By HOWARD SENZELL
FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Here's a look at Friday's high school football games:
CASA GRANDE (2-1) at MONTGOMERY (1-2)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Casa Grande did not play. Montgomery defeated Washington (S.F.), 40-0
Notable: This is a festive occasion for the Vikings and their fans. In a ceremony tonight, the Montgomery field will be named in Jason Franci’s honor. The coach has announced this 33rd season will be his last … However, the Vikings will not be at full strength for Casa. Star wide receiver Etienne Ezeff and safety Cole Larson continue to nurse injuries and neither is expected to play … When asked about Casa, Franci replied: “They’re big, strong, fast and good.” … The Gauchos have had an extra week to mull over the upset loss to previously winless Napa (35-14) on Sept. 7 … “I feel the bye came at a perfect time,” coach Trent Herzog said. “It’s allowed us to get healthy and work on the passing game, pass defense and special teams. I feel we are a much better team today than we were two weeks ago. The loss to Napa could turn out to be a good thing as it taught us a lot about ourselves.” … The schools have played 13 times in the last 10 years with Casa holding a 6-5-2 edge … In that time, the Gauchos have scored 186 points and the Vikings, 182 … This is Casa’s first game in the North Bay League.
The pick: Casa Grande 28, Montgomery 14
RANCHO COTATE (3-0) at WINDSOR (1-2)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Rancho beat Petaluma, 39-0. Windsor lost to Washington (Fremont), 25-20.
Notable: Like Casa, Windsor will be making its NBL debut following a loss. The Jaguars figured to beat Washington, a loser of its first two by a combined score of 89-7 … “Our players learned a lesson in that game,” coach Vic Amick said. “We can not take any opponent lightly and we must play at our level at all times.” … Amick played for Rancho. “Ed Conroy was my coach,” he said. “He taught me a lot of things I preach to my players. It’s kind of surreal playing against him. I don’t think either team has an edge. It will come down to who wants it more, who executes and who doesn’t.” … Conroy is expecting a real test and said his players can’t wait to start league … The Cougars rolled up more than 500 yards of offense against Petaluma with running back Jalon Luque leading the way with 204 yards on seven carries.
The pick: Rancho Cotate 21, Windsor 14
SANTA ROSA (2-1) at MARIA CARRILLO (1-2)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Santa Rosa lost at Analy, 48-0. Maria Carrillo defeated Alhambra, 21-14.
Notable: Following a rocky pre-league, Pumas’ coach Jay Higgins believes his team is ready for NBL competition. “We have improved each week,” he said. “Mistake frequency is going down, execution is going up.” … Quarterback/defensive back Julian Gonzalez missed the opening season loss to Analy but looked at full strength against Alhambra … Jahray Hayes, Santa Rosa’s top rusher, was held in check by Analy (22 carries needed for 79 yards) … “When healthy, we have shown equal proficiency in defending both the run and pass,” Higgins said.
The pick: Maria Carrillo 28, Santa Rosa 7
UKIAH (1-2) at CARDINAL NEWMAN (3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last week: Ukiah lost to Eureka, 14-7. Cardinal Newman did not play.
Notable: Coach Paul Cronin said the bye week came at a good time for the Cardinals. “We’ve used the extra time to work on areas where we need to improve,” he said. “With so many practices between games, it’s sometimes difficult for the players to stay focused. This group worked hard every day. It’s been a fun group to coach.” … The Cardinals defeated Alhambra, 42-26, on Sept. 7 … All three of Ukiah’s games have been low-scoring. The Wildcats have scored only 20 points and given up 24 … “I scouted them several times,” Cronin said. “They play defense with pride. Their guys sprint to the ball on every play.” … Newman offensive lineman Ben Codding will miss the game because of a freak accident in practice.
The pick: Cardinal Newman 28, Ukiah 7
SONOMA VALLEY (2-2) at ANALY (4-0)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Sonoma lost at American Canyon, 45-0. Analy defeated Santa Rosa, 48-0.
Notable: Analy emerged from its pre-league schedule as the heavy favorite to win the SCL … So far, the Tigers are averaging 47 points per game while giving up 12 … Quarterback Darin Newman is completing 65 per cent of his passes and has thrown a dozen TDs (six to Aaron Maher and four to Dylan Mathias) … On the ground, Ja’narrick James is averaging nine yards per touch and Kyle Lewis is gaining nearly seven yards each time he touches the ball … On defense, Trent Ackerman is the top tackler with 38 while Chris Mann is the sack leader with three … Analy coach Dan Bourdon calls Sonoma’s Dan Deely “the best quarterback we’ll see this season.”
The pick: Analy 49, Sonoma Valley 7
HEALDSBURG (2-2) at ELSIE ALLEN (0- 4)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Healdsburg won by forfeit over Castlemont. Elsie Allen lost to Emery, 22-0.
Notable: Castlemont, a school located in Oakland, notified Healdsburg coach Todd Beth it would be forfeiting last week’s game 48 hours before the contest and the coach was disappointed. “If we’d known earlier, we might’ve been able to find a replacement team,” he said. “The kids need game experience.” Beth tried to turn up the intensity in practice, but nothing can replace game atmosphere … Beth feels his team is coming together and believes the keys to a successful Sonoma County League season are: 1. execute and 2. eliminate mistakes … The Lobos have a size advantage over the Greyhounds … In its first four games, Elsie Allen has been outscored, 177-20.
The pick: Healdsburg 35, Elsie Allen 7
PINER (1-3) at PETALUMA (0-4)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Piner fell to Hercules, 32-23. Petaluma lost to Rancho Cotate, 39-0.
Notable: Petaluma has home-field advantage, but Piner has the offensive weapons … The Trojans have scored three points in their past two games, while the Prospectors are averaging 16 points per game this season … Piner has the second-best passing stats in the Sonoma County League behind Analy … Quarterback Noel Hernandez is averaging 206 yards per game through the air. He’s thrown 11 touchdown passes, four of those to Natu Hezchias … The Prospectors’ running attack has also been solid with Dominic Wilson averaging more than seven yards per rush and Austin Nahmens collecting just over five … Wilson (34) and Nahmens (27) lead the team in tackles.
The pick: Piner 27, Petaluma 14
ST. HELENA (3-0) at CLOVERDALE (0-4)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: St Helena downed Tomales, 41-14. Cloverdale lost to St. Vincent, 21-14.
Notable: After trouncing a good Tomales team, St. Helena looks like the best small school in the Redwood Empire … The Saints’ passing game has been nearly perfect. Starter Richard Hoppe is completing 70 percent of his passes (26 of 37) and backup Joey Brink has thrown 10 and completed 10 … The running game hasn’t been shabby. Danny Brink has averaged just under nine yards per carry and Sebastian Segura has picked up nearly eight per touch … Wide receiver/defensive back Gatlin Blakely is St. Helena’s leading scorer with 24 points … Cloverdale has been competitive in its previous games. All four losses were by eight points or fewer.
The pick: St. Helena 42, Cloverdale 13
LOWER LAKE (0-3) at MIDDLETOWN (2-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Lower Lake lost to Valley Christian, 49-0. Middletown won at El Molino, 38-0.
Notable: This is one of four games on the opening-weekend North Central I schedule and it’s also Middletown’s homecoming … The Mustangs’ defense has been stout allowing 15 points total, including only seven to defending North Coast Section champion Salesian … Lower Lake has been outscored, 134-20, this season … Last year at Lower Lake, Middletown prevailed, 35-0.
The pick: Middletown 49, Lower Lake 0
STELLAR PREP (1-2) at ST. VINCENT (2-1)
Kickoff: 5 p.m.
Last week: Stellar Prep did not play. St. Vincent beat Cloverdale, 21-14.
Notable: St. Vincent’s offense is adept running and passing. Quarterback Mitch Sheppard has thrown for 474 yards through three games and completed 57 percent of his passes … The running game is averaging 138 yards per game with Derek Murphy and George Sammon leading the way … Stellar Park is coming off a bye week and before that lost to Clear Lake, 41-0 … The Thunder run the ball almost exclusively, rushing for 326 per game while picking up only 33 through the air.
The pick: St. Vincent 27, Stellar Park 14
UPPER LAKE (1-2) at CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last week: Upper Lake lost to Portola, 29-26. CSFTD defeated Richmond, 47-0.
Notable: Upper Lake nearly came all the way back against Portola. The visiting Cougars trailed, 29-14, in the third quarter and pulled within three points with less than a minute remaining. However, Portola recovered an onside kick and that was the game … This will be the second Empire team CSFTD has played. The Fremont team owns a win over Calistoga (35-29).
The pick: CSFTD 20, Upper Lake 19
CLEAR LAKE (2-1) at FORT BRAGG (2-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Clear Lake defeated South Fork, 38-7. Fort Bragg downed Elsie Allen 48-6.
Notable: The Clear Lake offense passed for only two touchdowns last season. Three games into this campaign, quarterback Ken Henningers has thrown for five … Clear Lake dominated South Fork with its ground game. Luke Punzalan rushed for three scores and 96 yards while Andre Buendia finished with 103 … The Fort Bragg defense is holding opponents to an average of 10 points per game.
The pick: Fort Bragg 14, Clear Lake 7
KELSEYVILLE (2-1) at WILLITS (2-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Kelseyville defeated Esparto, 36-0. Willits beat Calistoga, 34-6.
Notable: In the win over Esparto, quarterback Mark Reason (shoulder) and Dasan Vasquez (ankle) suffered injuries … .The Knights have won their past two games convincingly … Willits owns one of the top small school defenses in the Empire … The Wolverines have allowed 13 points and scored 72 this season.
The pick: Willits 42, Kelseyville 6
ANDERSON VALLEY (0-2) at LAYTONVILLE (2-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last week: Anderson Valley lost to Point Arena, 52-18. Laytonville beat Potter Valley, 55-20.
Notable: Using comparable scores, Laytonville should win by 89 points. The Warriors defeated Point Arena, 55-0, and Anderson Valley lost to that team by 34 points … Brandon Sutherland has been coming up huge for Laytonville. The 6-foot senior has caught seven touchdown passes and when he rushes, he’s averaging better than seven yards per touch.
The pick: Laytonville 45, Anderson Valley 13
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