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Amandoli, Cole on all-metro; but why not Deely?

Open field

Two Sonoma Valley High School football players recently, and most deservedly, received Bay Area honors for their standout 2012 seasons as Sonoma County League first-team all-leaguers and top-award winners. But there’s one other Dragon who, just as deservedly, should’ve been one of the honored gridders for his SCL first-team all-league play on both offense and defense.

Earning All-Metro honorable mention recognition by the San Francisco Chronicle were Sonoma were seniors Jonny Amandoli and Brennan Cole as a defensive end and utility specialist, respectively.

Not being recognized as an All-Metro honoree was Sonoma’s junior quarterback and defensive back Dan Deely.

All three Sonoma standouts led the Dragons to a flourishing regular-season finish with five straight SCL wins for a 5-1 record, a 7-3 overall mark and a postseason berth in the North Coast Section playoffs.

The athletic and quick-pursuing 6-foot, 200-pound Amandoli was the SCL’s defensive player of the year after making 79 total tackles in the regular season, including 58 solo and 21 assisted for a 7.9 tackle-a-game average.

As for the 6-foot, 180-pound Cole, a placekicker, tight-end and inside linebacker, he was the SCL co-specialist of the year after scoring 64 points in the regular season with four touchdowns, 28 point-after kicks and four field goals, while defensively making 53 total tackles, including 34 solo and 19 assisted.

Now we come to the 6-foot, 185-pound Deely, who was the SCL co-back of the year after completing 87 passes out of 168 attempts for 1,543 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a 104 quarterback rating.

Deely also rushed for 538 yards on 112 carries and 11 touchdowns, while recording 45 total tackles – 33 solo and 12 assisted – and intercepting two passes on defense.

With his talent and body of work on the gridiron speaking for itself, and his cool and calm demeanor and outstanding leadership qualities both on and off the field, don’t you think an All-Metro honorable mention spot could’ve been found for Deely?

All I know is that come next year, they’ll have to find an All-Metro spot, and possibly more than honorable mention one, for the multi-talented Deely, who’s one of the best athletes ever to compete for Sonoma.

Ciao!