Dragons drive past El Molino

Continuing their momentum building regular-season drive toward a postseason appearance, the Sonoma Valley High School varsity football boys put together a total team effort, with five different players eventually scoring touchdowns en route to a third straight Sonoma County League win after dropping their SCL opener.

The SCL second-place Dragons – their only loss coming to first place defending champion Analy – rolled into Forestville Friday night, tallied four first-half touchdowns for a 26-13 halftime lead, shook free from stubborn, big-play making El Molino, and put together a second-half surge that produced a 46-26 victory.

While the hosting Lions scored their touchdowns on a 22-yard run, 76- and 41-yard pass-plays, and an 85-yard kickoff return, Sonoma systematically marched up and down the field and tallied their touchdowns off five ball-controlling drives and a pair of two- and three-play scores.

Leading the Dragons by combining for 515 yards of offense behind outstanding blocking up and down the line of scrimmage were senior quarterback Dan Deely and senior running back Austin Bailey, who returned to the field after missing two games with a concussion. Bailey was unstoppable, rushing for 150 yards on 14 carries and scoring on two- and 15-yard runs, respectively.

Deely turned in another productive outing engineering seven scoring drives as the signal-caller, completing 19 passes on 28 attempts for 227 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while carrying the ball 11 times for 138 yards rushing and scoring, respectively, touchdowns from seven and 20 yards out.

Sonoma was also led by junior wide-receiver Kyle Dunevent's seven pass receptions for 78 yards; senior wide-receiver Mitch Hood's three catches for 61 yards, including one for a 35-yard touchdown; junior wide-receiver Tristan Mertens' seven receptions for 43 yards and a five-yard reverse run for a touchdown; senior wide receiver Ed Pomeroy's three catches for 18, including one for 10-yard touchdown; and place-kicker Noe Baron’s four booted extra-points.

On defense, senior lineman Matt Robinson, junior and sophomore linebackers Alex Gustafson and Sam Cordano, respectively, and junior defensive end Trevor Welch were the cornerstones for Sonoma, with defensive backs Mertens and Pomeroy – who also had a nine-yard sack – each coming up with a pass interception, junior Graham Herder recovering a fumble, and junior defensive end Mike Dunham registered a seven-yard sack.

The Dragon gridders host Elsie Allen in their home finale and senior night this Friday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m., with the junior varsity game starting at 5.

For more photos, click here:Dragons of the Week

The Dragons of the Week in Sonoma’s 46-26 Friday night SCL victory over El Molino in Forestville are Austin Bailey, Dan Deely and Dylan Sanders.

Bailey, a 5-foot, 10-inch 205-pound senior running back and linebacker, returned to the field after missing two games with a concussion and rushed for 150 yards on 14 carries and scored on two- and 15-yard touchdown runs, while settling back into his spot as one of the defensive stalwarts on the team.

Deely, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior quarterback, completed 19 passes on 28 attempts for 227 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while carrying the ball 11 times for 138 yards rushing and scoring on seven- and 20-yard runs.

Sanders, 6-1, 230-pound lineman, turned in one of his best efforts playing both offense and defense.

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

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