Nuview Bridge football team pulls away from Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa quarterback Adam Pinard (4) rolls out on the option, with running back Jeremiah Park ready to take the ball. Story and photos by ...
Story and photos by Joe Quinn, correspondent
The Rangers of Santa Rosa Academy traveled to Nuevo Friday night to take on the Knights of Nuview Bridge in a South Valley League football game. The Knights were tied with SRA atop the league standings and their play in this one showed they belong there, scoring a 48-13 victory.
Nuview Bridge (3-3, 3-0) moved the ball almost at will with long passes, significant ground gains and even on special teams. The Knights’ speed in the passing game was obvious as they continually beat the Ranger secondary for long gains off the strong arm of their quarterback.
Things looked fairly even early in the first quarter. The Knights struck first, when on only their third play from scrimmage they crossed the goal line to take the lead, 7-0. However, the Rangers (3-3, 2-1) answered quickly on a 30-yard keeper by quarterback Adam Pinard to the left side. Their point after failed and the Knights led at that point, 7-6.
From there on, though, it was mostly the Knights. With 10 minutes remaining in the half, they were up 28-7, scoring the latest TD on a 30-yard pass on the first play after recovering a Ranger fumble deep in Ranger territory.
The Rangers stayed in the game and answered as the quarter wound down. With three minutes left in the half, they moved the ball to inside the Knights 5, from where Daniel Gonzalez took it up the middle, putting the Rangers back in the mix at 28-13. However, the Knights moved the ball quickly, scoring again with less than a minute remining in the half.
With the successful two-point conversion, the teams went to the locker room with Nuview Bridge leading, 36-13. The Knights added touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters and the Rangers had no answer.
The game was expected to be a lot close,r given that both teams had scored at will against common opponent St. Jeanne Lestonnac. the Knights winning 56-0 and the Rangers 53-7.
The staff would not make excuses, but the Rangers were significantly disadvantaged by injuries in the last week. Five starters were missing from Friday’s game, including key performers in last week’s game -- lineman Luke Adams and wide receiver Justin York. Others not playing were running back and linebacker Cameron Quesada and wide receiver Jeff Sims. Center Eli Aguilar also was not available.
Next Saturday, Santa Rosa is at home against Hamilton High of Anza, a team that is 2-0 in league and 3-3 on the season coming off this week’s victory over St. Jeanne, 62-15.
