Sonora Defeats Highland In Opening Round Of Football Playoffs
Sonora, CA — Sonora High School started it playoff run in a big way last night, and Summerville High School gets going this evening. You can hear Summerville host Hilmar at 7pm on 93.5 KKBN and streamed on myMotherLode.com.
Sonora High Vs. Highland
Written by: Mark Ferreira
The Sonora High Wildcats opened their playoff run at Dunlavy Field Thursday night, due to the Veteran’s day holiday, hosting the Highland Scots in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 playoffs.
Sonora opened the game again this week with another quick score when Jacob Gookin took the ball 36 yards on the ground and Bryan Wynn added the extra point and the Cats were up 7-0. Highlands huge running back Joshua Cannon grabbed a 32 yard pass for a score, but on the extra point attempt JT Kress broke through the line and blocked the attempt and Sonora maintained their lead 7-6. Gookin would add to the first quarter lead, keeping the ball and bouncing off defenders to score from 11 yards out. The extra point was wide and the Cats were up 13-6. Highlands came right back and Quarterback Gerald Davis showed his speed from 43 yards out to cut the Wildcat lead to one, 13-12. On the extra point attempt, again Kress crashed through the middle of the line and blocked his second extra point of the quarter. Sonora’s Jack Camara was the next one to score when he took the hand off and rushed 11 yards to the end zone, but the two point conversion would fail and the Wildcats were leading 19-12. The Scots would add another score in the first quarter on a beautifully thrown pass going almost 75 yards for the score and with the extra point good, the game was all tied up 19-19 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats picked up right where they left off and early in the second quarter Jacob Gookin showed why he’s called “Crazy Legs” when he bounced around the Scots defense and took off 51 yards for a touchdown run and Rico Sanchez would add 2 points and Sonora was up 27-19. Highland’s Keaunte Allen hauled in a bullet from 29 yards out, but the two point conversion failed and the score at halftime was Sonora 27, Highlands 25.
With adjustments being made by the Wildcat coaching staff, Sonora came out and put together a beautiful first possession of the second half, culminating with Jacob Gookin scoring again, this time from 4 yards out and Rico Sanchez added the two point attempt and the Cats lead 35-25. The Wildcats next possession saw Jack Camara punching it in from 6 yards out and Ryan Wynn added the point after and Sonora was up 42-32. The Scots wouldn’t stop fighting and Quarterback Gearld Davis scored from 28 yards out and with the extra point the Wildcat lead was cut again 42-35. Sonora would add another score towards the end of the third quarter when Rico Sanchez rushed 28 yards to the end zone and Jack Camara would add another two points and Sonora would close the third quarter up 50 to 32.
There was more high scoring in the fourth quarter when Jacob “Crazy Legs” Gookin would continue his scoring, this time slashing and dashing from 40 yards out to add another six points and Wynn would add the extra point, extending the Wildcat lead 57-32. Highland would again show no sign of quitting when O’Shea Robinson grabbed a 5 yard pass and with the two point conversion good, the Wildcats lead was again cut, Sonora 57-40. The scoring didn’t stop there for Sonora when Michael McKernon, who was pounding the ball up the middle, was able to batter the ball in for a 1 yard score and the Bryan Wynn extra point took the score Sonora 64, Highlands 40. Jacob Gookin would finish off his night by pulling the option, taking it off tackle, putting some moves on the Scots defense and finding a seam for a 51 yard touchdown run, which was his sixth score on the evening. The extra point failed and the Wildcats led 70-40. Highlands would come back and score again on a Joshua Cannon 22 yard run and added a two point conversion and the Wildcats were up 70-48. Sonora was able to get the ball back at the end of the fourth quarter and kneel on the ball to run the clock out and close out the night with a first round playoff win, 70-48.
With a win tonight Sonora moves forward in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 playoffs. Next week the Wildcats move back to their normal Friday night slot, hosting the Colfax Falcons at Dunlavy Field, at 7 pm November 17, 2017. You can listen to the game on Star 92.7 or stream the game live at mymotherlode.com.
