You can hear the sound of auctioneers uttering the words “Everybody’s a winner!”
That assessment applies to all four Napa Valley high school football teams as it pertains to
the CIF North Coast Section playoffs last weekend. There were four participants and four
winners. The assignments get much more stringent from here but celebrate the success as it
comes.
the CIF North Coast Section playoffs last weekend. There were four participants and four
winners. The assignments get much more stringent from here but celebrate the success as it
comes.
In Div. I, the Vintage Crushers whitewashed the James Logan (Union City) colts 36-0. In
Div. II, the American Canyon Wolves outlasted the Montgomery (Santa Rosa) Vikings
43-29. In Div. IV, the Justin-Siena Braves throttled the Piedmont Highlanders 53-28. In Div.
IV, the St. Helena Saints rolled to a 48-22 win over the Hoopa Valley Warriors.
Div. II, the American Canyon Wolves outlasted the Montgomery (Santa Rosa) Vikings
43-29. In Div. IV, the Justin-Siena Braves throttled the Piedmont Highlanders 53-28. In Div.
IV, the St. Helena Saints rolled to a 48-22 win over the Hoopa Valley Warriors.
As for the matchups, in Div. I, No. 8 Vintage visits top-seeded Antioch, which had a bye. In
Div. II, No. 8 American Canyon visits No. 1 seeded Rancho Cotate, which defeated Casa
Grande (Petaluma) 55-7. In Div. IV, No. 10 seeded Justin travels to No. 2 Del Norte
(Crescent City), which had a bye. In Div. V, No. 7 St. Helena visits No. 2 Salesian
(Richmond). All games are Friday night kickoffs slated for 7 p.m.
Div. II, No. 8 American Canyon visits No. 1 seeded Rancho Cotate, which defeated Casa
Grande (Petaluma) 55-7. In Div. IV, No. 10 seeded Justin travels to No. 2 Del Norte
(Crescent City), which had a bye. In Div. V, No. 7 St. Helena visits No. 2 Salesian
(Richmond). All games are Friday night kickoffs slated for 7 p.m.
Here’s a closer look in alphabetical order:
AMERICAN CANYON
Looking back: When in doubt, give the ball to Eddie Byrdsong. The senior was like an
18-wheeler rolling downhill as he carried 44 times for a school record 357 yards and four
touchdowns. He hurt the Vikings in more ways than one. Vikings quarterback Khameron
Perkins, who also plays defense, sustained a shoulder injury when tackling Byrdsong.
Montgomery led 9-7 at halftime and widened the lead to 16-7 in the early stages of the
third quarter. The Wolves responded by scoring on five straight possessions. American
Canyon took a 21-16 lead thanks to rushing touchdowns from Byrdsong and quarterback
Vance Eschenberg. The lead was short-lived with Montgomery’s CJ Love returning the
ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a score. Byrdsong answered with a 53-yard run to paydirt
to give his team the lead it never relinquished.
18-wheeler rolling downhill as he carried 44 times for a school record 357 yards and four
touchdowns. He hurt the Vikings in more ways than one. Vikings quarterback Khameron
Perkins, who also plays defense, sustained a shoulder injury when tackling Byrdsong.
Montgomery led 9-7 at halftime and widened the lead to 16-7 in the early stages of the
third quarter. The Wolves responded by scoring on five straight possessions. American
Canyon took a 21-16 lead thanks to rushing touchdowns from Byrdsong and quarterback
Vance Eschenberg. The lead was short-lived with Montgomery’s CJ Love returning the
ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a score. Byrdsong answered with a 53-yard run to paydirt
to give his team the lead it never relinquished.
Looking ahead: Awaiting the Wolves is a formidable team. The No. 1 seeded Cougars,
who compete in the North Bay League’s Oak Division. Rancho went 10-1 with the lone
defeat being a 42-21 setback to league champ Cardinal Newman. Since that contest, the
Cougars have outscored its last five opponents 267-21. Casa Grande is a common
opponent. The Wolves defeated Casa Grande 34-14 while Rancho was a 55-7 win over
the Gauchos. Also worth noting is that the Cougars defeated Vanden, which is a former
league opponent of American Canyon, 28-14.
who compete in the North Bay League’s Oak Division. Rancho went 10-1 with the lone
defeat being a 42-21 setback to league champ Cardinal Newman. Since that contest, the
Cougars have outscored its last five opponents 267-21. Casa Grande is a common
opponent. The Wolves defeated Casa Grande 34-14 while Rancho was a 55-7 win over
the Gauchos. Also worth noting is that the Cougars defeated Vanden, which is a former
league opponent of American Canyon, 28-14.
JUSTIN-SIENA
Looking back: It is often said that it is difficult to beat the same team twice in a season.
Piedmont defeated Justin 28-7 in the season opener but the Braves avenged that loss in a
huge way. The Highlanders took a 7-0 lead on Friday before the Braves dropped the
hammer. Quarterback Barrett Donohoe answered with a 13-yard pitch and catch for a score
with Luigi Albano-Dito to even the contest. The senior quarterback completed 17 of 21
passes for 224 yards, four touchdowns and nary an interception. Justin took a 27-7 lead at
halftime and the advantage later swelled to 40-7.
Piedmont defeated Justin 28-7 in the season opener but the Braves avenged that loss in a
huge way. The Highlanders took a 7-0 lead on Friday before the Braves dropped the
hammer. Quarterback Barrett Donohoe answered with a 13-yard pitch and catch for a score
with Luigi Albano-Dito to even the contest. The senior quarterback completed 17 of 21
passes for 224 yards, four touchdowns and nary an interception. Justin took a 27-7 lead at
halftime and the advantage later swelled to 40-7.
Looking ahead: Justin is no stranger to playoff trips to Humboldt County. Since joining
the NCS in 2000, this will be the Braves sixth playoff trip to Humboldt County. They are
3-2 in those matchups, all during the Rich Cotruvo era. With a five-four bus ride awaiting,
the question becomes does head coach Brandon LaRocco have the team travel the night
before or on the day? Del Norte defeated Justin 14-6 in the 2013 playoffs on the Braves
homefield. The Warriors, who compete in the Humboldt Del Norte Big 4, went 8-2. The
two teams do not have a common opponent.
the NCS in 2000, this will be the Braves sixth playoff trip to Humboldt County. They are
3-2 in those matchups, all during the Rich Cotruvo era. With a five-four bus ride awaiting,
the question becomes does head coach Brandon LaRocco have the team travel the night
before or on the day? Del Norte defeated Justin 14-6 in the 2013 playoffs on the Braves
homefield. The Warriors, who compete in the Humboldt Del Norte Big 4, went 8-2. The
two teams do not have a common opponent.
ST. HELENA
Looking back: Hoopa Valley led the Saints 22-21 at halftime but St. Helena responded
with 27 unanswered points in the second half. The turning point came midway through
the third quarter with St. Helena clinging to a 14-point lead but the Warriors attempting
a comeback. Ivan Robledo forced quarterback John Smith to fumble, which his brother,
Luis, recovered. The Saints rushed for 423 yards, 234 courtesy of Ivan Robledo on 24
carries. Cody DiTomaso added 137 yards on 16 carries. Defensively, the Saints took a
normally balanced Warrior offense and made it one dimensional. Hoopa gained just 50
yards rushing on 30 carries, minus-9 on 10 carries in the second half.
with 27 unanswered points in the second half. The turning point came midway through
the third quarter with St. Helena clinging to a 14-point lead but the Warriors attempting
a comeback. Ivan Robledo forced quarterback John Smith to fumble, which his brother,
Luis, recovered. The Saints rushed for 423 yards, 234 courtesy of Ivan Robledo on 24
carries. Cody DiTomaso added 137 yards on 16 carries. Defensively, the Saints took a
normally balanced Warrior offense and made it one dimensional. Hoopa gained just 50
yards rushing on 30 carries, minus-9 on 10 carries in the second half.
Looking ahead: Though many names and faces are different, St. Helena and Salesian
have plenty of history including two matchups this decade. In the 2012 NCS Div. IV
playoffs, the Saints travelled to Salesian to deliver a 29-25 victory, one of the most
memorable in school history. In the 2014 NCS Div. V playoffs, Salesian defeated the
Saints 14-7. The Pride went 6-4 in 2018 and competes in the Tri County League’s Rock
Division. The two teams have no common opponents. St. Helena enters the game winners
of three straight, outscoring foes 138-81.
have plenty of history including two matchups this decade. In the 2012 NCS Div. IV
playoffs, the Saints travelled to Salesian to deliver a 29-25 victory, one of the most
memorable in school history. In the 2014 NCS Div. V playoffs, Salesian defeated the
Saints 14-7. The Pride went 6-4 in 2018 and competes in the Tri County League’s Rock
Division. The two teams have no common opponents. St. Helena enters the game winners
of three straight, outscoring foes 138-81.
VINTAGE
Looking back: The Crushers won their first playoff game since 1986 by thoroughly
dominating the Colts. Vintage, which is winners of nine straight after an 0-2 start, owned
the line if scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Crushers gained 193 yards
rushing, 115 on 15 carries and four touchdowns courtesy of Viliami Schaumkel. Vintage
wasted no time imposing its will as it took the opening kickoff and matriculated 72 yards
on 15 plays, eating up 7:23 seconds of game clock. The Crusher defense also continued
its dominance in pitching a shoutout. Colton Fisher and Jacob Aaron each recovered a
fumble. Pedja Zivkovic recorded a sack. Joshua Robert had three tackles for loss while
Fisher had two. Jesus Galvan accounted for a score when blocking a punt that rolled out
of the end zone.
dominating the Colts. Vintage, which is winners of nine straight after an 0-2 start, owned
the line if scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Crushers gained 193 yards
rushing, 115 on 15 carries and four touchdowns courtesy of Viliami Schaumkel. Vintage
wasted no time imposing its will as it took the opening kickoff and matriculated 72 yards
on 15 plays, eating up 7:23 seconds of game clock. The Crusher defense also continued
its dominance in pitching a shoutout. Colton Fisher and Jacob Aaron each recovered a
fumble. Pedja Zivkovic recorded a sack. Joshua Robert had three tackles for loss while
Fisher had two. Jesus Galvan accounted for a score when blocking a punt that rolled out
of the end zone.
Looking ahead: Awaiting the Crushers will be a tough test with a trip to East Contra Costa
County. The Panthers compete in the Bay Valley League. Antioch went 7-3 overall and 2-3
in BVL but a point can be made that outside of the East Bay Mountain League, the BVL
might be the strongest league in the NCS. Unbeaten Liberty (Brentwood), Freedom (Oakley)
and Pittsburg finished ahead of Antioch. Pittsburg and Freedom were 7-3. Antioch and
Vintage have two common opponents, Lincoln (Stockton). Antioch beat Lincoln 24-7 in the
season opener. Vintage defeated Lincoln 24-21.
County. The Panthers compete in the Bay Valley League. Antioch went 7-3 overall and 2-3
in BVL but a point can be made that outside of the East Bay Mountain League, the BVL
might be the strongest league in the NCS. Unbeaten Liberty (Brentwood), Freedom (Oakley)
and Pittsburg finished ahead of Antioch. Pittsburg and Freedom were 7-3. Antioch and
Vintage have two common opponents, Lincoln (Stockton). Antioch beat Lincoln 24-7 in the
season opener. Vintage defeated Lincoln 24-21.
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