Casa's Biasi does it all

There were no marching bands, no cheerleaders and no intense bragging rights at stake.

There was, however, plenty of Casa Grande’s Anthony Biasi.

Biasi turned in a brilliant all-around performance Saturday night to lead the Sonoma County League to a 19-16 victory over the North Bay League in the 35th annual Kiwanis All-Star football game at Santa Rosa Junior College.

Before a crowd of roughly 1,500, Biasi, the SCL’s Back of the Year, picked up where he left off seven months ago.

The hard-charging 5-foot-9, 205-pounder rushed for 124 yards on 13 carries, scored the SCL’s first touchdown on a 1-yard plunge and added two interceptions.

He even made news at halftime when he was awarded a $1,000 Kiwanis Club scholarship. Biasi submitted a winning essay on how sports has affected his life.

Biasi didn’t earn a college scholarship — he will walk on at Sacramento State — but he looked primed for the next level on Saturday.

“I just came into this really fired up,” Biasi said. “I felt good. I felt fresh and really on top of things.”

For SCL coach Trent Herzog, Biasi’s exploits were hardly surprising. Herzog, Casa Grande’s defensive coordinator, had a front-row seat this season as Biasi rushed for 1,797 yards and 16 touchdowns.

“He’s a power runner,” Herzog said. “He’s got a little juke in him, but he’s a tough, strong runner and he showed it tonight.”

Besides Biasi, the offensive highlights were scarce in a game that featured 454 total yards, 10 turnovers and eight first-half punts.

The NBL managed just 215 yards, 37 coming when Rancho Cotate quarterback Andrew Silveri sprinted around right end to give the NBL a 7-0 first-quarter lead.

The lead evaporated six minutes later as Biasi highlighted a four-play, 27-yard drive with a 19-yard run. He capped it with a 1-yard dive on the last offensive play of the first quarter.

Two series later, Biasi set up the SCL’s next touchdown with a 45-yard run down to the 5-yard line. Petaluma’s Jake Burnett (11 carries, 50 yards), gave the SCL a 13-7 lead two plays later as he danced for 3 yards around right end.

The SCL took a 19-7 lead into halftime when Healdsburg quarterback Cory Harms connected with Analy’s Ross Bostock on a 17-yard pass with 57 seconds left in the second quarter.

That would prove to be enough offense as the SCL’s defense, a unit headlined by Sonoma linebacker Nick Pappas and Casa Grande tackle Kenny Samana, limited the NBL to 94 rushing yards on 34 attempts and 104 yards in the first three quarters.

“In the first three quarters, we gave them one big play,” Pappas said. “And that was it.”

The NBL made a last-ditch, fourth-quarter rally to add a bit of suspense to the evening.

Rancho’s Brian Baas sacked Harms in the end zone for a safety with six minutes left to close the gap to 19-9.

With five seconds left, Piner quarterback Michael Gebre connected with Cardinal Newman’s Jordan Reyes (4 catches, 59 yards) on a 4-yard touchdown pass to finish the scoring.

After Analy’s Ross Bostock recovered the ensuing onside kick, a fight broke out near midfield that emptied both teams’ benches. After perhaps a minute of scuffling, coaches from both teams succeeded in breaking it up.

The teams lined up at midfield and shook hands following the game.

“It’s an emotional game,” Herzog said. “For a lot of these guys, it’s the last game they’ll ever play.”

The SCL’s victory was its third in a row, giving it a 10-7 lead in the series. The first 18 Kiwanis games were played between county all-stars from Sonoma and Marin.

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.