Merle Haggard came up with a hit song titled “Swinging Doors” that referenced closing time
at a local watering hole.
at a local watering hole.
The song was released in 1966. Fast forward to 2018 and you have an American Canyon
High football team could use an authoritative finish at closing time of the regular season. The
Wolves enter Friday night’s road game against the Casa Grande (Petaluma) Gauchos with a
3-5 overall record and 3-1 against Vine Valley athletic League foes.
High football team could use an authoritative finish at closing time of the regular season. The
Wolves enter Friday night’s road game against the Casa Grande (Petaluma) Gauchos with a
3-5 overall record and 3-1 against Vine Valley athletic League foes.
Winning a seventh consecutive league title appears to be a longshot after the Wolves 27-14
loss to the Vintage Crushers on Oct 5. Vintage’s last two opponents (Sonoma and Napa)
have a combined record of 3-14. The Wolves could get help but I also have beachfront
property in North Dakota that I can sell. American Canyon won six straight league titles
(either shared or sole possession) as members of the Solano County Athletic Conference.
loss to the Vintage Crushers on Oct 5. Vintage’s last two opponents (Sonoma and Napa)
have a combined record of 3-14. The Wolves could get help but I also have beachfront
property in North Dakota that I can sell. American Canyon won six straight league titles
(either shared or sole possession) as members of the Solano County Athletic Conference.
All is not lost, however, for American Canyon, which has experienced its share of peaks and
valleys under first-year head coach John Montane. The Wolves can still achieve a CIF North
Coast Section Div. II playoff berth. American Canyon is ranked No. 10 among NCS Div. II
teams by calpreps.com. Keep in mind, the NCS accepts up to 16 teams when filling playoff
brackets.
valleys under first-year head coach John Montane. The Wolves can still achieve a CIF North
Coast Section Div. II playoff berth. American Canyon is ranked No. 10 among NCS Div. II
teams by calpreps.com. Keep in mind, the NCS accepts up to 16 teams when filling playoff
brackets.
Though the Wolves would appear to be favored in their final two games, the opponents are
such to where using the famous logic of San Antonio Spurs head Gregg Popovich of
“appropriate fear” would be prudent. Popovich, who is an iconic NBA coach who has led his
team to five NBA titles, uses the phrase when facing opponents where you appear to have
the advantage but must be cognizant of what the foe is capable of achieving on a given day.
such to where using the famous logic of San Antonio Spurs head Gregg Popovich of
“appropriate fear” would be prudent. Popovich, who is an iconic NBA coach who has led his
team to five NBA titles, uses the phrase when facing opponents where you appear to have
the advantage but must be cognizant of what the foe is capable of achieving on a given day.
Having had more than a few conversations with Montante, he frequently utters words to the
effect of only concerning himself with his team rather than the opponent. I believe what he
says there to be a truism but if the Wolves are to keep postseason hopes afloat, they cannot
have self-inflicted wounds. If American Canyon plays reasonably clean football, it should
beat both Casa Grande and Justin-Siena comfortably. However, if the Wolves commit
turnovers and penalties at an abundant rate, things could get dicey.
effect of only concerning himself with his team rather than the opponent. I believe what he
says there to be a truism but if the Wolves are to keep postseason hopes afloat, they cannot
have self-inflicted wounds. If American Canyon plays reasonably clean football, it should
beat both Casa Grande and Justin-Siena comfortably. However, if the Wolves commit
turnovers and penalties at an abundant rate, things could get dicey.
The good news is that the Wolves had a bye after playing a very physical Vintage team.
Like American Canyon, the Gauchos are 3-5 overall and 3-1 in VVAL. The two teams
have followed a similar script. American Canyon started 0-4 having been outscored
167-56. The wolves then won three in a row, outscoring foes 125-23 before the
aforementioned loss to Vintage. Casa Grande also started 0-4, being outscored 134-50.
The Gauchos have since won three of four, outscoring opponents 127-123 with the number
being skewed by a 44-0 loss to Vintage.
Like American Canyon, the Gauchos are 3-5 overall and 3-1 in VVAL. The two teams
have followed a similar script. American Canyon started 0-4 having been outscored
167-56. The wolves then won three in a row, outscoring foes 125-23 before the
aforementioned loss to Vintage. Casa Grande also started 0-4, being outscored 134-50.
The Gauchos have since won three of four, outscoring opponents 127-123 with the number
being skewed by a 44-0 loss to Vintage.
The advantage American Canyon has is nonleague strength of schedule. The Wolves
nonleague foes have a combined 25-7 record with an average calpreps.com rating of 24.6.
The Gauchos nonleague opponents are a combined 18-15 with an average calpreps.com
rating of 2.6. Those numbers do not tell the entire story but are a gauge nonetheless.
nonleague foes have a combined 25-7 record with an average calpreps.com rating of 24.6.
The Gauchos nonleague opponents are a combined 18-15 with an average calpreps.com
rating of 2.6. Those numbers do not tell the entire story but are a gauge nonetheless.
The Wolves finish the season at home against Justin, which is 4-5 overall and 1-4 in VVAL
action. The Braves, however, have been a tough out despite their aforementioned VVAL
mark. Justin enters this week with a bye and its 48-6 loss to Vintage notwithstanding, the
Braves have three losses by a combined 10 points.
action. The Braves, however, have been a tough out despite their aforementioned VVAL
mark. Justin enters this week with a bye and its 48-6 loss to Vintage notwithstanding, the
Braves have three losses by a combined 10 points.
The 2018 Wolves have been an enigma. On one hand, the peaks and valleys can be
understood by having a fourth new head coach in eight seasons. Keep in mind, Montante
was not hired until late June. American Canyon’s offense relies on producing big plays but
such circumstances have not been as abundantly supplied as in years past. The defense
has gotten better but is far from elite.
understood by having a fourth new head coach in eight seasons. Keep in mind, Montante
was not hired until late June. American Canyon’s offense relies on producing big plays but
such circumstances have not been as abundantly supplied as in years past. The defense
has gotten better but is far from elite.
These last two games are as much about the optics. The Wolves have been a regular
postseason participant expect for their first year, 2011 when they had no seniors.
postseason participant expect for their first year, 2011 when they had no seniors.
Playoffs or not, for the Wolves, it’s about finishing the regular season on the upswing.
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