Games now bigger than pride for Trojans, Gauchos

There is no denying that last weekend’s Egg Bowl was a huge football game for both Petaluma and Casa Grande, but it could be argued that this week’s games are even more important for both.

The Egg Bowl marked the end of the pre-league season for both teams. Beginning Friday night, the games start counting as the Trojans and Gauchos begin scrambling for league pennants. Adding a sense of urgency for both teams is the knowledge that this might be Petaluma’s last year in the Sonoma County League and Casa Grande’s final season in the North Bay League, meaning just one last chance to win traditional league pennants.

Next year, both Petaluma and Casa Grande might end up in the same, as yet unnamed, league along with Sonoma Valley, Napa, Vintage, American Canyon and Justin-Siena.

After playing an emotional thriller against one another last weekend, with Petaluma holding on for a 20-14 win, both teams travel to open league play, with Casa Grande going to Santa Rosa to play Cardinal Newman, while Petaluma travels to Sebastopol to meet Analy.

Seeking first win

Casa Grande is seeking more than a NBL win at Cardinal Newman; the Gauchos are seeking a win of any kind after losing their first three games.

To get that first victory for new coach Denis Brunk, Casa Grande will have to beat perhaps the toughest foe it will face all season. Cardinal Newman not only went undefeated in the NBL last year, but went on to win the North Coast Section Division 4 championship and play in the state championship round, where it was beaten by Valley Christian of San Jose.

The team Cardinal Newman beat for the North Coast Section title, 44-21, was St. Bernard’s of Eureka, a team that has already beaten Casa Grande this season, 42-14.

Cardinal Newman is 2-1 so far, with wins over Fortuna, 41-18, and, last week, SCL defending champion Analy, 63-26, sandwiched around a loss to St. Mary’s of Stockton, 48-34.

Cardinal Newman, now a Division 3 football school, is ranked No. 4 in that talent-loaded North Coast Section division.

However, the Casa Grande team that faces the perennial power is not the same Gaucho team that lost at St. Bernard’s in its opener. The Gauchos have improved by large increments each week, and last Saturday gave unbeaten Petaluma all it could handle before losing the Egg Bowl.

The Gauchos have shown the potential to move the football against some good defenses. Although Casa runs a spread offense and has been forced to throw late in a catch-up mode, the Gauchos have shown they can be a balanced-attack team.

Quarterback Jance Offerman has passed for 623 yards and four touchdowns, while the ground game, led by Kenneth Fitzgerald’s 204 yards, has generated 357 yards.

Defensively, Casa will try to stop the Newman express with Braedon Chadwick up front, tackle leader Jack Leonetti at linebacker and Jadon Bosarge in the defensive backfield.

Is this the year?

For Petaluma’s Trojans, it is easier to hit the lottery than it is to beat Analy in football. The last time the Trojans tamed the Tigers was in 2010.

Last year, Analy beat the Trojans, 55-7, on its way to an undefeated SCL season, an 11-2 overall record and an appearance in the NCS Division 3 championship game.

Things have been a little tougher for the Tigers this season. They are 1-2 after being clobbered by NBL powers Rancho Cotate, 48-3, and Cardinal Newman. The Tiger win was over Maria Carrillo, 42-14.

The Tigers are still dangerous. Their two losses were to what may be the two best teams in the Redwood Empire, and they almost never lose on their home turf at Karlsen Field.

Petaluma will not only be trying to snap its losing streak to Analy, but add to a season-starting streak of four straight wins.

The Trojans have built their strong start on a ground-based offense that is averaging better than 303 rushing yards and 44 points a game.

But the Trojans have also played solid defense. After a staggering start in which they were victimized by Montgomery’s passing attack in a 55-48 win, they have steadily improved their aerial defense, an important consideration against an Analy team renowned for its quick-strike throwing game.

Never easy

St. Vincent tries again for a first North Central League I win Friday night in St. Helena and it won’t be easy. It never is in the powerful NCL I.

St. Helena’s homestanding Saints are 2-1 on the season, with wins over Drake from the Marin County Athletic League, 35-0, and Cloverdale, 41-20, and a loss to Kelseyville, 28-14.

Last week’s win over Cloverdale came against an Eagles team that two weeks ago beat the Mustangs, 35-0.

St. Vincent has yet to score in two league games, although it did show the ability to throw the ball in two non-league games, a 26-9 loss to Elsie Allen and a 28-6 win over Portola.

In search of two

Tomales tries to make it two North Central League III wins in a row when it hosts Branson on Friday night.

Branson’s Bulls come to Tomales with a 2-0 record after beating Thacher High School from Ojai and last week thrashing Roseland Collegiate Prep, 70-6.

Tomales is 1-1, bouncing back from a 44-24 season-opening loss to Laytonville to beat Round Valley last week, 48-38.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.