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The road to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship now goes through Grass Valley.
Heading back to the section semifinals for the first time since its 2005 championship season, Nevada Union humbled the Huskies of Sheldon Friday night in a 41-7, second-round rout at NU's Hooper Stadium.
And with the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds both falling in Friday night upsets, No. 3 Nevada Union now stands as the highest seed remaining in Division I play.
“I like our chances just as much as the beginning of the night,” said NU coach Dave Humphers. “But it's going to be nice playing at home next week.”
Second-seeded Vacaville fell to No. 7 Pleasant Grove 38-28, which means Miners earned their third straight home game with a berth into the section championship game on the line. Pleasant Grove, the No. 7 seed, also just so happens to be the team that cut Nevada Union's 2008 playoff stay short with a 21-18 second-round defeat.
“We're happy Pleasant Grove won,” said NU senior offensive lineman Austin Harlicker. “Because of last year and we're also excited that it's a home game.
“I hope we stick it to 'em.”
Nevada Union has certainly stuck it to its first two playoff opponents, winning by a combined score of 103-19. On Friday night, the Miners looked every bit as dominant as they did a week ago in the 62-12 playoff-opening blowout of Napa.
NU (11-1) scored on its first four possessions, including two touchdown passes from quarterback Broughan Jantz to tight end Dan Pettinato. Jantz completed 7-of-11 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns. The interception he threw late in the third quarter was just the second pick the senior southpaw has thrown all season, bringing his touchdown-interception ratio to 22-2.
Pettinato, who has made a verbal commitment to play for the University of Arizona next fall, took a 19-yard pass over the middle from Jantz for six at the 7:27 mark of the opening quarter. Five minutes later, after senior lineman Conner Klauer blocked a Sheldon punt, Pettinato caught another Jantz spiral over the middle, drop-stepped and pivoted into the open field for a 23-yard score with 2:07 showing on the first-quarter clock.
NU's defense, which held the Huskies to 69 yards of offense in the first half and a total of 147 on the night, showed it was game for Sheldon's passing attack. Chris Biertuempfel's interception of a Raymond Dickerson pass put the Miners back in scoring position just before the end of the first quarter. Three plays later, Drew Hoskin scored on an 11-yard run to the right for a 21-0 lead.
“We had a great defensive effort tonight,” Humphers said. “A lot of credit goes to (defensive coordinator) Brad Dal Bon, (secondary coach) Tim Trokey and our defensive players. It looked like Sheldon's gameplan was to throw the ball on us, but those guys (NU's defensive backs) have improved dramatically all year long.”
And NU's defensive front didn't give Dickerson much time to find an open receiver downfield, even if there was one. The Miners totaled seven sacks on the night, including two each Pettinato at defensive end and junior lineman Chad Knight.
Speedy Sheldon back Burns Chambers, who torched Oak Ridge for 229 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 20-17 win over the Trojans, was held to a mere 35 rushing yards on 14 attempts.
Jantz, who saw spot duty in the defensive secondary, also picked off a pass for the Miners. And NU's Connor Keith added a blocked punt late in the game.
Sheldon's lone score of the night came after the Huskies recovered a fumble and returned the ball to the NU 1-yard line with 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Although the Miners stopped the Huskies on the first three snaps, Sheldon's Joshua Brinkworth kept the ball to the right side on fourth-and-inches for the 27-7 halftime score.
“I also thought our linebackers, Zach Vallejo and Juan Espinosa, played a great game,” Humphers said. “Our defensive line, with Chad Knight and Conner Klauer and with Luca Fistarol and Dan Pettinato at the defensive-end positions, it was just hard to move the ball on us.”
That wasn't the case on the opposite side of the ball.
Hoskin had a huge night, leading NU's backfield with 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. His 61-yard touchdown run off a fake punt gave NU a 27-0 lead with 9:28 still to go in the first half. On fourth-and-eight at their own 39, the Miners made a direct snap to Hoskin, who took the ball to the right side and found teammates Cody Winthal, Klauer and Pettinato ready to escort him all the way to the end zone.
Eric Niederberger, who also had a sack on the defensive side, totaled 39 rushing yards on four carries and caught a 49-yard, play-action touchdown pass from Jantz to open the second-half scoring less than a minute after the intermission. Vallejo, who totaled 29 yards on six carries, added the final score of the night from one yard out with 8:34 to go in the third quarter.
In all, Harlicker and his fellow offensive linemen helped the Miners to 222 yards on the ground.
In addition to No. 2 Vacaville falling to Pleasant Grove Friday, top-seeded Tracy (11-1) was stunned by eighth-seeded Los Banos by a 28-27 score. Los Banos (9-3) will travel to Monterey Trail (10-2) next Friday in the other Division I semifinal. Monterey Trail, the No. 4 seed, beat No. 12 Burbank 22-8 Friday.
Next Friday's winners will advance to the Division I championship game, which will be played at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12 at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.
Contact Sports Editor Brian Hamilton via e-mail at bhamilton@theunion.co or by phone at 477-4240.
Nevada Union 41, Sheldon 7
S (8-4) 0 7 0 0 — 7
NU (11-1) 21 6 7 7 — 41
First quarter
NU — Dan Pettinato 19 pass from Broughan Jantz (Conor Maloney kick), 7:27.
NU — Pettinato 23 pass from Jantz (Maloney kick), 2:07.
NU — Drew Hoskin 11 run (Maloney kick), :38.
Second quarter
NU — Hoskin 61 run (Kick failed), 9:28.
S — Joshua Beckworth 1 run (Tyler Kesthely kick), 4:08.
Third quarter
NU — Eric Niederberger 49 pass from Jantz (Maloney kick), 11:13
NU — Zach Vallejo 1 run (Maloney kick), 8:34.
Heading back to the section semifinals for the first time since its 2005 championship season, Nevada Union humbled the Huskies of Sheldon Friday night in a 41-7, second-round rout at NU's Hooper Stadium.
And with the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds both falling in Friday night upsets, No. 3 Nevada Union now stands as the highest seed remaining in Division I play.
“I like our chances just as much as the beginning of the night,” said NU coach Dave Humphers. “But it's going to be nice playing at home next week.”
Second-seeded Vacaville fell to No. 7 Pleasant Grove 38-28, which means Miners earned their third straight home game with a berth into the section championship game on the line. Pleasant Grove, the No. 7 seed, also just so happens to be the team that cut Nevada Union's 2008 playoff stay short with a 21-18 second-round defeat.
“We're happy Pleasant Grove won,” said NU senior offensive lineman Austin Harlicker. “Because of last year and we're also excited that it's a home game.
“I hope we stick it to 'em.”
Nevada Union has certainly stuck it to its first two playoff opponents, winning by a combined score of 103-19. On Friday night, the Miners looked every bit as dominant as they did a week ago in the 62-12 playoff-opening blowout of Napa.
NU (11-1) scored on its first four possessions, including two touchdown passes from quarterback Broughan Jantz to tight end Dan Pettinato. Jantz completed 7-of-11 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns. The interception he threw late in the third quarter was just the second pick the senior southpaw has thrown all season, bringing his touchdown-interception ratio to 22-2.
Pettinato, who has made a verbal commitment to play for the University of Arizona next fall, took a 19-yard pass over the middle from Jantz for six at the 7:27 mark of the opening quarter. Five minutes later, after senior lineman Conner Klauer blocked a Sheldon punt, Pettinato caught another Jantz spiral over the middle, drop-stepped and pivoted into the open field for a 23-yard score with 2:07 showing on the first-quarter clock.
NU's defense, which held the Huskies to 69 yards of offense in the first half and a total of 147 on the night, showed it was game for Sheldon's passing attack. Chris Biertuempfel's interception of a Raymond Dickerson pass put the Miners back in scoring position just before the end of the first quarter. Three plays later, Drew Hoskin scored on an 11-yard run to the right for a 21-0 lead.
“We had a great defensive effort tonight,” Humphers said. “A lot of credit goes to (defensive coordinator) Brad Dal Bon, (secondary coach) Tim Trokey and our defensive players. It looked like Sheldon's gameplan was to throw the ball on us, but those guys (NU's defensive backs) have improved dramatically all year long.”
And NU's defensive front didn't give Dickerson much time to find an open receiver downfield, even if there was one. The Miners totaled seven sacks on the night, including two each Pettinato at defensive end and junior lineman Chad Knight.
Speedy Sheldon back Burns Chambers, who torched Oak Ridge for 229 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 20-17 win over the Trojans, was held to a mere 35 rushing yards on 14 attempts.
Jantz, who saw spot duty in the defensive secondary, also picked off a pass for the Miners. And NU's Connor Keith added a blocked punt late in the game.
Sheldon's lone score of the night came after the Huskies recovered a fumble and returned the ball to the NU 1-yard line with 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Although the Miners stopped the Huskies on the first three snaps, Sheldon's Joshua Brinkworth kept the ball to the right side on fourth-and-inches for the 27-7 halftime score.
“I also thought our linebackers, Zach Vallejo and Juan Espinosa, played a great game,” Humphers said. “Our defensive line, with Chad Knight and Conner Klauer and with Luca Fistarol and Dan Pettinato at the defensive-end positions, it was just hard to move the ball on us.”
That wasn't the case on the opposite side of the ball.
Hoskin had a huge night, leading NU's backfield with 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. His 61-yard touchdown run off a fake punt gave NU a 27-0 lead with 9:28 still to go in the first half. On fourth-and-eight at their own 39, the Miners made a direct snap to Hoskin, who took the ball to the right side and found teammates Cody Winthal, Klauer and Pettinato ready to escort him all the way to the end zone.
Eric Niederberger, who also had a sack on the defensive side, totaled 39 rushing yards on four carries and caught a 49-yard, play-action touchdown pass from Jantz to open the second-half scoring less than a minute after the intermission. Vallejo, who totaled 29 yards on six carries, added the final score of the night from one yard out with 8:34 to go in the third quarter.
In all, Harlicker and his fellow offensive linemen helped the Miners to 222 yards on the ground.
In addition to No. 2 Vacaville falling to Pleasant Grove Friday, top-seeded Tracy (11-1) was stunned by eighth-seeded Los Banos by a 28-27 score. Los Banos (9-3) will travel to Monterey Trail (10-2) next Friday in the other Division I semifinal. Monterey Trail, the No. 4 seed, beat No. 12 Burbank 22-8 Friday.
Next Friday's winners will advance to the Division I championship game, which will be played at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12 at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.
Contact Sports Editor Brian Hamilton via e-mail at bhamilton@theunion.co or by phone at 477-4240.
Nevada Union 41, Sheldon 7
S (8-4) 0 7 0 0 — 7
NU (11-1) 21 6 7 7 — 41
First quarter
NU — Dan Pettinato 19 pass from Broughan Jantz (Conor Maloney kick), 7:27.
NU — Pettinato 23 pass from Jantz (Maloney kick), 2:07.
NU — Drew Hoskin 11 run (Maloney kick), :38.
Second quarter
NU — Hoskin 61 run (Kick failed), 9:28.
S — Joshua Beckworth 1 run (Tyler Kesthely kick), 4:08.
Third quarter
NU — Eric Niederberger 49 pass from Jantz (Maloney kick), 11:13
NU — Zach Vallejo 1 run (Maloney kick), 8:34.
