Six Petaluma Trojans named to All-SCL first team

The keys to Petaluma High School’s running game and the heart of its staunch defense have been chosen to the All-Sonoma County League football first team by the league coaches.

Petaluma’s leading ball carrier, senior Dominic Christobal, and the muscles that cleared the way for him, junior Luke Haggard, were picked to the first-team offense.

Christobal, a 135-pound flyer, established himself as Petaluma’s premier ball carrier among a bevy of contributing backs, finishing as the team’s rushing leader with 660 yards.

His way was led by 6-5, 210-pound tackle Haggard, one of the North Bay’s most dominant blockers.

Haggard was also selected first-team defense joining tackle Nick Dooley and linebackers Jacob Rollstin and Connor Richardson on the select team.

Richardson, on the inside, and Rollstin on the outside gave Petaluma two outstanding linebackers behind Haggard and Dooley.

The quartet led a Petaluma defense that, at one point in the season, recorded four straight league shutouts.

The all-league first team was dominated by undefeated league champion Analy, which featured the Player of the Year, quarterback Jack Newman; Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Chase; Specialist of the Year, Kyle Johnson; and Coach of the Year, Dan Bourdon. The Tigers had nine first-team offensive picks and nine first-team defensive picks.

Petaluma’s Justin Wolbert, Richardson, Eric Coats, Dooley and Thomas DeJong were placed on the second-team offense.

Wolbert, Petaluma’s junior quarterback, expertly administered the Trojans’ triple-option offense, was one of the team’s top rushers and had several big pass completions.

In addition to being an outstanding defender, Richardson was a key member of the Petaluma offense as a blocking fullback and tough inside runner.

Dooley, a junior, and Coats, a senior, joined Haggard in opening the holes for Christobal and Richardson.

DeLong was an accurate and reliable kicker and was also adept at the short and mid-range kickoffs that were an important component of the Petaluma game plan. He accounted for 39 points in PAT kicks.

Dooley, Haggard, Xavier Crysdale, Coats and Christobal were chosen to the second-team defense. Crysdale, a junior, at end, and Coats at inside linebacker were two key reasons the Petaluma defense was so hard to run against over the second half of the season.

Christobal, in addition to being the team’s top running back was an outstanding defensive back.

Honorable mentions for the Trojans were wide receiver Hayden Fehler, tight end Robert Miller, offensive lineman Nick Siembieda, outside linebacker Dominic Ayers and defensive backs Reilly Whisman and Trey Davis.