t allowed a goal. Claire Howard is the first-team goal keeper and Peyton Russotti also has gotten playing time.

Maddie Gonzalez and Mayaka Barton have led the offense with three goals apiece.

RECORDS IN THE MAKING

Sonoma Academy sophomore Rylee Bowen could, according to cross country coach Danny Aldridge, wind up holding Empire track records from the 800 meters to the 2-mile without ever running her best event during her high school career.

Bowen set the U.S. age group record in the steeplechase last year. Competing in just the third steeplechase she’d ever run, she finished the 2,000-meter event in 6:41.

“She has all the necessary talent to be a great steeplechase runner,” Aldridge said. “All she needs to do is continue to master clearing the obstacles in the steeple.”

EL MOLINO OPENING

El Molino High School is seeking applicants for its boys freshman basketball coach. Interested applicants should contact Athletic Director Mike Roan at (707) 824-6563 or mroan.ehs@wscuhsd.k12.ca.us.

Kerry Benefield, Lori A. Carter, Allie Colosky, Howard Senzell and Ted Sillanpaa contributed to this report.