Wildcats Dominate And Move On To Championship Game
Sonora defeats Woodland Christian in CIF Sac Joaquin Section 6 playoff game in high school football -- Photo by Zeb Drivdahl
The Sonora Wildcats defeated the Woodland Christian Cardinals 28-0 on a rain-soaked Friday night to advance to the CIF Sac Joaquin Section 6 title game.
With driving rains turning the natural turf field of the host Cardinals into a muddy quagmire, the Wildcats won the coin toss and elected to defer. The Sonora defense forced a quick three and out and the Wildcats offense went to work. Despite moving the ball effectively in the challenging conditions, the Sonora drive stalled and a 43-yard field goal attempt from Emanuel Garibay was short, denying the Wildcats any points. The first Woodland Christian play on the ensuing drive was picked off by Steven Morfoot, giving Sonora the ball on their own 45-yard line. The Wildcats cashed in on the opportunity, moving the ball steadily down the field until Tommy Sutton busted a 35-yard TD run for the game’s first score.
After forcing another three and out, Sonora started the second quarter with the ball, but a stout Cardinals defense and a holding penalty forced a Wildcat punt. The Woodland Christian offense showed its first signs of life of the evening, moving the ball into Wildcats territory and picking up 3 first downs. Faced with a third down and long, the Cardinals coughed up their second turnover of the evening, a nifty interception by Dallas Latin. The Wildcat ground game went right back to work, with Brody Speer, Tommy Sutton, and Cash Byington contributing big-chunk plays. After a long Byington run, which gave Sonora first and goal, Tommy Sutton finished the drive with his second touchdown run of the night, leaving the score at 14-0 at the half.
The Wildcats received the opening kickoff and got the ground game right back to work. With the offensive line dishing out punishing blocks in the rain-soaked morass, the Sonora running backs were able to find just enough traction to deliver another touchdown drive, with the big run coming from Cash Byington. The Wildcat defense continued to stymie the Cardinal offense throughout the second half, and Sonora would add another touchdown in the 4th quarter to seal the game.
Brody Speer won Chicken Ranch Casino Player of the Game Honors for multiple punishing runs on offense and excellent play on defense. Tanner Goldson earned the Faust Heating and Air Hot Hit of the Game after blowing up the Cardinal quarterback on a first-quarter draw play. Sonora will play in the Sac Joaquin Section 6 title game next Friday 11/29 at 9 a.m. at Sac City College.
