SANTA ROSA, Calif. – For the second straight week the Cardinal Newman defense coupled with running back Zach Homan, and after the combination came through in its opener against Casa Grande-Petaluma, this Friday night the result was an impressive 27-7 home victory over a perennially tough Vacaville.
Cardinal Newman (2-0) scored 20 first quarter points and its defense held Vacaville to minus-nine yards of total offense. The Cardinals didn’t score again until there was 6:57 left to play, but the defense held the Bulldogs to 23 yards of offense in the first half, a mere 97 yards for the entire game, with the only Vacaville touchdown coming on special teams via a blocked punt.
“When you start out with that kind of momentum it’s almost impossible to keep it,” Newman head coach Richard Sanchez said. “Obviously that punt blocked hurt us but we stayed tough and made some adjustments at halftime. Vacaville is a well-coached team that plays hard.”
“The plan was executed perfectly,” continued Sanchez about the defense and then added this with a big grin about Homan. “Its his turn. “Its his turn. I just don’t want to kill him too early.”
Homan, a 6-0, 200-pound senior, had 25 carries for 161 yards and one TD, plus he had one catch for a 56-yard score. For the first two games Homan now has 306 yards rushing on 46 carries with four TDs, plus the 56-yard TD reception.
After a sack by junior star defensive end Jesse Myers forced a punt on the opening drive for Vacaville, Cardinals junior quarterback Jayson Colter wasted no time. On the first Newman play from scrimmage he found sophomore wide receiver Jonah Bertoli on a 70-yard TD pass that gave the Cardinals a lead they never relinquished.
On the second series for Vacaville the Cardinals forced a second straight three-and-out, this time on a tackle for loss by junior Clayton McKenzie and a sack by senior Kenyon Hanlon-Strane.
A second Vacaville punt gave Newman the ball at the Bulldogs 41 after a 20-yard return by junior Jamari Gentry. Homan then took a handoff and ran eight-yards, and then blasted to the house on the next play for a 33-yard TD run and Newman had a 14-0 lead.
On the very first play after Vacaville returned the ensuing kickoff to its own 32, Cardinal Newman junior Zach Raia intercepted Vacaville senior quarterback Brody Fortunati and the Cardinals were back in business the 35 of the Bulldogs. Seven plays later, five on runs by Homan, Colter connected with Bertoli a second time for a score, this time on a 15-yard pass. The point after was blocked and Newman had a 20-0 lead.
Newman forced another three and out on the next Vacaville series but right after that the Cardinals and Colter ran into some adversity. Their series went seven plays but only gained eight yards and included two sacks and a fumble by Colter.
On the punt three Vacaville players stormed through and blocked it with senior Justin Albrecht scooping it up and scoring from four-yards out with 10:21 left in the first half. Albrecht was one of the lone bright spots for Vacaville as he also had two sacks to go with the touchdown.
The half ended 20-7 but despite being out gained 197-23 in total yardage Vacaville was still within two scores of a possible lead.
Newman got the second half kickoff but an eight-play drive ended in a Colter interception.
From there the teams exchanged punts and Newman held Vacaville on downs at its own 22 in the early fourth quarter.
It was at that point that Homan and the defense put it away. On the first play Homan was stuffed for a one-yard loss but Sanchez called his number again and he broke three tackles for a 19-yard gain. Two plays later Colter found Homan in the flat and he turned it up field and broke four tackles to outrace everyone to the house for the 56-yard score that was the game’s final tally. From there the defense stopped the final Bulldogs drive.
Colter had some miscues and his touch on short passes could use some improvement, but for only his second game starting as an underclass quarterback at a high profile program, the 6-4, 186-pound transfer from cross-town Maria Carrillo looks to be improving and seems more comfortable under center. He was a respectable six-of-12 passing for 196 yards and three touchdowns
“It feels amazing,” said Colter about his 2-0 start. “This team is really good. I think we can go really far, and this is just the beginning.”
“Personally, I’m starting to feel way more comfortable,” Colter continued. “I’ve been learning the plays and know my reads now.”
Despite suffering a decisive loss Vacaville head coach Mike Papadopoulos was gracious in defeat.
“We just had a real terrible start that put us in a hole early,” said Papadopoulos. “And then our offense really never got rolling.”
“We’re just honored to be able to play a program like Cardinal Newman and look forward to it each year,” continued Papadopoulos, whose team won 14-7 last season at home after losing 20-13 two years ago in Santa Rosa.
Vacaville (2-1) got a solid effort from workmanlike running back Christian Diosdado. The Bulldogs senior finished with 112 yards on 19 carries. Quarterback was a different story with Fortunati missing on his final eight passing attempts and ending up a dismal three-of-14 for minus-eight yards.
The Bulldogs have a bye week before hosting Granite Bay.
Cardinal Newman now has a third-straight home game when they host Vintage-Napa on Friday night. The Cardinals won last year’s matchup 27-8 on the road.
