Login

Ekene Ikeme

Encinal Jets kicker Aladdin Natouf prepares to kick an extra point as Bo Banks takes the snap.

The Encinal Jets opened their Division 3 North Coast Section (NCS) playoff conquest with a tough win against the Tamalpais Red Tailed Hawks of Mill Valley 40- 21 last Friday at Stargell Field.

Just like their Bay Shore Athletic League games, the Jets got off to a fast start. A bad snap on a punt attempt by the Hawks flew over the punter's head and was downed at the Hawk 9-yard line, giving Encinal great field possession on their opening drive. Two plays later, Jon Trodder scored from 5 yards out on a toss to the right. Later in the quarter, Encinal quarterback Andrew Ve'e threw a back shoulder fade pass to Bo Banks for 15 yards and a touchdown.

Two possessions later, Corey Sails scored on a three-yard run that was set up by a 38-yard pass to Sails and a 25-yard pass to DJ Fa'agata.

The Hawks finally got on the board when quarterback Graeme Black converted a quarterback sneak from the half-yard line on fourth-and-goal. On Encinal's next drive Ve'e threw a quick slant pass to Banks, who took it in for the 80- yard touchdown before halftime.

"We threw the ball a lot in the first half," said Encinal Head Coach Joe Tenorio, whose team threw the ball more than usual in the first half. "It was part of our game plan. We wanted to come out and show them we can play that way."

The Jets led 27-7 at halftime. At the beginning of the second half it appeared Encinal was going to coast to another victory. The Jets moved the ball to the Tamalpais 10- yard line when the Hawks forced a fumble recovered by Manny Lopez of Tamalpais. A few plays later Black completed a 62-yard touchdown pass to Dana Mills. Mills ran by an Encinal defender and tiptoed down the right sideline on his way to the end zone. After a bad Encinal punt gave the Hawks good field position, Black scored again on a three-yard run later in the third quarter to make it 27-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

For the first time in the last seven Encinal games, the Jets were in a competitive game in the fourth quarter.

"They were fighting," said Tenorio of the Hawks. "I think we let up when we should have kept up our intensity. But you have to give them credit."

The Jets were unable to convert a fourth-and-nine from the Tamalpais 32-yard line on their next possession, which gave the Hawks' bench and crowd great confidence. With the Hawks in control of the ball and momentum it was up to the defense to secure the win.

On the Hawks' next possession, Banks intercepted a pass that gave Encinal great field position. Trodder capped off the Encinal drive with a 22-yard touchdown run. Following another Encinal interception, this time by Fa'agata, Trodder scored again on a five-yard run.

After blowing through the league game schedule, Tenorio said it was great to see his team win a close game in the second half.

"I felt like we fought through it," said Tenorio. "You can't teach your team how to play in a close game in practice. You just have to go through it. This game will make us a better team."

Trodder finished with 132 total yards of offense and three touchdowns, while Banks scored two touchdowns and caught two interceptions. The win moves the Jets to the quarterfinals of the NCS Division 3 playoffs.

They will face Miramonte tomorrow night at Stargell Field.