Before applying paint, we often give the unpainted surface primer so as to prevent a blotchy looking surface.
When it comes to sports seasons at any level, the offseason is the primer, the regular season and postseason is the paint. High school football teams in Napa Valley, CA, applied their primer from January to August be it weight-room time, conditioning, 7-on-7, etc. The time for painting will be late August to December, if their team is fortunate enough to still be playing after Thanksgiving.
CIF Section title and/or State playoffs go into December. While it sounds optimistic that any of the six high school football teams in Napa Valley, from American Canyon to the South to Calistoga to the North, will reach that point, I say, “If you can’t be optimistic now, when can you be?”
Having spent 38 of 44 years of my life in the Napa Valley, I can tell you from North to South, it is a football community. Napa High had its times of greatness under Les Franco, Bob Herlocker and Troy Mott. Vintage had its greatness under Burl Autry and Mike Koontz. Justin-Siena had its greatness under Dave Shipp and Rich Cotruvo. St. Helena has enjoyed greatness under George Davis, Charley Toogood and now Brandon Farrell. Calistoga enjoyed its greatness under Jim Hunt and Dan Conner. Each school has also enjoyed its time of goodness to very goodness under other head coaches.
Even the new kid on the block, American Canyon, has established a level of success. In five varsity seasons, the Wolves have gone 37-20 and have either won sole possession or a share of the Solano County Athletic Conference title four times. Granted, the SCAC is not the high school version of the SEC but four league title banners in five seasons speaks volumes. The Wolves also have three playoff wins in that stretch.
While I am intrigued by all six high schools on various levels, the ones that bear watching are Vintage and Justin-Siena since both teams experienced a coaching change. At Vintage, long-time Crusher assistant Dylan Leach replaces Kyle Hofmann. Leach, who is a Vintage alum, returns to the Crushers after a five-year stint at crosstown rival Napa. At Justin, long-time Braves assistant Brandon LaRocco replaces Rich Cotruvo. What bears watching with any coaching change is what identity will the program develop? Also, what type of culture will be formed? Culture is about what happens Monday-Thursday, not necessarily Friday nights.
Four of the six Napa Valley teams open their season on Aug. 26: Woodland at American Canyon;
Napa at Casa Grande (Petaluma); Vintage at Bethel (Vallejo); Justin-Siena at Piedmont (Oakland). On Sept. 2, Calistoga opens its season at home against Laytonville. On Sept. 3, St. Helena visits Sir Francis Drake (San Anselmo).
Like any team and season, there are compelling storylines. The 2016 campaign figures to be no exception. Here’s a look in alphabetical order:
American Canyon: The Wolves have a returning starter at quarterback in Darren Antes (70-521-4 as a rusher; 45-120-8-1-825 as a passer), running back Andrew Rapacon (46-448-6) and wide receivers Gamon Howard (38-376-4) and Vaughn Johnson (6-89). The biggest loss for the Wolves is Nate Gutierrez, who started at tackle on offense and middle linebacker on defense. The SCAC figures to be a three-horse race between American Canyon, Vanden and Benicia.
While American Canyon’s nonleague schedule is not without its challenges, it is not as daunting as last season. The Wolves face Inderkum on the road for their toughest task. The Tigers went 12-1 with their lone loss being in the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. III title game to Oakdale. The Wolves also face Woodland and Armijo, which went a combined 5-15. The wild cards in the nonleague slate are Wood and Vintage, which went a combined 15-7 a year ago.
Calistoga: This might be the most unique situation to evaluate as it pertains to Napa Valley high school football teams because information is hard to attain on the North Central League III, which plays eight-man football. There are no nonleague games for Calistoga, just eight league games. The Wildcats have the numbers for an 11-man varsity team on a regular basis but they are likely in eight-man football for the foreseeable future because there is yet to be discovered a viable 11-man league where they can be competitive. The NCL III is likely a three-horse race between Calistoga, Upper Lake and Anderson Valley.
The Wildcats went 6-2 last season. With returning players such as quarterback turned running back Alvaro Torres (53-615-13) and fellow running back Alan Venegas (81-590-11), the Wildcats have an identity to repeat their success.
Justin-Siena: The Braves return senior quarterback Aidan Willard (40-91-631 as a passer; 114-744 as a runner), who is headed to Oregon State. Ron Carretti (running back/defensive back) and Ret Torlekson (tight end/linebacker) are also expected to play bigger roles for LaRocco. Even with Cotruvo’s departure, the Braves have more than enough talent to be an upper-tier MCAL team that enters the CIF North Coast Section Div. IV playoffs with a top five seed.
Justin plays Piedmont (9-3 in 2015), Sacred Heart Catholic-San Francisco (1-9) and Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (7-6) for their nonleague schedule. Marin Catholic-Kentfield is the favorite to win the MCAL followed by Justin with Redwood-Larkspur, San Marin-Novato and Novato also being solid clubs.
Napa: In the top-heavy MEL, the Indians are a well-oiled machine by definition from the top on down thanks to a strong leader in head coach Troy Mott and a staff of assistants most anyone would envy. Leo Rodriguez (offensive tackle/defensive end), Austin Spinelli (quarterback/defensive back), and Kale Olmstead (running back/linebacker) are the Indians key players.
It will be another year of Napa and Vacaville fighting it out for the MEL title, possibly Wood. The Indians daunting nonleague games are Rocklin (10-4 in 2015) and Pleasant Valley-Chico, which was 12-1 and the NorCal runnerup in the State playoffs. Napa’s nonleague slate also includes Casa Grande-Petaluma (5-7), Pittman-Turlock (6-5) and Nevada Union-Grass Valley (1-9).
St. Helena: The Saints are also a well-oiled machine with head coach Brandon Farrell entering his ninth season. Like Mott, Farrell is also complemented by a strong group of assistant coaches. St. Helena also returns a starter at quarterback, Dylan Martin (63-133-12-9-1,050), wide receiver/defensive back Alfio Basile (82-602-5 as a rusher; 9-244-4 as a receiver; 620 yards on punt and kickoff returns combined) and linebacker/running back Austin Cia (61 tackles/4.5 sacks).
With the Saints being back in Div. V in the NCS, 2016 could shape up like 2014, when they reached the title game. With three Div. IV foes, the Saints strength of schedule will be rated higher, which could lead to a higher postseason seed. Though one can never sell Middletown short, the NCL I title is likely a two-horse race between Fort Bragg and St. Helena.
Vintage: Leach has received a hero’s welcome in his return to Vintage. Triston Schaumkel (128-783-3; 53 tackles), Fabian Barboza (67-416) and Richie Hardrick (16-309 as a receiver; 59 tackles on defense) are among the returning statistical leaders from last season. For much of the last 15 seasons, the Crushers have been an MEL-tweener in that they haven’t been good enough to be on the level of Napa and Vacaville but they have been bad enough to be on the plain of Armijo and Rodriguez.
The Crushers most stringent nonleague tests will be Woodcreek and Davis. Vintage also has three SCAC foes (Bethel, Vanden and American Canyon). Bethel was winless in 2015 while the American Canyon contest will be a highly anticipated one.
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