Yours truly described Week Zero of high school football in the Napa Valley as “stinko.”
Week One was not a rose garden by any means but at least some air freshener took effect.
First the bad news, there were two blowout loses, American Canyon losing to Inderkum
(Sacramento) 69-0 and Napa falling to East Union (Manteca) 55-12. On the flip side,
Justin-Siena had a blowout victory over Healdsburg, 61-0. Vintage and Calistoga each
had late rallies fall short against Acalanes (Lafayette), 28-27, and South Fork (Miranda),
28-20. Then, you have the St. Helena Saints improving to 2-0 with a 26-23 win over Sir
Francis Drake (San Anselmo).
First the bad news, there were two blowout loses, American Canyon losing to Inderkum
(Sacramento) 69-0 and Napa falling to East Union (Manteca) 55-12. On the flip side,
Justin-Siena had a blowout victory over Healdsburg, 61-0. Vintage and Calistoga each
had late rallies fall short against Acalanes (Lafayette), 28-27, and South Fork (Miranda),
28-20. Then, you have the St. Helena Saints improving to 2-0 with a 26-23 win over Sir
Francis Drake (San Anselmo).
In alphabetical order, here’s a closer look:
AMERICAN CANYON
Though no team wants to be saddled with a 69-0 loss, I give the Wolves a pass. Inderkum
is no joke. The Tigers entered the contest ranked No. 6 in Sacramento Bee poll. I know
polls are subjective having seen Inderkum up close the previous few years, they are legit.
Inderkum’s Raymond Brown scored on the team’s second play from scrimmage on a
64-yard touchdown. Though the Tigers kept scoring, that was the only one they needed.
Inderkum led 55-0 at halftime.
is no joke. The Tigers entered the contest ranked No. 6 in Sacramento Bee poll. I know
polls are subjective having seen Inderkum up close the previous few years, they are legit.
Inderkum’s Raymond Brown scored on the team’s second play from scrimmage on a
64-yard touchdown. Though the Tigers kept scoring, that was the only one they needed.
Inderkum led 55-0 at halftime.
American Canyon hosts Amador Valley (Pleasanton), which is 1-1 with a loss to Del Oro
(Loomis), 49-27, and a win over Irvington (Fremont), 54-0. The good news for the Wolves
is they will not face a better opponent remaining on their regular season slate than Inderkum.
(Loomis), 49-27, and a win over Irvington (Fremont), 54-0. The good news for the Wolves
is they will not face a better opponent remaining on their regular season slate than Inderkum.
CALISTOGA
In a 28-20 season-opening loss to reigning North Central League III champion South Fork,
Calistoga was slow in rising in head coach Jim Klaczak’s debut. The Wildcats had just 13
yards of total offense as they trailed 16-0 at halftime. Calistoga cut the lead to 16-14 and
later 28-20. In the latter sequence, the Wildcats recovered the onside kick but two false
start penalties hurt any chance of potentially tying the game.
Calistoga was slow in rising in head coach Jim Klaczak’s debut. The Wildcats had just 13
yards of total offense as they trailed 16-0 at halftime. Calistoga cut the lead to 16-14 and
later 28-20. In the latter sequence, the Wildcats recovered the onside kick but two false
start penalties hurt any chance of potentially tying the game.
Calistoga hosts Priory Valley-Portola Valley, which is located in San Mateo County. It will
represent the Panthers’ first game.
represent the Panthers’ first game.
JUSTIN-SIENA
The Braves scored 47 points in the first half, 33 in the second quarter. The Greyhounds saw
their roster size dwindle from 23 players after a 41-0 loss at Sir Francis Drake to 16 this week.
If there is one thing that third-year head coach Brandon LaRocco has preserved is the strength
and conditioning program. Advantage Justin. Quarterback Barrett Donohoe completed 11 of
15 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half.
their roster size dwindle from 23 players after a 41-0 loss at Sir Francis Drake to 16 this week.
If there is one thing that third-year head coach Brandon LaRocco has preserved is the strength
and conditioning program. Advantage Justin. Quarterback Barrett Donohoe completed 11 of
15 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half.
Justin hosts Armijo (Fairfield) on Friday in what amounts to a key game from a CIF North
Coast Section playoff standpoint. Armijo is a perpetual tomato can but is also a SJS Div. I
team. If Justin, which is an NCS Div. III team, can win that game, it counts for much more.
The Indians are 1-0 with a 49-6 win over Mt. Diablo (Concord) and had a bye week. Justin
had a theoretical bye week in that it had an “empty the bench” game.
Coast Section playoff standpoint. Armijo is a perpetual tomato can but is also a SJS Div. I
team. If Justin, which is an NCS Div. III team, can win that game, it counts for much more.
The Indians are 1-0 with a 49-6 win over Mt. Diablo (Concord) and had a bye week. Justin
had a theoretical bye week in that it had an “empty the bench” game.
NAPA
On a night when Napa legend Jake Croxdale had his jersey retired, the former Indians turned
Grizzlies had their home opener go pretty similar to the season opener in a 55-12 loss to the
East Union (Manteca) Lancers. In fairness, East Union is a pretty damn good team. Leo
Bonilla was East Union’s leading rusher with 155 yards on nine carries. For Napa, quarterback
Gunner Schoeps threw two touchdown passes.
Grizzlies had their home opener go pretty similar to the season opener in a 55-12 loss to the
East Union (Manteca) Lancers. In fairness, East Union is a pretty damn good team. Leo
Bonilla was East Union’s leading rusher with 155 yards on nine carries. For Napa, quarterback
Gunner Schoeps threw two touchdown passes.
The Grizzlies travel to Nevada Union (Grass Valley) on Friday. The Miners won last year’s
contest 14-13. Like Napa, the Miners are 0-2 with losses to Yuba City 39-0 and Spanish
Springs (Sparks, NV), 47-13. While I’m not suggesting the rest of the season is so easy but
the good news is Napa’s two most difficult regular season tasks are done. The next three
games on paper appear more winnable. After Nevada Union, Napa hosts Riordan (San
Francisco) and Sonoma for back-to-back home contests.
contest 14-13. Like Napa, the Miners are 0-2 with losses to Yuba City 39-0 and Spanish
Springs (Sparks, NV), 47-13. While I’m not suggesting the rest of the season is so easy but
the good news is Napa’s two most difficult regular season tasks are done. The next three
games on paper appear more winnable. After Nevada Union, Napa hosts Riordan (San
Francisco) and Sonoma for back-to-back home contests.
ST. HELENA
For the second time in as many weeks, the Saints won a seesaw battle. St. Helena erased a
23-14 late third quarter deficit to win 26-23 over the Sir Francis Drake (San Anselmo) Pirates.
Cody DiTomaso scored the decisive touchdown on a 64-yard run with 8:17 left in the contest.
Danny Jimenez, who was playing in his first varsity game, intercepted a pass to stop a
potential go-ahead Pirates score one play after committing a pass interference penalty. The
running back tandem of DiTomaso (27 carries, 230 yards, three touchdowns) and George
Cutting (13 carries, 109 yards, one touchdown) paced the St. Helena offense. George Cutting?
That’s one of the better running back names I have ever heard.
23-14 late third quarter deficit to win 26-23 over the Sir Francis Drake (San Anselmo) Pirates.
Cody DiTomaso scored the decisive touchdown on a 64-yard run with 8:17 left in the contest.
Danny Jimenez, who was playing in his first varsity game, intercepted a pass to stop a
potential go-ahead Pirates score one play after committing a pass interference penalty. The
running back tandem of DiTomaso (27 carries, 230 yards, three touchdowns) and George
Cutting (13 carries, 109 yards, one touchdown) paced the St. Helena offense. George Cutting?
That’s one of the better running back names I have ever heard.
The Saints offense may not generate a ton of explosive plays but at least this season the
capability appears to be there. Last season, St. Helena had to labor its way down the field.
The Saints are scheduled to host Winters on Friday. The two programs have met in each of
the last four seasons with St. Helena winning all three by a combined 22 points. Last season’s
scheduled matchup was cancelled because of the California wildfires. Winters opened its
season with a 21-14 win over Dixon on Friday.
capability appears to be there. Last season, St. Helena had to labor its way down the field.
The Saints are scheduled to host Winters on Friday. The two programs have met in each of
the last four seasons with St. Helena winning all three by a combined 22 points. Last season’s
scheduled matchup was cancelled because of the California wildfires. Winters opened its
season with a 21-14 win over Dixon on Friday.
VINTAGE
In a game where the plot seemed to change course multiple times, the Vintage High football
team lost to the Acalanes Dons 28-27 in their home opener. The Crushers rallied from a 28-8
late third quarter deficit and scored on Jesus Galvan’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left in
the contest. Vintage opted to go for the two-point conversion and the lead. The Crushers,
however, were whistled for an illegal substitution which backed them up five yards. In which
case, the plan changed to go got the extra point and the tie. Kicker Eddy Gonzalez missed the
extra point and the Dons were initially flagged for roughing the kicker but after a lengthy
discussion, the officiating crew determined the ball was tipped, thus nullifying the penalty.
Acalanes recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to drop Vintage to 0-2.
The Crushers visit Lincoln (Stockton) next week.
team lost to the Acalanes Dons 28-27 in their home opener. The Crushers rallied from a 28-8
late third quarter deficit and scored on Jesus Galvan’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left in
the contest. Vintage opted to go for the two-point conversion and the lead. The Crushers,
however, were whistled for an illegal substitution which backed them up five yards. In which
case, the plan changed to go got the extra point and the tie. Kicker Eddy Gonzalez missed the
extra point and the Dons were initially flagged for roughing the kicker but after a lengthy
discussion, the officiating crew determined the ball was tipped, thus nullifying the penalty.
Acalanes recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to drop Vintage to 0-2.
The Crushers visit Lincoln (Stockton) next week.
Aaron showed a lot of promise completing a 56-yard touchdown pass to Michael Webber
and gaining 78 yards rushing on 11 carries to lead a Vintage running game that tallied 241
yards. Viliami Schaumkel added 70 yards on 14 carries. The Crushers visit Lincoln
(Stockton) on Friday. Last season, Vintage rallied from a 21-0 deficit to beat Lincoln 24-21.
and gaining 78 yards rushing on 11 carries to lead a Vintage running game that tallied 241
yards. Viliami Schaumkel added 70 yards on 14 carries. The Crushers visit Lincoln
(Stockton) on Friday. Last season, Vintage rallied from a 21-0 deficit to beat Lincoln 24-21.
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