Napa Valley high school football brain droppings

While the Napa Valley has not fully transitioned to fall weather, there has been enough of a change to detect season’s changing.

Rain and wind swept through the valley this past weekend. Though there are likely to be a few more days in October that are balmy and 75 degrees or greater, the July weather appears to have exited Stage Left. As the weather cools down, high school football season heats up on the thermometer. Let’s take the temperature of the Napa Valley’s high school football program’s going from South to North:

American Canyon

While I don’t like saying that a loss is a good thing, for the Wolves, their 24-21 setback to the Vanden Vikings is not necessarily the worst thing. American Canyon fans will have to grit their teeth and root for Benicia to beat Vanden on Friday, winning out in the process to win at least a share of the Solano County Athletic Conference. Stranger things have happened. The Vikings’ emotions were higher than a kite on a windy day after beating the unbeaten Wolves -- and rightfully so. The key going forward is, how does Vanden handle that success and how does American Canyon handle that failure?

I think the win helps Vanden more than the loss hurts American Canyon. Entering the aforementioned contest at Vanden, the Wolves had outscored the opposition 328-118. Perhaps a reality check was needed. American Canyon hosts Bethel (4-3 overall, 2-0 SCAC). Bethel has won four of five after an 0-2 start. The four wins have come against teams with a combined 3-25 record.

Napa

Though its 48-0 win over an overmatched Rodriguez team is not going to move the needle, the Indians did what a perennial winner does against an inferior team. Napa got out in front early scoring all of its points in the first half before downshifting back into first gear. Defensively, the Indians forced five turnovers.

This Friday, however, the light will be shining on Napa with the Indians hosting Vacaville. These two programs have been the behemoths of the Monticello Empire League. Vacaville and Napa enter the contest with 5-2 and 4-3 overall marks respectively, 2-0 in MEL. Vacaville’s losses came against Oak Ridge and Pittsburg (teams with a combined 13-1 record). Napa’s defeats came against Pittman, Rocklin and Pleasant Valley (whose combined records are 15-6.

Vintage

On the surface, the 3-3 Crushers appeared to take a step forward in Friday’s narrow 29-20 loss to annual MEL power Vacaville. On two different occasions, the Crushers pulled within two points only to see Vacaville pull away with a win. However, first-year head coach and Vintage High alum Dylan Leach strongly opposed the moral victory angle.

The Crushers last beat Vacaville in 2001. Since 2006, playing the Bulldogs has been an exercise in futility for Vintage with losses coming by an average margin of 49.7-14.8. I have always believed that while there are no moral victories, some losses are more honorable than others -- and the Crushers have had plenty of dishonorable losses. However, I applaud Leach for wanting his team to have higher standards.

Justin-Siena

The Braves dropped to 2-5 with a 21-14 home loss to Terra Linda. The storyline entering the game was Trojans head coach Rich Cotruvo and defensive coordinator Steve Vargas making their return to Dodd Stadium. Cotruvo coached Justin for 19 seasons (16 with Vargas), leading the Braves to six CIF North Coast Section titles. Long-time Braves assistant Brandon LaRocco took over as the head coach.

Storylines aside, Justin faces an uphill climb in order to reach the postseason. The Braves visit Tamalpais (3-3), Sir Francis Drake (0-6) and host Marin Catholic (5-2). On paper, Drake would appear to be the only layup.

St. Helena

Thanks to a strong second half buoyed by the defense along with running back Niko Lopez, the Saints rallied to beat Winters 32-24. St. Helena trailed 24-16 at halftime but outscored the Warriors 16-8 in the second half. Though it was a nonleague game on paper, it was a Div. IV win for St. Helena, which is a Div. V team.

The Saints are 5-2 and headed for the postseason for the seventh straight year, it’s just a question of where they will get seeded in the NCS Div. V playoffs. St. Helena visits Willits (1-6), Middletown (5-2) and Clear Lake (3-4) to close out the season. The Saints have won four of the last five matchups against Middletown.

Calistoga

Despite a furious rally from Anderson Valley, Calistoga held off the Panthers 28-26 in Friday’s 8-man football contest. With the win, the Wildcats (5-1 overall) secure a spot in the Redwood Bowl for the first time since joining the eight-man football league, otherwise known as North Central League III.

Calistoga finishes its regular season with a road game at Los Altos Hills against Pinewood. Though eight-man football is often looked at as an afterthought, reaching the Redwood Bowl is a boon for Calistoga, which has the numbers to play 11-man football but is hard-pressed to find an 11-man league that provides competitive equity and limited travel.