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Newman KO’s Dragons

Sonoma’s season, O’Meara, Mulas coaching era end with NCS 1st-round loss

When you reach the postseason playoffs, it’s one loss and your season ends.

For Sonoma Valley High School’s varsity football’s head coach Mick O’Meara and defensive coordinator Mike Mulas, their team’s loss to perennial NorCal power Cardinal Newman in Friday’s opening round of North Coast Section Division-3 playoffs in Santa Rosa marked not only the end of the season, but of an era.

Heading into the 2012 campaign, O’Meara and Mulas said their 29th season of directing Sonoma’s football program would be their last.

After the Dragons rallied from behind for an emotional 17-14 victory over Sonoma County League rival Petaluma in their regular-season finale to reach the 18th postseason under O’Meara and Mulas, they were made the 14th-seed for the NCS Division-3 championships and were defeated 44-7 by third-seed Newman.

Sonoma knew going into the NCS-opening showdown that it would have to move the ball and work the clock on offense, while trying to slow the high-scoring Cardinals on defense to keep the game close and give it a fighting chance.

But the Dragons ended their first three possessions with a punt, and Newman answered with three straight touchdowns, then, after Sonoma’s dynamic junior quarterback Dan Deely, who was under immense pressure throughout the evening, threw an interception, the Cardinals quickly drove to another score.

Then Deely, also a standout defensive back, returned the favor by coming up with an interception near the end zone that denied another touchdown.

Unfortunately, Cardinal Newman tallied another touchdown for a 34-0 halftime lead, and, after tacking on 10 second-half points, the Dragons finally dodged being shut out with Deely’s 1-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run and senior Brennan Cole’s extra-point kick.

Comprising the 2012 Sonoma varsity football team – directed by O’Meara, Mulas, assistant coaches Damien Magnani, Mike Sangiacomo, Steve Sangiacomo, Chris Hoke, Ray Sullivan Jr. and Malcolm Sims, and head trainer John Holden and assistant trainer Mike Gilman – were Deely, Cole and seniors Jonny Amandoli, Danny Banales, Jacob Bollman, Vincent Bruton, John Buckley, Joseph Cotter, Justin Crockett, Sam Denning, John Engebreth, Sean Forney, Jose Heredia, Brian Hurley, Chris Lopez, Skyler Marciel, Justin McDonald, Steven McVeigh, Richie Nunez, Alex Ohan, Hosea Reyes, Trevor Severson, Dustin Sloan, Mike Stovall and Keenan Tuohy; juniors Hank Anderson, Austin Baily, Joe Decker, Mitch Hood, Cordell Kenniston, Michael Malkassian, Ed Pomeroy, Matthew Robinson and Brandon Santana; and sophomore Trevor Welch.

“Our team can be proud of finishing second in the Sonoma County League at 5-1, with an overall record of 7-3,” said O’Meara.

O’Meara and Mulas end their 29-year Sonoma coaching career with an overall record of 174-135-6 – which includes eight SCL titles (five outright, three tied), the 18 postseason appearances, and an NCS second-place banner (1990).

 

Dragons of the Week

The Dragons of the Week, named by head coach Mick O’Meara and defensive coordinator Mike Mulas, are Sonoma’s assistant coaches Damien Magnani, Mike Sangiacomo, Steve Sangiacomo, Chris Hoke, Ray Sullivan Jr. and Malcolm Sims, and head trainer John Holden and assistant trainer Mike Gilman, “For all they do to make our program successful. Without their dedication and expertise, we would never have accomplished what we did this year.”

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