Trojans march over Sonoma Valley

The steady progression that is the Petaluma High School football season continued Friday night when the Trojans methodically marched through Sonoma Valley’s Dragons, 51-13. The win was the third straight for the Trojans, and the most important in the win streak, coming in the opening game of the Sonoma County League season.

Fullback Lucas Dentoni had the headline numbers, scoring four touchdowns and gaining 166 yards on 15 carries. But there was glory enough to go around, with quarterback Brendan White breaking off a 41-yard run, Luke Wheless setting up a touchdown with a 50-yard punt return, Tyler Williams getting into the scoring fun with a 2-yard run, Harrison Royall winning a jump ball for a touchdown reception and Eric Coates recording a safety.

Providing the guts for the glory was a dominating front line anchored by center Ben Upton with guards Jorge Beccera, William O’Neill, tackles Travis Plank and Zane Overton and tight end Robert Krist.

Petaluma’s defense, led by Conor Richardson, was staunch the entire game, standing firm in the face of missile strikes thrown by Sonoma Valley left-sided quarterback Max Yankovich.

Unable to run against the dominating Petaluma defensive front, the Dragons’ offense consisted almost entirely of Yankovich throwing to a variety of receivers. For the game, he hit on 13 of 25 throws for 147 yards.

“We are getting better and better,” said Petaluma coach Rick Krist. “I was pleased with every aspect of our game. We played with a lot of fire.”

Dentoni and the Petaluma offensive line gave the Dragons a preview of what they would face all night in the Trojans’ first offensive match as he carried for 10 and 13 yards of the 60 needed to set him in position for a 6-yard touchdown run that was accomplished behind body-moving blocks from Beccera and Plank on the right side of the Petaluma line.

As the first period was drawing to a conclusion, Dentoni turned on the after burners for a catch-your-breath 48-yard zip to count country for a two-touchdown Petaluma lead. “Lucas hits the line so quickly, he makes up for any blocking mistakes we might make,” said Krist.

It looked for awhile as if Yankovich’s passing might keep Sonoma Valley in the game. A drive that started late in the first period at the Sonoma 35-yard line ended in the second quarter with the quarterback throwing four yards to Sam Cordeno for the score on a fourth-down play.

A few minutes later, Petaluma showed that two could play that fourth-down passing game when White lofted a toss to Royall in the left corner of the end zone, and the senior soared up and snatched the ball away from the Sonoma Valley defender.

Petaluma closed the half with a vintage Petaluma drive, chewing up five minutes of clock to go 77 yards in 11 plays. The Trojans spiced the mostly ground march with a pair of key completions from White to Eamon McMahon and Wheless.

Dentoni got the touchdown from the four.

At the half, the scoreboard showed Sonoma Valley 6, Dentoni 18 and Petaluma 28, including four right-on PAT kicks by Dominic Christobal.

Petaluma’s defense took complete charge in the second half, shutting Yankovich down by blanketing his receivers.

Meanwhile, the offense kept rolling. A 41-yard scamper by White set Dentoni up for his fourth touchdown, this one from 10 yards out, and Williams got into the scoring parade with a 2-yard run.

The night was capped off for the Trojans by Eric Coates, who tackled a Sonoma kick returner in the Dragon end zone for a safety after the would-be returner had bumbled the ball backward into the forbidden zone.

To the Dragons’ credit, they kept firing, gaining a bit of satisfaction with a late-game score on a 9-yard pass from Yankovich to Will Lennon.

JVs win

The Petaluma junior varsity was also impressive, rolling over Sonoma Valley, 19-0. The score would have been even more one-sided had not the Trojans had two touchdown runs called back because of penalties.

Highlights for Petaluma included a 36-yard pass connection from Justin Wolbet to Dominic Ayers and a 30-yard TD scamper by Justin Turner.

Ayers had a 50-yard touchdown run nullified by a penalty, while Riley Wiseman also had a touchdown flagged away.

Petaluma is now 3-2 for the season.