The two leagues that make up the larger schools of Sonoma County should be very competitive once again this coming season, but the race in the North Bay League with slightly larger schools overall should be a little more competitive than the chase for a title in the Sonoma County League.
When you talk about this year’s race in the North Bay League you have to start with the defending co-champions Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park and Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa.
Even with the talent returning on those two teams, almost every coach we spoke with agrees Rancho Cotate and Newman may be the favorites, but Casa Grande-Petaluma, Windsor and Maria Carrillo-Santa Rosa could very well make some noise.
“Any of the top five teams can beat each other, no one will go undefeated,” Casa Grande Coach Trent Herzog remarked. His 7-0 team in 2013 was the last undefeated champion in only the Gauchos second year in the NBL after coming over from the Sonoma County League in 2012 along with Windsor.
Rancho Cotate solid on both sides of the ball
After competing in Division II for many years Rancho Cotate (9-4, 6-1) made it all the way to the CIF North Coast Section Division III semifinals last year before bowing out to Marin Catholic-Kentfield.
Veteran Rancho Cotate Coach Ed Conroy returns the consensus top player in Sonoma County in 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior wide receiver and defensive back Chris Taylor-Yamanoha.
The recent Louisville-commit was the only junior of the three MVPs selected for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat All League Team last season. Taylor-Yamanoha was a terror on both sides of the ball. He caught 70 passes for 845 yards and 15 touchdowns, and on defense he had three interceptions, a ton of broken up passes and 27 tackles. Also returning at a skill position is All League First Team and three-year starting quarterback Gunner Mefferd. Last season the senior passed for 1,885 yards and 23 touchdowns. The offensive line is anchored by All League First Team 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior center Brandon Boccaleoni.
“Chris is a game-breaker that can catch the ball and score on any play. Gunner is the best quarterback we’ve ever had. Brandon is technically one of the best players we’ve ever had. Plus, Brandon is one of the top five students in his class and getting Ivy League looks,” Conroy told Prep2Prep.
Other returning senior starters that should be impact players are All League Second Team running back Moziah Ward, All League Honorable Mention defensive lineman Carson Caveny, and Danny Shelton, an Honorable Mention linebacker that will move to defensive back, will be the No. 2 running back and also the backup quarterback.
Two juniors Conroy feels will be a force are Tanielu Guerrero and Pate Haunga. Guerrero was Honorable Mention outside linebacker moves to inside linebacker.
“This league gets tougher every year,” Conroy remarked. “Right now we’re on an upswing of some real talented kids that can make plays, and we have some hard workers too. I think we’re one of three or four teams that are in the conversation, Cardinal Newman, Casa Grande and Windsor, and even possibly Carrillo who snuck up and beat us last year.”
Cardinal Newman returns area’s top underclass player
Cardinal Newman (8-4, 6-1) made it to the NCS Division III second round where they lost to eventual CIF D3 Bowl Game champion Campolindo-Moraga.
The top returner for bright young Coach Paul Cronin is NBL Back of the Year dual-threat quarterback Jordan Brookshire, the top sophomore in the Redwood Empire last season. Brookshire passed for 1,973 yards and 25 TDs and rushed for 1,427 yards and 13 additional scores.
“Since spring ball Jordan has been improving.” Cronin said. “He’s throwing the ball a lot better now and making accurate throws, and he’s bigger, faster and smarter. As a sophomore quarterback he was a little nervous at times.”
All League First Team senior offensive lineman Reed Palmer and Jamon Roberts anchor what will be the top returning O-line in the league. The center will be Second Team All League senior offensive linemen Kaulana Ako.
“Our offensive line is the strongest group on the team,” Cronin remarked.
All League First Team wide receiver Connor Rubattino, the leading scorer on the basketball team is not returning to focus on hoops. Junior Damian Wallace, another basketball star, will be one of three receivers Cronin calls “legit.” The others are senior Jason Dedrick and junior Cody Baker.
“We’re going to throw the ball more,” Cronin said. “Last year our skill guys were super young and now we have the good line for protection.”
That same line will open some holes for Brookshire to take off as well.
When Brookshire isn’t rushing the running back and pass blocking duties will go to Michael Ortola and Ian McMullen. Both were backups last season as juniors and Ortola was also an All League Second Team defensive lineman as a rover.
“Recently we’ve had skill players but not much on the line. This year we have a better combo,” Cronin said.
Ortola is the leading returner on a defense that could have some questions but Cronin feels his linebacking corps led by senior returning starter Bala Triolo will be “a strong group.”
“The league has definitely become more competitive since Casa Grande and Windsor joined in 2012, Cronin told Prep2Prep. “This year I think there are three teams that shine, us, Rancho Cotate and Windsor, then Casa Grande and Carrillo.”
Veteran Redwood Empire Coach Tom Kirkpatrick takes over at Windsor
Windsor (8-4, 4-3) not only has six returning starters that were either first or second team all league, the Jaguars also have a new coach but one who is a very familiar face in Sonoma County high school football.
After retiring twice and a four year hiatus as a head coach, Tom Kirkpatrick now has the helm at Windsor. Kirkpatrick, 62, coached at Healdsburg from 1987 to 2000 before retiring the first time and remained a math teacher at the school. He returned in 2007 and retired again in 2011 with nine Sonoma County League and two NCS titles, and a .722 winning percentage that included no losing seasons. Then, in 2014 he retired from teaching.
“I missed working with the kids,” said Kirkpatrick, who un-retires his good friends and longtime assistants Gale Bach, Mike Ruiz, Bob Besancon, Pat McDowell, Joe Passalacqua and Pete Thomas.
The top returner for Kirkpatrick is All League First Team linebacker Mitchell Bruning. The 6-foot, 200-pound senior will also be the go to receiver as primarily a tight end.
Herzog, who is also the West Coast Scout for XOS Digital and a member of the Army All-American Game selection committee, told Prep2Prep he feels Bruning is the best returning defensive player in the league.
Two other senior All League First Team honorees returning are offensive and defensive line selection Alex Trancato and free safety Anthony Rea.
The three senior Second Team returners are cornerback Lucas Campos, the half-brother of Rea, cornerback Evan Legaspi, and linebacker Sam Fletcher.
The Jaguars lost quarterback and league co-MVP Jalen Roman to graduation. After an open competition with two others 6-foot, 180-pound senior Max Brown has won the job.”
“Max was the backup quarterback but he was a starting outside linebacker last year so it’s going to be a big change for him,” Kirkpatrick remarked.
Jackson Baughman returns at running back and will share duties with David Escarega.
After impressing scouts at several kicking camps this summer senior Dalton Mullins will probably be the top punter and place-kicker in the league.
“I walked into a really good situation with motivated, hard-working kids,” Kirkpatrick concluded.
Casa Grande and Maria Carrillo will be heard
Casa Grande (6-7, 4-3) returns one of the top two-sport athletes in the Redwood Empire in All League First Team dual selection running back and linebacker Spencer Torkelson. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior rushed for 815 yards and three touchdowns on offense and also had three sacks and 47 tackles on defense. The Cal-Hi Sports All State Underclass selection in baseball has already committed to Arizona State as a pitcher.
“Spencer is a phenomenal athlete,” Herzog remarked. “Baseball is his focus but he could be a D1 football player.”
Another First Team returner is senior defensive lineman Andrew Floerke. An Honorable Mention returning starter is junior defensive back Nic Petri. He will also be a primary wide receiver.
Senior 6-foot-6, 210-pound quarterback and three-sport athlete (baseball, basketball) JJ Anderson was looking much improved in his accuracy and footwork when Prep2Prep saw him perform at a camp earlier this summer. Last season he passed for 1,320 yards but only seven TDs with six interceptions.
“Athletically we can compete with anyone,” Herzog remarked. “We’re much faster than last year and we have a good line with a dominant lineman in Floerke.”
Maria Carrillo (7-5, 4-3) and 2014 NBL Coach of the Year Jay Higgins will have six returning players that earned All League honors led by First Team senior tight end Shawn Pabros.
Second Team running back Josh Groesbeck will be the primary ball carrier. Second team senior inside linebacker Isiah Kohne will lead the defense with Honorable Mention senior defensive back Fhestus Chomba, Honorable Mention senior defensive lineman Jonah Kim and HM junior defensive lineman Josh Kauvesi, and Honorable Mention senior offensive lineman Spencer Macon will anchor the O-line.
Montgomery (5-7, 3-4) has Honorable Mention junior Wide receiver Malik Telcy, and HM senior linebackers Nicholas Bautista and Charles Stone as its top returners.
Santa Rosa (1-9, 1-6) will try to improve on a 1-win season last year. The top returners are the Honorable Mention defensive back duo of senior Nico D’Amato and junior Kalei Aukai, and HM senior linebacker Cameron McAtee.
Ukiah (1-9, 0-7) will look to win a game in league this year after blanking last season. The Wildcats have Second Team senior defensive lineman Dante Burrell and the Honorable Mention senior defensive back duo of Anthony Brocchini and Nik Rau as its top returners.
