2022 Program Preview: Petaluma High School

Photo: Sumner Fowler Petaluma Argus-Courier

Paul Gregorian June 20, 2022 @ 06:02 PM

What should be a very successful season for the Trojans in 2022, there are several Senior leaders returning to the Petaluma High squad that are in line for huge seasons and who have made big contributions to the team for several years already. They should be right in the mix for the VVAL title this season and make a push in the playoffs. Petaluma is one of the sneaky North Bay teams that could surprise some people this Fall as they have plenty of returning talent from last season. <hr />   QB Henry Ellis, 2023 Ellis is one of the best two-way athletes across the North Bay and will once again lead his team this Fall. The Senior is a very athletic option player they can push the ball downfield and displays good touch over the top in the red zone while throwing his receivers open. Commanding the offense with precision and a very high football IQ, he is explosive at the point of attack while able to break arm and ankle tackles in the box and break away in the open field. He will also be one of the top defenders for the Trojans from his linebacker spot and should be a two-way All League player this season.   WR/DB Dawson Shaw, 2023 Shaw will be leading the receiving core in 2022 for the Trojans and is another one of the better two-way players the North Bay region has to offer on the outside. He is a long and rangy prospect that can stretch the field and win in the red zone and when in traffic downfield. Shaw is a 50/50 ball mismatch that shows good highpoint ability and ball skills from multiple angles while also a solid perimeter blocker for the run based system.   OL Jed Anezil, 2024 Anezil is a very intriguing prospect with length and upside for only a rising Junior and will lead a veteran offensive line group for the Trojans in 2022. Showing well at multiple events this off-season and displaying his ability to pass block, he is in line to have a breakout season for the Trojans this season. He started multiple games last Fall and plays with a strong punch while athletic enough to combo and scrape to the second level while taking good angles to second level defenders and finishing blocks downfield. Versatile along the offensive line, he can play multiple positions and should make an impact on the defensive side of the ball as well.   LB/RB Lucas Vanderlind, 2023 Vanderlind is one of the top linebackers across the North Bay and plays with a high motor and good toughness. He is a very instinctual thumper inside that triggers quickly and can make tackles outside the tackles while exploding through contact and flashes the ability to take good angles in the open field. In the passing game, he is fluid in space while able to jam and re-route bigger receivers while also offering blitzing abilities off the edge and up the middle with good timing and quick hands when in pass rush situations.   RB Silas Pologeorgis, 2023 The rising Senior is a do it all player for the Trojans and can run physical inside and gain tough yards while athletic enough to bounce it outside the tackles, gain the edge with a nice burst and displays soft hands when coming out of the backfield. In the open field, he has good vision as well, and shows cutback abilities while forcing defenders to take bag angles due to sneaky third level speed and being a patient runner.   Other Impact Players... WR Asher Levy, 2023 OL Zack Rinsky, 2023 LB JJ Grant, 2023