A PREVIEW TO A BIG WEEK FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
October 11th, 2007 . by JoetheSportsGuyThis, at least on paper, is the by far the biggest week of the season so far, with two huge matchups in both leagues….Of course, any week that has the annual Cardinal Newman-Montgomery game…means big week…
NBL
FRIDAY NIGHT GAMES
CARDINAL NEWMAN (3-1-1) AT MONTGOMERY (3-1-1)…The last four years this matchup has been the difference between these two teams in deciding the NBL race, with each team winning two. Only in 2005 did Rancho Cotate intrude on the 1-2 finishes by finishing in a tie for second with Montgomery. The most memorable game was the last regular season game of 2004..the Jon Colgan-Marcus Ezeff Hail Mary with :02 left to give Montgomery a 20-17 win. Montgomery has a 14 game NBL winning streak…Cardinal Newman has won six straight and ten of eleven, the lone loss last year to Montgomery. Cardinal Newman avenged that one in a big way, beating Montgomery 39-0 in the NCS Redwood Empire Championship Game.
MARIA CARRILLO (1-4, 1-1) AT ELSIE ALLEN (0-5,0-2)…Maria Carrillo tries to rebound after last weeks loss to Santa Rosa. Elsie Allen, a moral victory vs. Cardinal Newman scoring 12 points, which equals their highest output on the season.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
UKIAH (1-3-1, 0-2) AT PINER (1-4, 0-2)…After promising starts both teams struggling. Ukiah has lost three of four, including two League Games at home. Piner has lost four straight.
SATURDAY NIGHT
RANCHO COTATE(3-2, 1-1) AT SANTA ROSA (5-0, 2-0)…Monster game No. 2 as Santa Rosa tries to invade the Montgomery, Newman, Rancho party with their toughest test of the season. The whisper about soft schedule can be quieted down a little with a win. Matchup opponents–at Ukiah the last two weeks. Santa Rosa scored in the last two minutes for a 15-13 win. Rancho Cotate after a scoreless first half, scored 17 straight in a 17-7 win. A Rancho win will give the Cardinal Newman-Montgomery winner sole possession of first place.
SCL…ALL GAMES FRIDAY NIGHT
CASA GRANDE (4-0-1, 2-0) AT SONOMA (3-1-1, 1-1)…Most weeks this would be the game of the week. A win for Casa Grande would give them sole possession of first place in the SCL Race (Healdsburg has the league bye) and since their bye isn’t until the last regular season game once they get there..they are expected to stay there. Sonoma rebounded from the loss to Healdsburg with an easy win over El Molino. The game, as all Sonoma games are, will be broadcast on Sonoma Radio KSVY 91. 3 FM. Kickoff is at 7:30
PETALUMA (2-3,0-1) AT ANALY (2-3, 1-1)…The loser here basically out of the Sonoma County League Race. Both teams league losses were to Casa Grande. Both Analy’s longest win streak and loss streak is one so they are due for a win if form holds. Petaluma after a promising start has lost three straight.
EL MOLINO (2-3, 0-2) AT WINDSOR (2-3, 0-1)…El Molino another one of those teams that had a promising start go wrong as they have lost their last two games. They are still looking for that magic win to get them more them last season’s total of two. El Molino’s last SCL win was on October 8th, 2004– a 29-14 win over Windsor. Since then they have lost 18 straight. Windsor is coming off two heartbreaking losses. Two weeks ago a 20-3 halftime lead lost in the last minute to Redwood and last week a 19-9 lead with 1:05 left lost to undefeated Healdsburg.
HEALDSBURG (5-0, 2-0) AT FORTUNA (3-2)…With the league bye Healdsburg takes their undefeated record on the long trip north. Fortuna, of the Humboldt Del Norte Big 5, has lossed their two games to teams with a combined record of 9-1, their three wins over teams with a combined record of 3-12. Last year Healdsburg won at home 55-14. The last time the two teams met in Fortuna was 2003..Fortuna winning 40-13.
