Analy rolls to 67-6 win at Healdsburg

(Unpublished correction: Newman threw for seven touchdowns. The correct sequence is below)

HEALDSBURG - When your football team hasn’t lost a league game in four years, sometimes it’s hard not to look past your opponents to the next big game.

It doesn’t help when you’re winning by an average of 31 points.

So it may have been a bit of a challenge to stay focused Friday night as Analy High School, 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the Sonoma County League, traveled to Healdsburg, a middle-of-the-pack team at 3-4 and 2-1 going into the game.

“It’s a battle,” acknowledged Analy coach Daniel Bourdon. “But it’s something we preach every day, practice with a purpose: to get better every week.”

The Tigers didn’t let up, pushing Healdsburg up and down the field, scoring on each of their nine first-half possessions to build an insurmountable lead.

Analy led 60-0 at the half and won, 67-6.

The Tigers started off with a bold statement on their first touch, as Schuyler Van Weele returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.

Quarterback Jack Newman threw for seven touchdowns in the half, four in the second quarter.

Four of Analy’s first-half scores were on pass plays of 25 yards or more. In fact, the 25-yard pass to Eric Bendyke was the second-shortest scoring completion.

Orisis Zamora and Newman connected on an 81-yard play, as Zamora took a short pass to the right, then cut through the middle of Healdsburg’s defense, and hustled down the left side for the score. Newman’s kick put Analy up, 54-0, with 3:53 left in the half.

Newman also connected on a 56-yard pass to Lucas Housman, a 55-yard pass to Spencer Vogel and a 47-yard score to Van Weele. Van Weele also scored on a 4-yard reception.

Analy’s Ross Simmons scored the Tigers’ shortest touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Newman.

Even when Analy erred, which wasn’t often, they made the best of it. The Tigers ran a short rushing play, but fumbled at the goal line, but Jesus Arriola recovered it in the end zone for the score.

As Analy had its final walk-through practice Thursday, Bourdon talked about “crisping up their execution.”

Does that mean the Tigers are on auto-pilot?

“Absolutely not,” said the team’s offensive coordinator, Keith Simons. “We can’t and we won’t overlook the weeks in between now and Petaluma.

“They know they better be sharp,” he said of his team. “We stay on them. If they have a sloppy, lousy game, even if we win, they know they have to hold themselves accountable.”

Newman agreed.

“It all starts with practice,” the junior quarterback said. “We are very, very organized. Our coaches ask for us to get the little things down right, because they transfer to big things in games.”

Analy remains unbeaten at 3-0 in league play and 7-0 overall, tied with Petaluma at the top of the Sonoma County League. Petaluma plays El Molino today.

Healdsburg falls to 2-2 in the SCL and 3-5 overall.

While the Tigers insist they aren’t overlooking their next two opponents - El Molino and winless Elsie Allen - the season is building up nicely toward a championship-deciding game on the last week of the season.

That’s on Nov. 6, when Analy meets Petaluma at Rancho Cotate.

“We focused on Healdsburg,” Bourdon said. “But we know the last game of the season is going to be a big test for us. We’ve looked at some Petaluma film.”