El Molino snaps 11-game skid against Analy

For starters, the Lions shaved their heads, an elaborate process which left many with mohawks complete with uniform numbers and school initials carved into their scalps.

A nice touch. But they weren’t done. They also danced during the Friday pep rally, performing in a skit poking fun at Analy’s cheerleaders.

Yes, El Molino never messed with tradition. But for 11 consecutive years, the Lions’ fiercest rivals always messed with them.

So they stopped the shenanigans this year in an effort to finally stop The Streak.

Good idea. Not only did they keep their hair this year. They also got the Golden Apple trophy.

In a stunning reversal, the Lions, one week removed from a 57-0 loss to Petaluma, upset the previously unbeaten Tigers, 21-19, on Friday nightcq to snap a 23-game Sonoma County League losing streak dating back to 2004.

Before a boisterous home crowd, the Lions (3-3) stopped a potential game-tying two-point conversion about 6 inches short with two minutes left to beat Analy (5-1) for the first time since 1996.

El Molino coach Mike Roan, a former Tennessee Titans tight end with who has played in a Super Bowl and in one of the NFL’s most famous games, “The Music City Miracle,” said the win could be felt throughout the El Molino community.

“It sounds silly,” Roan said. “But on a personal level, this one ranks right up there.”

Senior co-captain Miles Chenoweth said the coaching staff and a few players agreed to cut out the typical pre-game rituals this season to better focus on the game.

It also helped that senior quarterback Tony DeMarco threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. DeMarco, who completed 12 of 19 passes for 171 yards, tossed a 4-yard pass to Chaz Mathias and had a 9-yard toss to Cole Parmeter. DeMarco also had a 1-yard scoring run to give the Lions a 21-7 fourth-quarter lead.

The Tigers roared back, however, and closed to 21-19 when fullback Anthony Giacobbe had a 43-yard scoring pass to quarterback David Glass on a trick play with two minutes left. But El Molino stopped a run on the two-point conversion attempt and a long-awaited celebration began.

“It was the best feeling in the world,” said Chenoweth, who had an interception from his cornerback position. “Just knowing we have our fans back and they’re going to support us for the rest of the season.”

The Lions are playing with just a 24-man roster this season, a slight drop from previous years.

But Roan says the players who have stayed were rewarded Friday with a win they’ll always remember.

“These guys bought into what we’ve been saying,” Roan said. “They’ve gone through all the work and not seen the results. That’s tough. I’d be lying if I didn’t say we’ve lost a few guys along the way who didn’t think it was worth it.”

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