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Sonoma rolls early in leveling the Lobos

Dragons open SCL at unbeaten power Windsor; JVs win, frosh fall

Putting the finishing touches on a successful preseason, Sonoma Valley High School’s varsity football boys won the third out of the four nonleague games kicking off their 2011 schedule Friday night in Santa Rosa.

Using pressure defense to set up an offensive surge that built up a 24-0 halftime lead, the Dragons coasted home with a 37-22 victory over Elsie Allen, which, after last year’s 1-9 overall record, tripled their win total to three.

But now the challenges intensify for the Dragon gridders as they next open the Sonoma County League campaign against a strong and unbeaten Windsor team this Friday, with the junior varsity starting at 5 and the varsity kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Last week, Windsor started SCL play with a 36-13 win over Analy.

After stopping Elsie Allen cold on the first possession of the game, the Dragons couldn’t sustain a drive the first time they got the ball, but, they proceeded to force a fumble deep in Lobo territory and, three plays later, sophomore Dan Deely scored on a one-yard run, which was the first of his touchdown hat-trick.

Sonoma then forced the Lobos into a three-play-and-punt, after which Deely scored another one-hard touchdown, and senior Chris Swanson kicked his second of four extra-points in the game, and, after senior quarterback Sam Morgan scampered for a 12-yard touchdown, Swanson booted a 26-yard field goal.

The play by both teams to start the second-half was sluggish, but the Dragons then struck quickly as Morgan hooked up with Swanson on an impressive 54-yard touchdown pass-play, and Deely ended the scoring for Sonoma with his third touchdown on a two-yard dive.

Leading Sonoma were Morgan’s 11 pass completions on 18 attempts for 180 yards and one touchdown, and he had eight carries for 66 yards rushing and one touchdown; Swanson made four pass receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown, and kicked four extra-points and a field goal; Deely rushed for 43 yards and scored three touchdowns, and also had a pass interception; senior running back Collin Clyde had nine carries for 72 yards rushing; senior linebacker Josh Jones recovered a fumble; and junior defensive end Jonny Amandoli had three quarterback sacks.

 

 

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Sonoma’s jayvee football team took its frustration of losing two straight games in the final minutes out on nonleague host Elsie Allen with a, literally, runaway 40-0 victory.

The jayvee Dragons scored six touchdowns on runs by two players tallying a hat-trick each.

Austin Baily opened with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and then added touchdown runs of 10 and two yards, while Josea Reyes scored touchdowns from 43, 27 and two yards out. Adrian Romano kicked four extra-points.

Sonoma’s freshman football team dropped a 16-6 decision to Windsor last Thursday.

 

Dragons of the Week

 

The Dragons of the Week in Sonoma’s 37-22 nonleague win over Elsie Allen Friday night in Santa Rosa were Jonathan Wieland, Matthew Robinson and Michael Hernandez.

Wieland, a 5-foot, 10-inch, 200-pound senior defensive lineman, turned in a second-straight strong performance, in which he was a tackling force along the line of scrimmage.

Robinson, a 6-2, 230-pound sophomore offensive lineman, played a solid game at both the tackle and center positions.

Hernandez, a 6-foot, 170-pound senior wide receiver and defensive back, had standout efforts on offense, defense and special teams, making two pass receptions for 22 yards and two first down, and recovered three onside-kicks.

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