The difference in Friday afternoon’s Sonoma Valley High-Tamalpais football game was two big plays.
Unfortunately for the Dragons, Tamalpais made both of them as the Hawks won a 13-2 decision. It was the opening game for both teams.
The Sonoma defense played well enough to win. But the offense couldn’t move the ball.
“They made two big plays and we didn’t,” said Dragon coach Bob Midgley. “Our offense moved the ball between the 40-yard lines. But ...”
Sonoma got into the red zone only three times, but came away empty all three times.
The Dragons put together a drive in the opening quarter and got into the red zone, but a fumble ended the drive. Moments later, the Dragon defense recorded a safety putting Sonoma up 2-0.
The teams traded punts for most of the rest of the first quarter until the 2:45 mark when Tam struck for a 62-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt failed but Tam led 6-2.
Sonoma had an opportunity mid-way through the second quarter when Tyler Winslow picked off a pass, but the interception was negated by a roughing the passer call on the Dragons. A couple of plays later, the Hawks scored again, this time on a 39-yard TD pass to take a 13-2 lead into the half.
The third quarter was more three-and-outs for both sides, although midway through the quarter, the Dragons drove down to the Tam 21-yard line. But the drive stalled and Sonoma turned it over on downs.
The Dragons put together a drive in the fourth quarter starting at their own 21 and drove down to the Tam 6, where on a fourth-and-goal, the Dragons couldn’t punch it in and turned the ball over on downs at the 1.
The Hawks couldn’t move the ball, but time was running out for the Dragons. They forced a Tam punt and took over on the Hawk 30, but there was only 30 seconds left on the clock. And an interception of ended any hopes for the Dragons.
“They were better than us for two plays,” Midgley said.
While the defense played well, the offense sputtered.
“Tyler Winslow played a great game – both ways,” Midgley said. “He ran hard... and he’s real strong for a sophomore.”
The coach said there were too many kids playing both ways. But with two weeks off until their next game, some of the players who didn’t have enough practices to play will be plugged into some of those holes.
“We’re going to be working on fundamentals and techniques,” he added.
Sonoma’s next game is their home opener against El Camino of South San Francisco on Sept. 9.
Email Bill at bill.hoban@sonomanews.com
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