High School Sports

El Molino seeking baseball coach

PrepSports — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:55:43 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
(Public service announcement of the day):
El Molino is accepting applications for a varsity baseball coach.
If interested, contact El Molino athletic director Mike Roan at 824-6563 or mroan.ehs@wscuhsd.k12.ca.us.

Football: Games of the Year

PrepSports — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:24:00 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
Since the prep football preview stories aren’t online just yet, I’m posting some here. I figured this, like the players to watch, was another that might inspire some discussion.
I tried to sprinkle in some variety, but no doubt omitted some compelling matchups. What games would you include?:

CARDINAL NEWMAN VS. CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 2 p.m. Saturday
These traditional state powers will open the season against each other for the sixth straight year.
And for the second straight season, they will meet at the “Battle At the Capital,” a two-day, six-game event at Del Oro High in Loomis.
The game will be an early measuring stick for the Cardinals, whose 36-12 loss to Central Catholic last year exposed their lack of team speed, a deficiency that plagued them during a 7-5 season.
Newman expects to be improved.
And so do the Raiders, whose 2009 season was also short of their sky-high standards. Central Catholic went 11-2 last year, but didn’t advance past the Sac-Joaquin Section quarterfinals for the first time in a decade.

PIEDMONT AT HEALDSBURG, 7:30 p.m. Saturday
This matchup, on the surface, may not grab your attention.
But Piedmont’s offense will.
The Highlanders run the A-11 offense, an attack that’s grabbed national attention and was designed by Piedmont coaches Kurt Bryan and Steve Humphries in 2007.
The A-11 typically employs formations with two quarterbacks, three linemen and six wide receivers.
You probably won’t see another game like this one all year.

MONTGOMERY AT CASA GRANDE, Sept. 24
Unlike the Egg Bowl (Casa Grande vs. Petaluma) or the Golden Apple (Analy vs. El Molino), this is not a traditional rivalry.
But it’s become one of the Empire’s fiercest, and most competitive, in recent years.
The Gauchos and Vikings have met the past eight seasons and the series is tied 3-3-2 during that span, with Montgomery barely outscoring Casa Grande, 116-108.
Last year, Montgomery avenged a 21-20 regular-season loss with a 14-7 victory in the North Coast Section Division II semifinals in which it limited the high-scoring Gauchos to their fewest points in their past 21 games.
The game will be televised, on tape delay, by Comcast Hometown Network.

CARDINAL NEWMAN AT MONTGOMERY, Oct. 22
These longtime North Bay League powers have met in some of the most memorable games in Empire history, contests that have featured some of the area’s best all-time players (See Mel Gray, Jerry Robinson, Koa Misi).
The Cardinals will be seeking revenge after getting physically battered in a 9-0 loss last year.
One series oddity: The road team has won the past 10 meetings.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
Rancho Cotate at Castlemont, Sept. 17: Castlemont of Oakland will be led by first-year coach Russell White, Cal’s all-time leading rusher.
Valley Christian at Cardinal Newman, Sept. 17: The Warriors, ranked 13th in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, feature RB Byron Marshall, Cal-Hi’s Sophomore of the Year in ’09.
Casa Grande at Maria Carrillo, Sept. 24: The second-seeded Gauchos’ 18-17 first-round playoff win over the No. 15 Pumas last year might have been the best game of the season.
Petaluma at Rancho Cotate, Sept. 24: If Casa vs. Carrillo wasn’t the top game of ’09, this first-round classic (No. 1 Petaluma 12, No. 16 Rancho Cotate 7) wins the prize.
Montgomery at Rancho Cotate, Oct. 8: This one figures to have NBL title implications.
Analy at El Molino, Oct. 15: Footballs will be flying in the Golden Apple as Analy QB Jake Zanutto and El Molino QB Mike Pierson square off.
Casa Grande at Windsor, Nov. 5: Can the Jags challenge for SCL supremacy? This late-season game could provide the answer.

Football: Players to watch in 2010

PrepSports — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:37:14 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
Since the prep football preview stories aren’t online just yet, I’m posting some here. I figured this was a good converation starter.
I included 13 players on the list, but obviously left off some qualified candidates. Who would you have included that didn’t make the cut?

SAM ATOE, RB/LB, Maria Carrillo, Sr.
Fast. Physical. Remarkable instincts. Atoe is like the high-school equivalent of 49ers LB Patrick Willis, if Willis also flattened people while carrying the ball. For eight minutes and six seconds of enjoyment, type Atoe’s name in YouTube and watch his highlight tape. (Actually, just click here).College coaches are doing just that. Atoe has been offered scholarships from Sacramento State and San Diego State and plenty more offers could be coming. Rivals.com ranks Atoe 90th in its preseason rankings of California’s top seniors.

BRIAN DWORKIN, RB, Rancho Cotate, Sr.
A 140-pound jitterbug as a sophomore, Dworkin (above) has filled out to about 175 this season. But he figures to be just as fun to watch. Not blessed with size, he compensates with speed, vision and ankle-breaking cutbacks. A three-year starter, he’s rushed for 2,551 yards and 30 TDs the past two seasons and has never missed a game.

MAKANA GARRIGAN, SS/WR, Casa Grande, Sr.
The do-it-all dynamo played wide receiver, safety, returned kickoffs and punts and was the Gauchos’ punter as a junior. He led the team in tackles, ranked second in catches and threw a TD pass. Oh, almost forgot, his school-record 11 interceptions ranked fourth in the state.

MIKE PIERSON, QB, El Molino, Sr.
His stats from last year — 1,922 yards, 15 TDs and 18 INTs — won’t turn heads. But his talent does. Put simply, the athletic, cannon-armed Pierson is a joy to watch. Playing behind a sturdier offensive line, expect the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder to dramatically improve those numbers and begin attracting serious college interest.

NICK SHERRY, QB, Casa Grande, Sr.
Sherry was so good as a junior that he completed passes with his left hand without looking. Sherry’s two-point conversion pass against Montgomery — a desperate no-look number he tossed while being dragged to the ground — might have been the play of the year. But the 6-foot-5 Sherry, who has committed to Colorado, is also adept at more conventional passes. That would explain his 2,419 yards and 24 TDs as a junior.

OTHERS TO WATCH
WR Aaron Dhuyvetter, Ukiah, Sr.: His 808 receiving yards last year ranked seventh in North Coast Section.
WR Joe Douglass, El Molino, Sr.: Being recruited by the Ivy Leagues.
LB Garrett Guanella, Cardinal Newman, Sr.: A potential college prospect. Explains Newman coach Paul Cronin, “You can’t coach (6-foot-5).”
LB Caleb Jones-Sharpe, Montgomery, Sr.: Wanna have fun on Friday nights? Watch offenses try blocking this guy.
RB Yahya Muslim, Sonoma, Jr.: Dworkin won’t be back in 2011. But don’t worry. Muslim, equally as electrifying, will.
QB Poueu Peleti-Gore, Rancho Cotate, Sr.: Coach Ed Conroy calls him the best option QB in his two decades at the school.
TE Ethan Rosselli, Santa Rosa, Sr.: Was one of two non-seniors on all-Empire first-team offense in ‘09.
DE Mike Tuaua, Rancho Cotate, Sr.: Six-foot-2, 230-pounder is Cougars’ strongest player.

Where are the prep football previews?

PrepSports — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:15:36 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
As you might have noticed, the high school football preview articles have not been posted online.
I’m told the PD Preps web site is getting a facelift, thus the lack of new content.
But fear not. Don’t despair. They should be online by Thursday night.
Sorry for any inconvenience.

Newman LB Robles hits running backs, and the slopes

PrepSports — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:22:03 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
Cardinal Newman junior linebacker/wide receiver Thomas Robles doubles as a world-class junior skier.
Robles, a member of the Squaw Valley Ski Team, won the silver medal in the Super G at the 2009 Whistler Cup, a world-class international event in Canada.
To check Robles out on the slopes, click here. And here.

Football: Healdsburg prepping for the A-11

PrepSports — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:27:50 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
Healdsburg will open its season on Sept. 4 against visiting Piedmont, which runs the A-11 offense.
The offense, which was designed by Piedmont coaches Kurt Bryan and Steve Humphries in 2007, typically employs formations with two quarterbacks, three linemen and six wide receivers.
Greyhounds coach Tom Kirkpatrick joked that his defensive coordinator isn’t too thrilled about Piedmont being added to the schedule.
Piedmont’s funky formations have meant some extra work for Healdsburg’s coaches and players. The preparation might be particularly baffling to defensive end Richard Grant, who is playing his first year of football after moving from Australia.
Grant, an accomplished lacrosse player, has been learning a proper three-point stance and how to put on his uniform. Now he’s getting a crash course on the A-11.
Said Kirkpatrick, “I told our team ‘Guys, if you think you’re confused, think about poor Richard.’”

According to Cal-Hi, it’s Casa

PrepSports — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:02:31 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
If Cal-Hi Sports is accurate, Casa Grande will be the class of the Empire this football season.
In Cal-Hi’s top-50 state rankings (click here), the Gauchos check in at No. 46. No other Empire team is included among the top 50, or on the 18-team “On the Bubble” list.

Football: Casa vs. Montgomery will be televised

PrepSports — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:59:50 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
One of the Empire’s hottest football rivalries will be televised on tape delay this season.
Comcast Hometown Network will televise the Montgomery-Casa Grande game, which will be played Friday, Sept. 24 in Petaluma. CHN (Channel 104 for Comcast digital cable customers) will air the game at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25.
The game is the only contest on Comcast’s 10-game schedule that features an Empire team.
The play-by-play announcer will be KNBR’s Dan Dibley. Former San Jose SaberCats coach Darren Arbet and University of Nevada football analyst Scott Gordon will split the color analyst duties.
For a complete list of CHN’s games, click here.

High school football preview week coming up

PrepSports — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:33:06 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
Previews for every football team in the North Bay League and the Sonoma County League will appear next week in print and online.
We’ll also look at the most intriguing storylines of the season, the top players, the best games and examine the marquee matchups of the opening week — Montgomery at Windsor on Sept. 3 and Cardinal Newman vs. Central Catholic on Sept. 4 in Loomis.
We’ll preview small-school football the following week.
The previews will roll out in alphabetical order (sorry, Windsor) starting Monday. Here’s the schedule:

Monday, Aug. 30: Analy, Casa Grande, Cardinal Newman
Tuesday, Aug. 31: El Molino, Elsie Allen, Healdsburg
Wednesday, Sept. 1: Maria Carrillo, Montgomery, Petaluma
Thursday, Sept. 2: Piner, Rancho Cotate, Santa Rosa
Friday, Sept. 3: Sonoma, Ukiah, Windsor

Empire players dot SRJC football roster

PrepSports — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:37:38 +0000

Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
Twenty-six of the 72 players on Santa Rosa Junior College’s football team this season are from Empire high schools. Here’s a look at the locals playing for the Bear Cubs, who open the season Sept. 11 at Siskiyous:

David Azevedo, DL, So. (Cardinal Newman)
Ryan Blum, WR, Fr. (Sonoma)
Japheth Burns, WR, Fr. (Piner)
Ronald Burt, RB, Fr. (Elsie Allen)
Ryan Decker, DB, So. (Rancho Cotate)
Daniel Garber, DB, Fr. (Rancho Cotate)
Jared Garcia, WR, So. (Healdsburg)
Michael Gebre, LB, So. (Piner)
Bud Guinn, OL, Fr. (Rancho Cotate)
Jhaylyn Hall, WR, Fr. (Montgomery)
Rashawn Hayes, RB, So. (Santa Rosa)
Jordan Marquez, LB, Fr. (Cardinal Newman)
Herman Miranda, OL, Fr. (Piner)
Adam Murray, OL, So. (Rancho Cotate)
Lavelle Musfin, WR, Fr. (Piner)
Mitch Ortiz, WR, So. (Piner)
Peter Pham, LB, Fr. (Cardinal Newman)
Brandon Poulson, DL, So. (Piner)
Mitch Reab, OL, So. (El Molino)
Anthony Scalercio, OL, So. (Montgomery)
Tyler Smith, DL, Fr. (Maria Carrillo)
Jonathan Torres, DL, Fr. (Rancho Cotate)
Malcolm Townsend, OL, So. (Analy)
Bailey Tucker, DB, Fr. (Tomales)
Jo Jo Tucker, DB, Fr. (Tomales)
Chris Yeakey, DB, So. (St. Helena)