Situation (almost) normal

There is a feeling that things are getting back to normal as sports games return to Petaluma and the North Bay.|

Local high school football players hope to get back to normal this week, and that means back on the field. But, while there will be games, things won’t quite be normal.

Casa Grande will not play its scheduled game against Montgomery this week, but it will be played as a rare Monday Night game on Oct. 23. Petaluma will play a regular Friday night game, traveling to Forestville to face El Molino, St. Vincent will meet Kelseyville as scheduled on Saturday, but kickoff has been moved up to 11 a.m. as a concession to air quality that is better in mornings than afternoons.

Petaluma’s scheduled game last week against Healdsburg was canceled because of the fire and smoke that inundated the North Bay. It will not be rescheduled, leaving Petaluma, like most of the teams in the Sonoma County League, with only a nine-game schedule. However, since Petaluma has a bye on the final weekend of the regular season, the Trojans could conceivably play a game on the weekend of Nov. 3-4 - if they can find someone to play.

“I want to play 10 games,” said Petaluma coach Rick Krist. So far, the only possibility seems to be Harker from San Jose, a team that is currently 7-0 on the season.

Petaluma took advantage of clearing skies to begin practice this week, although Krist said the practices were mostly light on physical activity.

“We’re very excited for the opportunity to play,” he said. “The players were disappointed not to play last week. They understand what is happening, but they would like to get back to normal.”

The game is significant. Petaluma goes to Forestville with a 6-1 record and 2-1 in league. El Molino waits with a 4-2 record and is 2-0 in league. Analy, which has already beaten Petaluma, is also 2-0 in league. If Petaluma can handle the Lions and El Molino then turn around and beat Analy in the Apple Bowl on Oct. 27, there would be a three-way tie for the SCL championship.

“They are a good team,” said Krist of El Molino. “They are well coached, tough kids.”

Unlike past El Molino teams that played a primarily smash-mouth, ground-bound offensive style, this season’s Lions are much better balanced.

Led by junior Sam Wilson, El Molino has rushed for 914 yards. Wilson has accounted for 488 of those on 74 carries and scored six touchdowns. Meanwhile, junior Jacob Sani has compete 143 passes for 896 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Lions have scored 35 or more points in four of their six games, and held opponents to 10 or less in all four of their victories.

Petaluma has been an offensive machine, scoring 50 or more points three times, 48 once, and even in its only loss of the season, counting 32 against Analy.

Thirteen different ball carriers have contributed to the Petaluma attack, led by senior quarterback Justin Wolbert with 387 yards despite sharing quarterback duties with junior Cole Powers on a series-by-series bases over the last two games.

It will have been 17 days since Casa Grande last played a football game when it returns to its home field to face Montgomery on Monday night. The game was backed up two days because the North Bay League did not want to play an athletic event on a week when there was no school.

Last week’s scheduled game against Maria Carrillo is gone forever.

The Gauchos have yet to win a game this season, but coach Denis Brunk said that has not dampened their enthusiasm for the game.

“The players are very anxious to get back on the football field,” the coach said. “Call it resolve or whatever you want to call it, they want to play.”

The Vikings are 3-3 for the season and 1-2 in league play. Montgomery has the potential to score. In three of their games the Vikings have scored 40 or more points, including 48 in a season-opening 55-48 loss to Petaluma. However, they have also given up 40 or more points in three games.

Montgomery will throw the football. Quarterback Joey Tresch has connected on 128 of 225 passes for 1,830 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has a quarterback rating of 107.1, an excellent rating for a quarterback who often lacks solid protection.

Casa Grande has played better than the scores of its first six games indicate.

“Things are beginning to click,” Brunk said. “We know the offense, we know the defense. It is time for us to play a complete game.”

Since taking over at quarterback a game and a half ago, Jadon Bosarge has added an extra dimension to the Casa offense with his ability to run.

The Gauchos have faced two of the NBL’s top passing attacks from Cardinal Newman and Rancho Cotate, and, led by Isaiah Cappelen and Josh Grayson, have generally handled the pressure well.

As of our deadline, the game was still scheduled for 7:30 p.m., preceded by the JVs at 5:30 p.m., but here has been discussion of starting the junior varsity game at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity game at 7 p.m.

There will be a game between the Kelseyville junior varsity and the Casa Grande freshmen Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on the Casa field.

St. Vincent is nearing the end of its season. Saturday morning’s game against Kelseyville will be Senior Day, meaning it is the last home game of the season.

After this week, the only game left on the Mustang schedule is an Oct. 27 game at Lower Lake.

A decision about last week’s scheduled game at Fort Bragg has not yet been made.

St. Vincent coach Gary Galloway said the Mustangs are just beginning to prepare for Saturday’s game after not being able to practice last week.

St. Vincent is 1-6 for the season and 0-5 in North Central League I play, but Galloway said they are anxious to play.

“The kids are still having fun and that is the important thing,” he said. “Just getting back to school is a big deal.”

In Kelseyville, St. Vincent will be facing one of the best teams in the NCL I. The Indians are 4-2 overall and 3-1 in league, a game behind leader Middletown.

With Trent Free at quarterback and Marcus Mathias showing breakaway speed, St. Vincent has shown an improved offense in recent games. Linebacker Gio Antonini keys the defense with 81 tackles and is closing in on a school record with 16 tackles for loss.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.