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Dragons elevate to eclipse Elsie

Sonoma ends regular season hosting rival Petaluma Friday, senior night

For the second week in a row, the Sonoma Valley High School varsity football boys were the favored team in their Sonoma County League games and for the second consecutive week, they didn’t waste time in supporting their pick as the favorite by using their “air-game” to extend their SCL winning streak to four.

A week after routing El Molino at home, the Dragons traveled to Santa Rosa Friday night and soared to a 28-0 halftime lead over new league member Elsie Allen behind talented junior quarterback Dan Deely’s touchdown run and three touchdown passes – two to senior wide receiver Dustin Sloane and one to senior Brennan Cole.

Four plays after junior Ed Pomeroy recovered a fumbled kickoff return to start the third-quarter, Deely hooked up with tight-end Cole for another touchdown and, with its swarming, shutdown defense providing a shutout, Sonoma cruised to a 51-0 win over the Lobos.

With their victory, the Dragons improved their overall and SCL records to 6-3 and 4-1, respectively, and will host longtime league rival Petaluma in their regular-season finale at 7:30 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 2, at Arnold Field.

Before Friday’s opening kickoff, Sonoma will honor its football and cheerleading seniors, along with their parents.

In shutting out Elsie Allen, the Dragons were leading 14-0 when they doubled their point advantage in less than a two-minute span in the second quarter with Deely first finding Cole in the end zone with a 3-yard touchdown pass, and then hooking up with his favorite receiver, Sloane, for an electrifying 71-yard touchdown.

After going up 35-0 early in the third-quarter, Sonoma’s defense put an exclamation point on the runaway win when senior linebacker Skylar Marciel caught his first of back-to-back interceptions and transformed the play into a 26-yard touchdown return. Sonoma junior Joe Decker also had an interception.

Leading the Dragons were Deely’s nine pass completions on 14 attempts for 169 yards and four touchdowns, to go with a 4-yard touchdown run; Cole’s 20 points scored off touchdown pass-receptions of 3 and 5 yards, kicking a 29-yard field goal and booting five extra-points; Sloane’s six pass receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns of 34 and 71 yards each; Marciel’s pass-interception for a 26-yard touchdown; a 21-yard touchdown pass from junior backup quarterback Mitch Hood to senior wide receiver John Buckley; and a point-after kick by senior Jose Heredia.

Dragons of the Week

The Dragons of the Week in Sonoma’s 51-0 SCL victory over Elsie Allen Friday night in Santa Rosa were Sam Denning, Skylar Marciel, Brennan Cole and Trevor Welch.

Denning, a 5-foot 5-inch, 135-pound senior defensive back, continued his solid all-around play on both defense and special teams.

Marciel, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior linebacker, turned in an outstanding performance which included two pass interceptions, returning one 26 yards for a touchdown, and numerous tackles.

Cole, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior tight end and placekicker, accounted for 20 points by catching two touchdown passes, kicking a 29-yard field goal and booting five extra-points.

Welch, a 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore lineman, was instrumental as a blocker and recorded a sack on defense.

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