PREP FOOTBALL 2016: Trojans seek to extend SCL winning streak

Petaluma High’s suddenly prospering Trojans head north in pursuit of even more riches, while Casa and St. Vincent at home hope to find elusive league gold in high school football this weekend.|

Petaluma High’s suddenly prospering Trojans head north in pursuit of even more riches, while Casa and St. Vincent at home hope to find elusive league gold in high school football this weekend.

Petaluma goes to Healdsburg to take on the Greyhounds Friday night in what to visiting teams is often the dingy dungeon of Recreation Park. The junior varsities start at 5 p.m., with the varsities kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Casa Grande looks for a first North Bay League win at home Friday against Maria Carrillo’s Pumas with the JVs playing at 5 p.m. and the varsities at 7:30 p.m. St. Vincent is also home, but plays Saturday against Fort Bragg with the junior varsity game starting at noon and the varsity contest at 2 p.m.

Tough place to visit

Petaluma’s Friday game at Healdsburg has some major playoff implications for both teams. Petaluma is a Division 3 school. At 3-3, the Trojans, with the toughest part of their schedule behind them, are on track for a NCS berth and, if things break right, possibly even a first-round home game. Healdsburg at 4-2, is in a similar situation in Division 4.

Both teams have one loss in Sonoma County League play, Petaluma at 2-1, and Healdsburg at 1-1. If some miracle occurs, and powerhouse Analy trips, Friday’s winner could gain a share of the league title.

There is no doubt that Petaluma has played the tougher schedule to this point, losing to Windsor, 42-7, Rodriguez 42-27, Kennedy, 49-3, and Analy, 55-7. The loss to Rodriguez of Fairfield was reversed because Rodriguez used an ineligible player in the game. The Trojans’ other wins were both SCL victories over Sonoma Valley, 21-0, and Piner, 8-0.

Two of Healdsburg’s four wins have come over teams that still haven’t won a game all season, Emery, 62-0, and Elsie Allen 42-29. Its other two victories were tough battles against Marin County Athletic League teams Drake, 23-20, and San Rafael 21-9. Losses were to Kelseyville, 62-7, and El Molino, 47-20.

But those are numbers. The game will be decided on the field and that field is at Recreation Park, a historic edifice about a mile from the Healdsburg High School campus and often a place of hurt for visiting teams. In short, strange things happen at Rec Park.

Key to the Greyhounds’ success is quarterback Levi Yeley who, two weeks ago, passed for 204 yards and ran for 125 more against El Molino’s very strong defense.

Among other good things to happen to Petaluma in last week’s win against Piner was the addition of three transfer players - Trey Davis, Hayden Feeler and Robert Holten who got into their first game as a Trojan. Davis was particularly impressive as a ball carrier and defensive back.

Gaucho homecoming

Casa Grande’s Gauchos, who needed a win they didn’t get at Ukiah last week, absolutely must have a win in their homecoming game against Maria Carrillo this week to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive.

Now at 1-5, and without a North Bay League win, Casa Grande has to pretty much win out, or at a minimum take three of their final four games to make the North Coast Section playoffs, and it has to start Friday against a Maria Carrillo team that is just 2-4 on the season. However, one of Puma wins was in league, 12-7 over Windsor.

The only common foe the teams have played was the Redwood Empire’s top-ranked Cardinal Newman who whomped them both, beating Maria Carrillo, 42-0 and Casa Grande, 42-7.

Look for the Pumas to try to run the ball at the Gauchos with speedster Spencer Netherda aided by veteran Gabe DeBaca.

The Gauchos go into the game pretty banged up.

Leading rusher Spencer Torkelson has an injury that makes his availability week-to-week, according to coach Trent Herzog. Compounding Torkelson’s absence, his replacement on both offense and defense, Jack Leonetti is also injured and probably won’t play this week.

Herzog remains up beat. “We’ve had two great practices,” he said Tuesday night. “The kids are still working hard. I feel positive that we’re going to end the season on a high note.”

Casa was in a similar situation last season, but finished 4-6, still made the playoffs and won a playoff game.

More NCL I power

After losing to Willits, in an almost indescribably painful manner last week, St. Vincent’a Mustangs try again for a first North Central League I victory Saturday at home against Fort Bragg.

As Saturday’s game against Willits ended, St. Vincent had an apparent game-winning two-point conversion nullified by a penalty in a 28-27 loss.

The defeat was the fifth straight in NCL I play for the Mustangs after a season-opining, non-league win over Elsie Allen.

Getting that elusive first league win against Fort Bragg this week would be a major accomplishment for the Mustangs as they face a Timberwolves team that is undefeated (5-0) in league and has lost just one game all season, bringing a glitter 6-1 record onto Yarbrough Field. The Timberwolves only loss was to Eureka, 41-26, in their season-opening game.

Fort Bragg brings an awesome offense into the Mustang home land, averaging 237.6 yards per game passing and 207.1 rushing.

Senior quarterback Lucas Triplett has completed 99 of 160 passes for 1,506 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has also run 75 times for 627 yards and six more touchdowns. ?Running back Trystin Strickland has carried 108 times for 803 yards, averaging 7.4 yards per carry, and has scored 16 ground touchdowns.

The balanced Fort Bragg attack will put the most pressure yet on an improving St. Vincent defense anchored by linebackers Brian Giron and Nick Murphy. Giron leads St. Vincent with 85 tackles, 41 solo, and four sacks. Murphy has 72 tackles, 34 solo.

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