Petaluma’s ground game chews up Sonoma gridders

Dragons end regular season Friday at Vintage|

It was just like old times – Petaluma vs. Sonoma Valley on the real grass and dirt at Sonoma’s historic Arnold Field. The only difference was the league. Friday night, the two rivals were not playing a Sonoma County League game, but battling under the umbrella of the Vine Valley Athletic League.

Even the result was similar – Petaluma running all over the Dragons en route to a 30-12 victory. Although historically Petaluma teams have had a difficult time at Arnold Field, for the past several seasons, when both teams competed in the SCL, the Trojans have enjoyed success against the Dragons.

It was no different Friday night as the Trojans ran for 290 yards and compiled 346 total yards behind a dominating offensive line. The Dragons’ preferred running game was blunted by a swarming Petaluma defense, but Sonoma did find some success through the air, with senior quarterback Trent Garrett completing six of 12 passes for 102 yards.

The game was a high-spirited affair with the Trojans anxious to get back to the VVAL battles after a bye week, while the Dragons were riding the crest of homecoming and an overflow home audience of excited students and appreciative alumni. It was also a sloppy contest, with Petaluma turning the ball over three times and Sonoma two, while each side was flagged seven times, Petaluma losing 50 yards to penalties and Sonoma 72.

The sloppiness started early with Sonoma fumbling on its second play from scrimmage. The bobble allowed Petaluma to start offensive life at the Sonoma 37-yard line and the Trojans did what they do best, running up the gut behind a somewhat revamped offensive line that included Christopher Olvera, Nick Siembieda, Daniel Decarli, Matt Sayler, Kenny Alexander and tight ends Nick Ayers and Garett Gehring.

It took seven plays for Colton Prieto and Garrett Freitas to run Petaluma the needed 37 yards, but the results were satisfactory to a hearty group of Trojan rooters squeezed into the ground level visitors’ bleachers. Quarterback Cole Powers did the scoring honors from the 5-yard line. A two-point conversion gave Petaluma an 8-0 lead, and the Trojans never trailed.

In Sonoma’s second possession of the warm evening, Garrett exposed a Trojan secondary weakness, taking advantage of a blown coverage assignment to connect with Andrew Beatty for a 60-yard bomb to the Petaluma 8-yard line. But, another fumble again plagued the Dragons. with the Trojans taking over at their own 4-yard line.

Petaluma proceeded to hog the ball for almost seven minutes. The Trojans’ 96-yard march was not a thing of precisions, there was a holding penalty and some sundry other strangeness, but it was impressive, ending with Powers passing 15 yards to Daxton Hogya for the touchdown. The pass was one of just seven thrown by Powers, who completed four. Another 2-point conversion gave Petaluma a 16-0 lead after two possessions and a quarter of play.

Early on in the second period, it was Petaluma’s turn to shoot off a toe, fumbling the ball away at its own 35. Sonoma was quick to capitalize, with the touchdown coming on a deftly executed reverse to speedster Guillermo Hurtado that covered 18 yards. The Dragons bumbled the conversion attempt to remain down, 16-6.

The run was part of an excellent overall game for Hurtado, who gained 54 yards on just five carries and scored the other Sonoma touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard pass from Garrett.

Before the initial half was out, the gracious host Dragons had one more gift for their visitors, handing the Trojans the ball at the 22-yard line when a funky fourth-down running punt attempt went awry. Three plays later, Freitas stepped into the end zone. This time, the 2-point conversion try was stuffed, but when the affair was paused for Sonoma’s homecoming ceremonies, Petaluma led, 22-6.

The queen candidates, floats and spirit didn’t change the Dragon fortunes in the second half.

Midway through the third period, Freitas found a hole, hit overdrive and zipped 53 yards for a final Trojan score. A pass provided two more Petaluma points and there was no more suspense. The run was part of a typical performance by the senior running back who gained 165 yards on just 12 carries. Sonoma did have one last bit of excitement for its faithful fans, going 68-yards on a pass-fueled drive late in the game to score on the pass from Garrett to Hurtado.

With the season winding down (Petaluma has just two games left in the regular season and Sonoma Valley only one), the Trojans now stand 5-3 for the season and 2-2 in VVAL play, while the Dragons are 3-6 overall and 2-3 in league.

Sonoma closes out its regular season on Friday when they travel to Napa to face Vintage High. The Crushers are undefeated in league play (4-0) and are in first place in the Vine Valley Athletic League.

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