High school football in the Napa Valley featured three winners, two idle teams and a loss.
The Vintage Crushers blasted the Sonoma Dragons 56-6 to clinch no worse than a tie for the
Vine Valley Athletic League title. The American Canyon Wolves bolstered their CIF North
Coast Section Div. III playoff hopes with a 34-14 win over the Casa Grande Gauchos. The
Napa Grizzlies remained winless, falling to the Petaluma Trojans 41-22. Justin-Siena and
Calistoga were both idle. The former had a scheduled bye week while the latter had to forfeit
its game at Stuart Hall (San Francisco) because of not having enough available players.
Vine Valley Athletic League title. The American Canyon Wolves bolstered their CIF North
Coast Section Div. III playoff hopes with a 34-14 win over the Casa Grande Gauchos. The
Napa Grizzlies remained winless, falling to the Petaluma Trojans 41-22. Justin-Siena and
Calistoga were both idle. The former had a scheduled bye week while the latter had to forfeit
its game at Stuart Hall (San Francisco) because of not having enough available players.
Here’s a closer look:
VINTAGE
Looking back: This game was one where boxing fans would call a TKO. In a nutshell, this
game was not a fair fight as the Crushers produced a 49-0 halftime lead. In fact, Vintage led
28-0 before the first quarter reached the two minute mark. Vintage defensive end Colton
Fisher’s strip sack led to Mauricio Castro’s 14-yard touchdown run for the game’s first score
and it was curtains for Sonoma. The highlight of the game featured Vintage’s version of the
“Philly Special” except the “Crusher Special” involved quarterback Jacob Aaron lining up in
the pistol formation before faking an audible. Running back Viliami Schaumkel took the
direct snap and pitched to Troy Ghisletta on a reverse. Ghisletta then threw a 39-yard
touchdown pass to Billy Birdsall. The Crushers are physical at the line of scrimmage but
continue to employ a bevy of personnel packages.
game was not a fair fight as the Crushers produced a 49-0 halftime lead. In fact, Vintage led
28-0 before the first quarter reached the two minute mark. Vintage defensive end Colton
Fisher’s strip sack led to Mauricio Castro’s 14-yard touchdown run for the game’s first score
and it was curtains for Sonoma. The highlight of the game featured Vintage’s version of the
“Philly Special” except the “Crusher Special” involved quarterback Jacob Aaron lining up in
the pistol formation before faking an audible. Running back Viliami Schaumkel took the
direct snap and pitched to Troy Ghisletta on a reverse. Ghisletta then threw a 39-yard
touchdown pass to Billy Birdsall. The Crushers are physical at the line of scrimmage but
continue to employ a bevy of personnel packages.
Looking ahead: Remember when the Crushers were 0-2? That seems like prehistoric times.
Vintage has won seven straight and are now 7-2 overall and 5-0 in VVAL. The Crushers will
be raising a banner one way or another. It’s just a question of is it a shared title or sole
possession? There’s a great chance at the latter considering Big Game involves a Napa team
that is winless.
Vintage has won seven straight and are now 7-2 overall and 5-0 in VVAL. The Crushers will
be raising a banner one way or another. It’s just a question of is it a shared title or sole
possession? There’s a great chance at the latter considering Big Game involves a Napa team
that is winless.
AMERICAN CANYON
Looking back: The Wolves had a lot to prove entering Friday’s matchup coming off a bye
that was preceded by a 27-14 loss to a Vintage team that is likely to win sole possession of
the VVAL title. The game plan on offense turned out pretty simple. Feed running back Eddie
Byrdsong and let him eat. The bruiser carried the ball 31 times for 267 yards and three
touchdowns. The Wolves gave up yards (65 plays for 242) but not points. American Canyon
committed 15 penalties for 121 yards but when you have Byrdsong breaking runs of 72 and
46 yards for touchdowns, that won’t prove costly.
that was preceded by a 27-14 loss to a Vintage team that is likely to win sole possession of
the VVAL title. The game plan on offense turned out pretty simple. Feed running back Eddie
Byrdsong and let him eat. The bruiser carried the ball 31 times for 267 yards and three
touchdowns. The Wolves gave up yards (65 plays for 242) but not points. American Canyon
committed 15 penalties for 121 yards but when you have Byrdsong breaking runs of 72 and
46 yards for touchdowns, that won’t prove costly.
Looking ahead: Remember when the Wolves were 0-4 and seemed dead and buried? That
seems like prehistoric times. American Canyon is now 4-5 overall and 4-1 in VVAL, sole
possession of second place. The Wolves face Justin at home to finish out the season. Though
the Braves were hammered 48-6 by VVAL leading Vintage and had a bye this week, they
have shown to be a tough out with three league defeats by a combined ten points. Both teams
have NCS playoff berths in their sites, Div. II for American Canyon and Div. IV for Justin.
seems like prehistoric times. American Canyon is now 4-5 overall and 4-1 in VVAL, sole
possession of second place. The Wolves face Justin at home to finish out the season. Though
the Braves were hammered 48-6 by VVAL leading Vintage and had a bye this week, they
have shown to be a tough out with three league defeats by a combined ten points. Both teams
have NCS playoff berths in their sites, Div. II for American Canyon and Div. IV for Justin.
ST. HELENA
Looking back: First there is the historical angle of Saints head coach Brandon Farrell
achieving his 100th career win as a varsity head coach. Then, there is the Saints getting a
much-needed win against a quality Cloverdale opponent to bolster their NCS Div. V
playoff hopes. JV callup Ivan Robledo, who is a freshman, made a smashing debut with
23 carries, 203 yards and three touchdowns. As a team, the Saints punctured the Eagles
with 472 yards rushing. Backfield mate Cody DiTomaso added 145 yards on 18 carries
and two touchdowns. Defensively, DiTomaso forced two takeaways to lead to a pair of
Saints touchdowns. St. Helena limited running back John Wesele to 31 yards on 11 carries,
well beneath the 116 yard per game average he had entering the game.
achieving his 100th career win as a varsity head coach. Then, there is the Saints getting a
much-needed win against a quality Cloverdale opponent to bolster their NCS Div. V
playoff hopes. JV callup Ivan Robledo, who is a freshman, made a smashing debut with
23 carries, 203 yards and three touchdowns. As a team, the Saints punctured the Eagles
with 472 yards rushing. Backfield mate Cody DiTomaso added 145 yards on 18 carries
and two touchdowns. Defensively, DiTomaso forced two takeaways to lead to a pair of
Saints touchdowns. St. Helena limited running back John Wesele to 31 yards on 11 carries,
well beneath the 116 yard per game average he had entering the game.
Looking ahead: The Saints improve to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in NCL I. Though there is the
current business at hand, seeing a glimpse of the Robledo/DiTomaso combination at
running back coupled with another year of maturity from quarterback Daniel Martinez, the
St. Helena offense could be deadly the next couple seasons. The Saints finish the regular
season at home against the Lower Lake Trojans, who started 2-1 but have lost six straight.
current business at hand, seeing a glimpse of the Robledo/DiTomaso combination at
running back coupled with another year of maturity from quarterback Daniel Martinez, the
St. Helena offense could be deadly the next couple seasons. The Saints finish the regular
season at home against the Lower Lake Trojans, who started 2-1 but have lost six straight.
NAPA
Looking back: Petaluma used its powerful ground game to fashion a 28-0 halftime lead
before Napa rallied to make the game closer in the second half only to see the Trojans pull
away. The Grizzlies paired Kalani Posey with Chase LaRue in the backfield. Posey is
normally a receiver. Posey wound up leading the Grizzlies with 114 yards on 11 carries and
a 56-yard touchdown. For Petaluma, it was too much Colton Prieto (10 carries, 117 yards,
one touchdown) and Garrett Freitas (10 carries, 157 yards, two touchdowns). On a night,
and season, in which Napa’s defense has been gouged, sophomore Brock Bowers was a
bright spot with two sacks and an interception.
before Napa rallied to make the game closer in the second half only to see the Trojans pull
away. The Grizzlies paired Kalani Posey with Chase LaRue in the backfield. Posey is
normally a receiver. Posey wound up leading the Grizzlies with 114 yards on 11 carries and
a 56-yard touchdown. For Petaluma, it was too much Colton Prieto (10 carries, 117 yards,
one touchdown) and Garrett Freitas (10 carries, 157 yards, two touchdowns). On a night,
and season, in which Napa’s defense has been gouged, sophomore Brock Bowers was a
bright spot with two sacks and an interception.
Looking ahead: The 2018 campaign has been historically forgettable for Napa, which
remains winless entering Big Game against the archrival Vintage Crushers. The fact that
the Grizzlies are playing a rivalry game tio close the season, they figure to be mentally
engaged but facing a Crushers team that has won seven straight and is looking for sole
possession of the VVAL title is likely to be too much.
remains winless entering Big Game against the archrival Vintage Crushers. The fact that
the Grizzlies are playing a rivalry game tio close the season, they figure to be mentally
engaged but facing a Crushers team that has won seven straight and is looking for sole
possession of the VVAL title is likely to be too much.
No comments:
Post a Comment