Dissa and Data: Time to acknowledge Petaluma football’s stellar season

The Petaluma football team’s postseason ended much the way the team’s regular season finished - with a heartbreaking loss that included a controversial ruling.

Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to acknowledge the strides the 8-4 Trojans made this season, and to break down their accomplishments. Like this one: Senior Lucas Dentoni established a school record with 24 total touchdowns. He broke the mark of 23 set by Ricky Sims in 2010.

Dentoni had scored just four touchdowns as a junior.

FOLLOW THE LEADER

Delaney White has been one of the Redwood Empire’s top distance runners for all four years of her high school career. White has a strong personality, but she’s no diva.

After finishing second in the Division 1 girls race at the North Coast Section cross country championships at Hayward on Saturday, White hung around the finish area for a long time, congratulating the Santa Rosa High teammates who finished behind her and even helping the other girls remove the race chips from their shoelaces.

“I love being a captain,” White said. “A lot of these girls come onto the team with the idea of, ‘Oh, I need this for PE credit.’ Or, ‘I’m just doing this to be fit.’ They don’t realize that inside of every single one of them is a courageous and strong runner. I can help show them that you can be strong no matter what.”

White said she hopes to finish in the top 10 at the state meet in Fresno on Saturday, or top five if she races like she did in Hayward.

BROOKSHIRE’S QUICK KO

Cardinal Newman junior quarterback Jordon Brookshire ran the football for 70 yards and a touchdown on first down in 47-6 win against Justin-Siena Friday night.

“We wanted to come out fast so I guess I worked out,” Brookshire said after the game.

The Cardinals only reached a third down on three occasions in the first half, either scoring one of their seven touchdowns or advancing the ball for the next first down.

Cardinal Newman will host Fortuna on Friday in a North Coast Section Division 4 semifinal. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

AND BASKETBALL TOO

Brookshire has informed basketball coach Tom Bonfigli that he will come out for the basketball team once the football season ends.

“That was good news,” Bonfigli said. “He didn’t play basketball for us last year but he’s very athletic. He’ll be one of five football players that plan on playing basketball once their season ends.”

That could be a long time if the football team makes it to the Division 4 state championship (Dec. 18-19).

ANALY COACH AWARDED

Analy’s Rick Passero has been honored by North Coast Section as its 2015 Girls Tennis Honor Coach. He was awarded a framed certificate before the NCS singles and doubles championships last week in Alamo.

Passero took over the girls program in 1999 and became the boys coach a year later. The Tigers girls marched through the SCL with an undefeated record this season.

CALISTOGA OPENINGS

Calistoga High School has two coaching jobs open for application - head varsity coed track and assistant varsity coed track. Interested persons should contact the school.

Lori A. Carter, Phil Barber, Howard Senzell and Allie Colosky contributed to this report.