Now in the fourth season after realignment of the two leagues in Sonoma County, the power in the smaller school 7-team Sonoma County League looks as though it will continue to stay out the Gravenstein Highway in apple country at Analy of Sebastopol.
In 2012 when Casa Grande and Windsor moved to the larger school North Bay League and Elsie Allen and Piner replaced them, it opened the door for Analy to move to the top of the SCL heap after several years of struggling in league play.
It didn’t hurt that eight-year Coach Daniel Bourdon had finally developed a program with solid players that has produced three-straight league champions.
The Tigers lost a ton of talent to graduation, including the SCL Player of the Year, the Co-Back of the Year, the Lineman of the Year, seven First Team selections, plus one Second Team and one Honorable Mention choice.
Despite losing so many players that carried Analy on a solid three-year run, Bourdon still has a load of talent returning.
The Sonoma County League has one new coach in Bill Wight, who hopes to help breathe life into a program at Elsie Allen that is winless since September 2013.
Analyzing the race, Bourdon said: “We lost eight offensive starters and we’re young and not tested, and I’ve heard good stuff about Petaluma, but this is our biggest roster ever, 45-50 guys, so if all the pieces come together I like our chances.”
Petaluma Coach Rick Krist said: “Overall talent-wise, I’d say this is the best team I’ve ever had in my six years. Last year we took a good step toward competing with Analy. I felt we played them better than anyone except Campolindo and McClymonds. The key is how the team develops beginning with our first game.
The assessment of 2014 SCL Coach of the Year Randy Parmeter of El Molino: “I’ve got to assume it Analy and Petaluma at the top but we’re looking to finish in the top of the pack and take them down.”
ANALY (11-2, 6-0): In his first three years at the Analy helm, Bourdon guided the Tigers to a 17-17 record overall and 5-13 record in league. In 2011 they improved to 3-3 in league and 6-5 overall, however, it wasn’t until the 2012 realignment that the Tigers have dominated the league, going 34-5 overall and 18-0 in league with three SCL crowns. With last season’s explosive offense the Tigers made it to the CIF North Coast Section Division III semifinals.
The top returner is senior linebacker Isaac Kangas (5-10, 205), an SCL First Team Defense selection last season. The consensus amongst area coaches is he is the top retuning defensive player in the league. Tough, physical, nose for the football and solid tackler were expressions used to describe Kangas. Last season he led the team with 108 tackles and three sacks, plus he had two interceptions and blocked a field goal.
Another top returner on defense is Second Team Defense senior Angelo Muniz (5-10, 190). He had two sacks and 44 tackles last season.
“Our linebacking corps all returns. They’ll be the strength of the team,” Bourdon said.
The top weapon back on offense is three-year varsity player Schuyler Van Weele (6-0, 180), a Second Team pick last season when he caught 32 passes for 559 yards and five touchdowns. Van Weele will also start at cornerback where last season he had two interceptions and 23 tackles.
Three All-League Honorable Mention selections are back, senior wide receiver Lucas Housman, senior defensive back James Raftery, and junior offensive lineman Andrew Fossell (6-3, 240).
Replacing SCL Co-Back of the year Will Smith at quarterback will be athletic junior three-sport star (Football, baseball, basketball) Jack Newman.
“Jack is a smart kid that’s really accurate and knows the system. I’m confident he’ll put up some solid numbers,” Bourdon remarked.
PETALUMA (7-4, 4-2): First opened in 1873, Petaluma has a rich tradition of football that dates back to when every Bay Area high school north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Tamalpais, San Rafael, Petaluma, Analy, Santa Rosa and Vallejo, all played in the old North Bay League.
Since legendary Redwood Empire Coach Steve Ellison retired in 2009 as Sonoma County’s all-time winningest football coach at the time, it’s taken five-year coach Krist time re-build the program.
Last year marked the first winning season for Krist, but a third 4-2 record in his tenure. With respect to the Analy game, The Trojans were in it all the way and scored more points than any local team did against the Tigers, in a 34-23 loss that ended last season’s league play.
Petaluma loses the SCL Co-Back of the Year, the Specialist of the Year and league’s top kicker, a First Team and two Second Team Offense selections, two First Team and two Second Team Defense picks, and one Honorable Mention choice. They do however, have eight players returning that achieved all league status.
Topping the list of returners are two three-year varsity players, senior quarterback Brendan White (6-2, 190) and senior defensive lineman Travis Plank (6-1, 230). Both were First Team on offense and defense last year, respectively, with Plank playing on the O-line as well.
In the run-oriented offense of Krist dual-threat quarterback White passed for 560 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 516 yards and six more scores.
“We’ve been a running team in the past but with Brendan improving his passing game we’re going to throw the ball a little more,” Krist said.
Other returners that gained All-League status last season are: senior offensive lineman Ben Upton, Robert Krist (6-1, 215), the coach’s son who plays tight end and defensive, senior linebacker Tyler Williams (6-1, 205), senior Running back/linebacker Lucas Dentoni (5-10, 180) and senior defensive back Eamon McMahon, who also plays backup quarterback.
Krist has taken the Trojans to the NCS playoffs three times in five years, but each time they have lost in the first round. The question this year is not just if Petaluma will challenge Analy for the SCL title, but if Krist can help get them further in the playoffs.
EL MOLINO (6-5, 4-2): The Lions tied for second-place with Petaluma and were the third team in the league with a winning record despite having only 24 players on the roster. Unfortunately, due to a small senior class, they may have fewer players this season.
“We’re looking solid in skills and talent despite being down in numbers to maybe 17 this season,” Parmeter said.
El Molino has a First Team Offense and Defense returner in small but solid 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior two-way lineman Leo Garza (5-10, 200). Another First Team Defense selection returning is senior linebacker Ryan Fernandez (5-9, 185). He also received Honorable Mention as an offensive lineman.
Two seniors Parmeter is hoping come back strong from injuries are offensive/defensive lineman Mitchell Fricker (6-2, 215) and defensive lineman/tight end Austin Sani (6-1,205).
Last year’s back-up running back Josh Wright (5-10, 175) will “carry the load” as a senior according to Parmeter.
The quarterbacking duties will fall on sophomore Avery Ransome.
PINER (5-6, 3-3): Since moving over from the North Bay League in the 2012 realignment the Prospectors have held their own, going 3-3 in league all three years and 15-18 overall.
This year however, Fifth-year Coach John Antonio would look to be in a re-building mode with only two Honorable Mention selections returning.
Those players are senior 6-foot-2, 230-pound offensive lineman Ronnie Cummings (6-2, 230), and senior defensive back Satidit Phaikeo.
SONOMA VALLEY (3-7, 3-3): The Dragons didn’t have a win outside of the league last year but they did have a 13-5 victory over Petaluma that helped them gain a tie with Piner for fourth place.
Their top returner is senior Max Yankovich (6-3, 180). Last year he saw action at slotback and quarterback. The three-sport star (football, baseball and basketball is competing for the starting quarterback job with senior Will Lennon.
Besides losing almost all the offensive punch the defense graduated every major contributor meaning Coach Bob Midgely will be looking for lots of newcomers to step up and add to the mix.
HEALDSBURG (1-9, 1-5): The Greyhounds had a rough year in 2014 but don’t be surprised if the team with a rich football tradition turns it around under fourth-year coach Todd Beth.
When current Windsor Coach Tom Kirkpatrick turned the reins over to Beth in 2012 the Greyhounds had won nine Sonoma County League and two North Coast Section titles in 24 years, however since then 2013 is the only year Healdsburg has had a winning season
This year’s cornerstone is a solid returning Second Team Defense senior duo of two-way lineman Cody Newman (6-1, 230) and linebacker Bryant Herrguth (5-10, 190).
Like most of the SCL second-tier teams the Greyhounds will need fresh faces to step up and contribute
ELSIE ALLEN: (0-10, 0-6): There is not a lot that can be said about a team that has not won a game since September 2013, other than it appears they needed someone or something to get them back on course.
They had a newly hired coach resign in the spring and are looking for a fresh start, and some positive direction and inspiration from recently hired Coach Wight.
