Santa Rosa on Short End to Cal Military Institute in Important League Match-Up
By Joe Quinn
October 25, 2019
This key game ended as it began with both teams playing well and even. But in between
it was the Rough Riders of Cal Military Institute that dominated. CMI enjoyed a wild
2nd Qtr closing out the half up 34-0. Santa Rosa played a strong 4th quarter scoring TD’s
on a run by Tim Marlow and a pass from Adam Pinard to Isaac Felix. But of course it is
a game of four quarters and the final was in favor of CMI 34-14.
The first quarter was played very tight by both teams. The Rangers able to move the ball
on the ground and held the soon to be explosive Rough Rider offense intact including a
nice open field sack by Roman Wombler. But the second quarter was all CMI as their
QB and fleet skill position players found ways to evade big losses and make explosive
long gains on the ground and in the air. CMI went into the half up 28 to 0 and would
expand on that early in the 3rd.
It wasn’t until late in the 3 rd that Santa Rosa found a way to slow the CMI offense while
moving their own. Given the deficit most of the second half showed the Rangers trying
to make up the large scoring gap by going to long downfield passing. On at least two
occasions passes from sophomore QB Pinard were in the hands of the receivers but fell
incomplete. In the 4th they reversed that and several long gains were made through the
air. One of them was down the left sideline to Marlow putting them in position for their
first TD, a Pinard pass to Isaac Felix on the right side. That play closed the gap to 34-6
as they opened the 4th quarter.
With the Rangers staying in the air, a long Pinard pass to Felix was dropped as the
ground caused it to dislodge as he hit it hard.. Another even longer connection to Marlow
was called back on a penalty. At this point it seemed as if that would be it for the
Rangers. However, two successive passes Pinard to Felix and another to Justin York got
them a first down at the CMI 20. This was followed by an 8 yard gain on the ground by
Titus Ortiz and the Rangers were threatening at the CMI 8. But once again the Rangers
found themselves with 4th and “must”. Pinard dove for the 1st and the Rangers were
threatening From there Marlow took it in over the right side and the conversion,
reminiscent of the “Bush Push”, was good and the game was now at 34-14 with 1:52 left
on the clock.
From there it was routine and the game ended with the Rough Riders taking a knee at
midfield. Once again the Rangers came up short but stayed in play till the end.
Next week finds Santa Rosa playing for a place in the Playoffs. A win in this away game
over Temecula Prep gets them in. The game is at 7:00 on Friday the 1st.
