Huskies feast on Falcons

Despite out-hitting, out-scheming and out-playing Central Valley for three quarters of football, Sutter High took a surprisingly slim 13-12 lead heading into the final period of Friday night's Northern Section Division II semifinal.

Then the drumline started and the Huskies' usually focused and cool sideline immediately sprung to life.

They knew now was the time, and like most championship-caliber teams, they siezed the moment.

Two forced fumbles led to a quick 10 points and when Sutter finished off the Falcons 23-12 to set a date for Wednesday's championship game, they let everyone know what the goal has been since the start of the season — A three-peat.

"Outstanding — I couldn't ask for anything more," first-year Sutter coach Ryan Reynolds said following his biggest victory to date. "We knew that turnovers would be huge and big-time players make big-time plays."

Showing that they have much more than just a dominating defense, the Huskies' shined in all facets of the game. It was a complete team-effort and the players were as numerous as they are familiar.

From defensive lineman Nick Hecker and Isaiah Bohmann, linebacker Brannon Coughlin and safety Leszek Ratajczak on defense, to backs Ryan Cargill, Justin Gildemeister and Grant Campbell on offense, every player you would expect to make the big plays did.

No player was bigger than senior defensive end Austin Morehead, who was in the backfield on every play and almost single handedly gave Sutter two touchdowns.

"They had some strong running backs and we had to watch for some plays, but we schemed up and got it done," said Morehead. "We're hungry. We just want it more."

Morehead set the tone on the game's opening drive when he stuffed Michael Pranzenica four-yards behind the line of scrimmage on third down. As if that wasn't enough, he also stripped the ball and made the recovery to give the Huskies possession at the 46-yard line.

Sutter's offense cashed in the turnover for points by quickly moving down the field, where Ryan Cargill rumbled in from 14 yards out for a 6-0 lead.

The Falcons nearly answered the score with one of their own by calling a fake punt. Kody Corbell threw a strike to an open Parker Jones near the goal line, but safety Leszek Ratajczak delivered a crushing hit to jar the ball loose and Cameron Brown scooped it up and returned it out to the 17.

With Cargill pounding the ball inside and Gildemeister dancing his way on the outside, Sutter controlled the tempo and the ball for the entire first half.

The only miscue came with 3:14 to play before halftime when a fumbled exchange gave the Falcons the ball at the Huskies' own 8-yardline. CJ Valdivia broke through for a touchdown on the very next play and although the two-point conversion failed, it was 6-6 at the intermission.

Sutter's offense took over on the opening possession of the half as Campbell hit Joe McMaster for a gain of 10 and followed that up by faking to Cargill and pitching to Brown for a gain of 27. The quarterback capped the march by taking in a keeper from 4-yards out to give the Huskies a 13-6 lead.

Desperate for a score, the Falcons moved the ball 70 yards through Sutter's defense for their only true scoring drive of the game. An offsides penalty on fourth down and a facemask penalty aided the drive before Pranzenica swept around the left side for a 17-yard touchdown run.

However the point after kick sailed wide left and Sutterstill led by one.

But with 9:38 left to play the Huskies decided to finish off the Falcons once and for all. Once again it was Morehead who started it by stopping, stripping and recovering the ball yet again to set Sutter up at the 20. One play later, Brown danced his way in from 15-yards out for a 20-12 lead.

The nail in the coffin was provided on the ensuing kickoff when Coughlin delivered a devestating hit to force yet another fumble at the 16. Cody Shogren then put the game away with a 28-yard field goal.

"They just smell it, like sharks in bloddy water," said Reynolds, who also pointed out the importance of Shogren's point-after kicks late field goal. "They would not be denied."

Brown also shined with a fumble recovery, interception and TD run to his credit.

The Huskies will go for the three-peat Wednesday at top-ranked Lassen.