The visiting Healdsburg Greyhounds ended their regular season play with a commanding victory over the El Molino Lions Friday night. The Hounds controlled the game from the opening kick-off to the final minutes of the game when they graciously ran down the clock on the Lions’ 1 yard line rather continuing to run-up the score.
With the Hounds looking to continue their recent run of post season appearances, the Healdsburg squad came out strong. Team captain Trystan Cleaver started the night off with a strong kick-off return and followed it up with a deep run into Lion territory. Cleaver, on the second play of the game, then took the ball over the goal line on a 10 yard run. A missed snap on the PAT set the score at 6-0.
The Lion defense had no way of stopping Cleaver who scored on the Hounds next possession with a 3 yard run. Cleaver completed his TD hat trick with 5:22 left in the first quarter on a 9 yard rush over the goal line. Healdsburg scored on their first three possessions of the game.
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El Molino started the second quarter deep in their own territory. A blocked punt and a recovery in the end zone by Healdsburg’s Julian Lopez with only 7 seconds elapsed in the quarter. Healdsburg missed the PAT kick leaving the score 26-0. Lopez intercepted a deep Lion pass to stop El Molino’s only serious effort of the first half. The Lions didn’t convert a first down the entire first half. The Hounds went into the lockerroom ahead 26-0.
The second half started just as rocky for the Lions. A fumble on the opening kick-off gave the Hounds the ball on the Lion 20 yard line. Less than 2 minutes Cleaver scored his fourth TD on a 7 yard run.
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El Molino finally started to get their offense running late in the third quarter. Taking advantage of solid play and a couple of penalties on the Hounds, El Molino drove to Healdsburg’s 4 yard line, only to be stopped by the Hound defense. Healdsburg drove the length of the field, capping the drive on a 55 yard pass reception and run by Chandler Tinsley. A fumble recovery by Healdsburg’s Jacob Henderson on the Lion 21 yard line set up the Hounds final score of the evening.
With 11:42 on the clock the Hounds scored their final TD on a 22 yard rush setting the final score at 47-0. The Hounds took advantage of the dominating score to play back-up players the rest of the game. Even that didn’t stop the Hounds who drove to the Lion 1 yard line with 3:03 left in the game. Rather than run-up the score more, the Hounds QB took a knee for all four downs, giving the ball back to the Lions with 20 seconds left in the game.
Healdsburg ends the regular season tied for second place in the Sonoma County League with Sonoma Valley. The Hounds will have to wait until the play-off schedule is decided next week to find out who their first round opponent will be.
