Dragons score late to escape with 14-13 win

The Sonoma Dragons capitalized on a key fourth-quarter turnover to defeat the Petaluma Trojans 14-13 Friday night in Petaluma.
The win ups the Dragons record to 5-1-1 (3-1 in the SCL) and sets up a meeting with the Analy Tigers Friday night at Arnold Field. Analy presently boasts the top passing game in the Bay Area and the game will be covered live on KSVY 91.3 FM beginning at 7:15 p.m.
Trailing 13-7 senior Devon McCauley’s twisting punt was mishandled by Petaluma and after a mad scramble Sean Lind recovered the ball at the Trojan nine-yard line. Matt Darnell swept around the right side for the tying score on the ensuing play.
After a procedure penalty McCauley was forced to try the go-ahead extra point from five yards further back. With solid protection from the line up front McCauley coolly split the uprights with the winning point after.
The hard-hitting game was dominated by solid defensive play from both teams. However, each team was able to generate one long score with an electrifying run.
Sonoma scored first when quarterback Jake Powers hit fellow junior Steven Filippi with a short pass and Filippi ran through two tackles, reversed his field, and raced 47 yards to the end zone.
Petaluma, held scoreless in the first half, scored on the first drive of the third quarter when the speedy and diminutive Sean Sullivan raced around and through Dragon tacklers for a dazzling 57 yard score.
The Trojans went ahead 13-7 in the fourth quarter on a double-pass.
Dragon special teams played a large role in the victory. In addition to McCauley’s clutch PAT, Sonoma blocked the Petaluma extra-point try after the second touchdown and shut down the vaunted Petaluma return game.