After years of toiling in the shadow of other local programs, Vintage High football has jumped
front and center.
front and center.
The Crushers have experienced a revival under third-year head coach Dylan Leach, who is
a 1992 graduate of the school, and are in position to accomplish milestones the program has
not achieved in quite some time. Vintage is 5-2 overall and 3-0 in Vine Valley Athletic League
after Friday’s 27-14 win over the American Canyon Wolves. Most people, myself included,
touted this contest to be the deciding matchup for the VVAL title.
a 1992 graduate of the school, and are in position to accomplish milestones the program has
not achieved in quite some time. Vintage is 5-2 overall and 3-0 in Vine Valley Athletic League
after Friday’s 27-14 win over the American Canyon Wolves. Most people, myself included,
touted this contest to be the deciding matchup for the VVAL title.
Vintage is in line to win its first league championship since 2005 when the Crushers finished
in a three-way tie for first place with Napa and Vacaville as members of the Monticello Empire
League. That team was coached by Les Franco, Leach was an assistant on that staff. If the
Crushers win out, they can win sole possession of the VVAL. The last time Vintage
accomplished such a feat was 1992, five months after Leach graduated and it was current
athletic director Cam Neal’s senior year.
in a three-way tie for first place with Napa and Vacaville as members of the Monticello Empire
League. That team was coached by Les Franco, Leach was an assistant on that staff. If the
Crushers win out, they can win sole possession of the VVAL. The last time Vintage
accomplished such a feat was 1992, five months after Leach graduated and it was current
athletic director Cam Neal’s senior year.
The Crushers three remaining games are at Justin-Siena followed by a home game against
Sonoma and at home against Napa. Those three teams have a combined record of 7-16,
part of that record is deflated by Napa’s 0-7 mark but a favorable remaining slate for Vintage
nonetheless.
Sonoma and at home against Napa. Those three teams have a combined record of 7-16,
part of that record is deflated by Napa’s 0-7 mark but a favorable remaining slate for Vintage
nonetheless.
Each team represents a different challenge. With Justin, you have a quarterback that can
make things happen in Barrett Donohoe but a defense that has been suspect. Sonoma’s
defense has been solid by the numbers in yielding an average of 19.0 points per game but
two of the last three contests have seen foes score 40 or more (47-0 loss to American
Canyon and 40-7 defeat to Casa Grande). Napa’s newly implemented spread offense has
been promising at times but the defense has been a sieve, giving up 44.0 points per game.
I’m not a Las Vegas odds maker, I just play one on this blog. Leach and his coaching staff
will take the “one game at a time” approach. You expect that. Their job is to keep the team
grounded but as a fan/freelance writer/blogger, I can look ahead. That being said, I view the
Crushers as sizeable favorites in all of the aforementioned games.
make things happen in Barrett Donohoe but a defense that has been suspect. Sonoma’s
defense has been solid by the numbers in yielding an average of 19.0 points per game but
two of the last three contests have seen foes score 40 or more (47-0 loss to American
Canyon and 40-7 defeat to Casa Grande). Napa’s newly implemented spread offense has
been promising at times but the defense has been a sieve, giving up 44.0 points per game.
I’m not a Las Vegas odds maker, I just play one on this blog. Leach and his coaching staff
will take the “one game at a time” approach. You expect that. Their job is to keep the team
grounded but as a fan/freelance writer/blogger, I can look ahead. That being said, I view the
Crushers as sizeable favorites in all of the aforementioned games.
To appreciate the Crushers being in their current position, you have to understand their
journey. After Franco retired at the conclusion of the 2006 season, Vintage went through
four coaching changes (Billy Smith, Dave Shipp and Kyle Hofmann) until the 2016 season,
when they lured Leach away from Napa’s staff, where he was former head coach Troy
Mott’s defensive coordinator. Leach was a Vintage varsity assistant from 2003-2009 and
JV assistant from 2000-2002. He bled Blue & Gold for a few years but has Burgundy &
Gold coursing through his veins. Leach may not be the perfect coach -- but he’s the perfect
coach for the Vintage Crushers.
journey. After Franco retired at the conclusion of the 2006 season, Vintage went through
four coaching changes (Billy Smith, Dave Shipp and Kyle Hofmann) until the 2016 season,
when they lured Leach away from Napa’s staff, where he was former head coach Troy
Mott’s defensive coordinator. Leach was a Vintage varsity assistant from 2003-2009 and
JV assistant from 2000-2002. He bled Blue & Gold for a few years but has Burgundy &
Gold coursing through his veins. Leach may not be the perfect coach -- but he’s the perfect
coach for the Vintage Crushers.
In 2000, the Crushers went 8-3 under Franco, who was in his first season as Vintage’s
head coach. After that season, Vintage was mostly middle of the road with a 9-32 stretch
from 2009-2012 mixed into the equation. In Leach’s first season, the Crushers went 5-5
despite dropping four of six contests at one point.
head coach. After that season, Vintage was mostly middle of the road with a 9-32 stretch
from 2009-2012 mixed into the equation. In Leach’s first season, the Crushers went 5-5
despite dropping four of six contests at one point.
The watershed moments were a 29-20 loss to Vacaville and a 28-27 win over Wood. The
former was significant because the Crushers had routinely been railroaded by Vacaville,
losing by an average of 48.7-14.8 between 2006-2015. Leach also didn’t spend time glad
handing with any moral victory narratives. The latter was significant in that because it
involved a touchdown with 5.3 seconds left in the contest followed by a decision to attempt
a two-point conversion and a victory instead of an extra point and playing for overtime.
Leach elected for the former and Triston Schaumkel rewarded him.
former was significant because the Crushers had routinely been railroaded by Vacaville,
losing by an average of 48.7-14.8 between 2006-2015. Leach also didn’t spend time glad
handing with any moral victory narratives. The latter was significant in that because it
involved a touchdown with 5.3 seconds left in the contest followed by a decision to attempt
a two-point conversion and a victory instead of an extra point and playing for overtime.
Leach elected for the former and Triston Schaumkel rewarded him.
Since falling to 3-4 after seven games in 2016, the Crushers have gone 14-5. They might
not always meet the eyeball test but this is a gritty, hard-nosed team. The current season
looked like it would be a disappointment. Vintage committed six turnovers and lost 35-7 to
Wood (Vacaville) and 28-27 to Acalanes (Lafayette). The latter loss, however, involved
rallying from a 28-8 second half deficit. Being there for that game in person, the feeling you
got was that the Crushers had a “the light bulb is going on” moment. Since halftime of that
game, Vintage has outscored foes 192-64.
I would be highly remiss if I did not mentioned how Leach has transformed the Crushers
off the field. I'm not privy to the players academic prowess but you have a coach that expects
student-athletes to take care of business in the classroom and they follow suit. You also
have a coach that has his players involved in community service. One Saturday morning, I
was running errands and listening to the KVON Sportsvine. Leach was a guest of host
Kent Fry and spoke of the importance of student-athletes being involved in their community.
As a native Napan myself, one thought crossed my mind, "Dylan Leach is one of us."
not always meet the eyeball test but this is a gritty, hard-nosed team. The current season
looked like it would be a disappointment. Vintage committed six turnovers and lost 35-7 to
Wood (Vacaville) and 28-27 to Acalanes (Lafayette). The latter loss, however, involved
rallying from a 28-8 second half deficit. Being there for that game in person, the feeling you
got was that the Crushers had a “the light bulb is going on” moment. Since halftime of that
game, Vintage has outscored foes 192-64.
I would be highly remiss if I did not mentioned how Leach has transformed the Crushers
off the field. I'm not privy to the players academic prowess but you have a coach that expects
student-athletes to take care of business in the classroom and they follow suit. You also
have a coach that has his players involved in community service. One Saturday morning, I
was running errands and listening to the KVON Sportsvine. Leach was a guest of host
Kent Fry and spoke of the importance of student-athletes being involved in their community.
As a native Napan myself, one thought crossed my mind, "Dylan Leach is one of us."
Leach is the perfect blend of passionate and leading with conviction along with letting his
players perform and his assistant coaches do their duty. Like his two primary mentors,
Franco and Mott, Leach knows the importance of surrounding himself with quality assistants:
Andrew Hall (offensive line), Dennis Raines (defensive line), Kyle Archer (co-defensive
coordinator and special teams coordinator), Bob Rosensteil (wide receivers), Larry Villanova
(scout team and defensive backs), Lenny Dinov (middle linebackers and fullbacks), and
Preston Garcia (co defensive coordinator).
players perform and his assistant coaches do their duty. Like his two primary mentors,
Franco and Mott, Leach knows the importance of surrounding himself with quality assistants:
Andrew Hall (offensive line), Dennis Raines (defensive line), Kyle Archer (co-defensive
coordinator and special teams coordinator), Bob Rosensteil (wide receivers), Larry Villanova
(scout team and defensive backs), Lenny Dinov (middle linebackers and fullbacks), and
Preston Garcia (co defensive coordinator).
With an undefeated JV team led by head coach Kyle Schuh and having a freshman program,
the Crushers appear to be setting themselves up for consistent success.
the Crushers appear to be setting themselves up for consistent success.
While skill position players like running back Viliami Schaumkel, quarterback Jacob Aaron
and quarterback/receiver/running back Michael Webber and running back Drew Hatfield
immediately get your attention, what stands out is that Hall and Raines strive for not having
their offensive and defensive linemen play both ways.
and quarterback/receiver/running back Michael Webber and running back Drew Hatfield
immediately get your attention, what stands out is that Hall and Raines strive for not having
their offensive and defensive linemen play both ways.
The offensive line from left to right is Nyllan Mosqueda (left tackle), Rhys Irwin (left guard),
Jack Odell (center), Alfonso Medina (right guard) and Luis Arroyo (right tackle). On the
defensive line, Dom Smith and Dre Holmes share time at nose guard while Colton Fisher
and Zack Daniels man the end positions in the 3-4 defense. Jose Alfaro, who is injured
currently, has also played a significant amount. Dylan Cook, listed at 140 pounds, has been
a pass rush specialist at nose guard. Get an offensive and defensive line whose goal is
creating a new line of scrimmage, that’s a team that is going places.
Jack Odell (center), Alfonso Medina (right guard) and Luis Arroyo (right tackle). On the
defensive line, Dom Smith and Dre Holmes share time at nose guard while Colton Fisher
and Zack Daniels man the end positions in the 3-4 defense. Jose Alfaro, who is injured
currently, has also played a significant amount. Dylan Cook, listed at 140 pounds, has been
a pass rush specialist at nose guard. Get an offensive and defensive line whose goal is
creating a new line of scrimmage, that’s a team that is going places.
Watching this Crusher program take shape in Leach’s three years, the identity is that you
may beat this team because you have better athletes but this team is physical and hits
like they woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Translation, when you play the Crushers,
you can expect to feel the effects for a few days after the fact.
may beat this team because you have better athletes but this team is physical and hits
like they woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Translation, when you play the Crushers,
you can expect to feel the effects for a few days after the fact.
In the meantime, Vintage has bigger targets in its sights to hit.
No comments:
Post a Comment