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Dragons fade, fall at Tam, host American Canyon Friday

Sonoma JVs just miss rally win, rosters

Carrying mometum from their stirring come-from-behind 2011 season-opening win, the Sonoma Valley High School varsity football boys built up a 10-0 first-half lead over nonleague Tamalpais Saturday afternoon in Mill Valley.

But, after rallying for a 21-17 victory over visiting Terra Linda in the opener, the Dragons started to fade in the second half, with turnovers turning the tide in favor of Tamalpais, which turned the two miscues into a pair of touchdowns and, after weathering a late Sonoma drive, came out on top by a 14-10 final.

In the first half, the Dragon gridders took early control and tallied a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore Dan Deely, with senior place-kicker/receiver/defensive back Chris Swanson kicking an extra-point and 24-yard field goal, respectively.

Looking to resume their first-half play, the Dragons were beaten to the third-quarter punch, with Tamalpais now possessing the game’s momentum, which it wouldn’t relinquish, and, suddenly, Sonoma had experienced both the sweet taste of victory, and the unpleasant taste of defeat, to begin the season.

Pacing Sonoma, which could muster only 55 total rushing yards, were Swanson’s five pass receptions for 86 yards; senior quarterback Sam Morgan’s 16 pass completions out of 29 attempts for 157 yards and three interceptions; Deely’s seven carries for 33 yards; and senior Michael Hernandez’s three pass receptions for 26 yards.

The Dragons next host nonleague American Canyon this Friday, Sept. 23, at Arnold Field, with the junior varsity beginning at 5 and the varsity playing at 7:30 p.m.

 

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While driving for the possible winning touchdown, the table took a gut-wrenching turn the wrong way for Sonoma’s jayvee football team, with a pass that looked to be headed for a completion was tipped in the air, and interecpted by Tamalpais, which tacked on eight-more late points for a 24-13 win.

The Dragon jayvees were paced by Cordell Kenniston’s touchdown runs of 32 and eight yards, respectively; Adrian Romano’s extra-point kick; the play of quarterback Mitch Hood; and defensively by Jose Heredia and Josea Reyes.

Sonoma’s 2011 jayvee football team – directed by head coach and athletic director Bob Midgley and assistant coach Justin Weaver – consists of juniors Heredia, Reyes, Tyler Jones, Alexis Krouzkevitch and Gustavo Lucas; sophomores Kenniston, Romano, Hood, Austin Baily, Ed Pomeroy, Hank Anderson, J.J. Bollman, Gerald de Lara, Todd Decendato, Max Geiger, Jake Lantz, Mike Milkassin, Dario Minatta, Garrett O’Brien, Jose Rubio, Brandon Santanna, Seamus Swendson and Zach Thomas; and freshmen Seth August and Isaac Grubb.

Comprising Sonoma’s 2011 freshman football team – directed by head coach Andy Gibson and assistant coaches Dave Kohnhorst, Andy Losk and Ray Mellinger – are Andre Alcantar, Gregorio Alvarez, Ben Amarantes, Luis Ayala, Noe Baron, Gabe Bernstein, Jack Biaggi, Vince Caruso, James Dawson, Fermin Duran, Austin Dunn, Kyle Dunevent, Nick Fantozzi, Ryan Fisher, Cyle Gusse, Alex Gustafson, Ross Hage, Anthony Hamiter, Casey Hansen, Graham Herder, Christian Jimenez, Jackson Keechler, Jacob Little, Hector Macedonio, Dean Martin, James McKale, Tristan Mertens, Brent Mills, Ricardo Paz, Rodrigo Rico, Sebastian Ross, Damien Sanchez, Dominic Sanfilippo, Michael Seelye, Mark Shipston, Luke Vaughn, C.J. Vitale and Trevor Welch.

 

 

Dragons of the Week

 

The Dragons of the Week in Sonoma’s narrow 14-10 nonleague loss to Tamalpais Saturday in Mill Valley were Dan Deely and Jonny Amandoli.

Deely, a 5-foot, 11-inch, 150-pound sophomore running and defensive back, carried the ball seven times for 33 yards rushing and one touchdown, had a pass-interception and broke up a key pass-play.

Amandoli, a 6-1, 185-pound junior defensive end, turned in another strong performance as the team’s leader in quarterback sacks and one of the leading tacklers.

The Dragons of the Week are sponsored by Eraldi’s Men’s Wear and Shoes, and Broadway Market.