Unbeatens collide at Casa Grande

With just 10 games to make or break a season, every game counts, but from here on out they really count

League play starts for area high school football teams this week and Petaluma, Casa Grande, St. Vincent and Tomales will all be right in the middle of mad scrambles for league pennants and North Coast Section playoff positions. All open tough.

Casa Grande starts chasing what the Gauchos hope will be their first North Bay League championship in only their second year in the NBL at home Friday night against Montgomery's Vikings in a match of the only two undefeated large schools in the Redwood Empire. Petaluma plays a Saturday afternoon game at Piner in a battle between two teams that are expected to be in the thick of the chase for the Sonoma County League championship. St. Vincent begins defense of its share of the North Central League II/Bay Football League crown at home Saturday afternoon against Stellar Prep. Tomales is the only area school not involved in a league contest, playing Castlemont of Oakland in a non-league game at home Friday night.

Casa opens NBL play

Something has to give and someone has to lose, barring the unlikely event of a tie, when Casa Grande (3-0) and Montgomery (3-0) collide in the Big House Friday night. The powers and longtime rivals have taken different paths to the perfect pre-league records. Casa Grande has used a strong defense and enough offense to get the job done in beating Eureka, 51-13; Heritage, 12-7; and Napa, 31-19. Montgomery has blown away Pinole Valley, 54-7; Dublin, 50-18, and Washington of Fremont, 40-0. Both teams are coming off a bye week.

Casa Grande coach Trent Herzog expects a slugfest. "They are a very, very physical team," he says. "Their offensive line isn't all that big, but they are fundamentally sound and they get after you."

Running behind that line is workhorse Logan Francavilla, one of the area's best backs and passing behind it is quarterback Elijah Higgs, who hit 13 of 18 throws in last week's domination of Washington.

Defensively, Herzog observed, "They really get after you. They are very aggressive, we're going to have our hands full."

Casa Grande will play without junior lineman Greg Poteracke, who injured a knee and will be out for two to three weeks, but the Gauchos will return two projected starters who have missed the entire season thus far. Brendan Jackson, a 6-foot, 2-inch 285 pound junior who is expected to be one of the best offensive linemen ever at Casa, will make his first start, as will projected starting wide receiver Jonathan Weber, a senior speedster.

Petaluma connection

Piner has a strong connection to Petaluma as the two begin Sonoma County League play Saturday afternoon on Piner's home turf in Santa Rosa. Prospector coach John Antonio serves as a liaison officer for the Petaluma Police Department on the Petaluma campus. "He's doing a great job," says Petaluma coach Rick Krist. "They are a very well-coached team."

Although Piner is a pass-prefering team behind quarterback Noel Hernandez, one of the best in the Empire at what he does, which is to throw the football, while Petaluma stays primarily on the ground, Krist says, "in some ways we are similar."

Both are young, with good potential and both have had their ups and downs. Both are 2-2 with good games and not-so-good games.

The game could well be decided by which team is able to stop the other side's big gun. Petaluma must find a way to contain Hernandez both passing and running, while Piner must slow spectacular Petaluma running back Gabe Medina, who blistered Jefferson for 200 yards on only eight carries and scored four touchdowns last week. The varsity game kicks off at 2 p.m., with the junior varsities beginning at noon.

Mustangs defend

St. Vincent shared the North Central League II/Bay Football League title with California School for the Deaf last season, but both are scrambling to keep up with undefeated Calistoga. The Wildcats, after winning three straight non-league games opened their league season in impressive fashion last week, defeating CSD, 32-14. The Calistoga win adds more significance to Saturday's Mustang game against a Stellar Prep team in just its second year of varsity football. The Hayward team learned as it went last season, compiling a 2-8 record. This year, the Thunder has played an ambitious pre-league schedule and lost all three games, including a 49-6 defeat at the hands of Analy, the No. 3-ranked large school in the Redwood Empire.

St. Vincent hosts the 2 p.m. game with a 2-1 record and coming off a week to rest and recuperate after a bruising battle and a 12-7 loss to St. Helena. The Mustangs are anxious to get back on the field and back to their winning ways, but will have to contend with the Thunder speed and many of the same players from last season's team who are anxious to translate experience into success.

Delayed league start

Tomales' Braves have to wait another week before beginning their pursuit of the NCL II/Bay League title, contending themselves with a home game against Castlemont from Oakland. Castlemont's Knights come calling with an 0-3 record. After forfeiting their first game, they have lost to Clayton Valley Charter School from Concord, 66-6, and Burton from San Francisco, 48-8.

Tomales, after losing its opening game to small school power St. Helena, 20-0, has roared back to beat Elsie Allen, 52-6, and Marshall, 42-0. Both wins have come without standout running back Anthony Feliciano, who has been held out with a leg injury. Junior Ian Gomez has picked up the football and the Brave ground machine has rolled right along.