This is the second story in a series featuring nonleague schedules for
Napa Valley high school football teams. Today, the focus is the Vintage
Crushers:
Napa Valley high school football teams. Today, the focus is the Vintage
Crushers:
After years of chasing their peers, the Vintage Crushers have elevated
roles from the hunted as opposed to the hunter. The Crushers went through
four coaching changes in a nine year span after Les Franco retired at the
end of 2006. The incoming Vintage senior class, however, has had Dylan
Leach as the only coach they have ever known.
roles from the hunted as opposed to the hunter. The Crushers went through
four coaching changes in a nine year span after Les Franco retired at the
end of 2006. The incoming Vintage senior class, however, has had Dylan
Leach as the only coach they have ever known.
In three years time, Leach has assembled a high quality coaching staff and
established a bankable culture. The Crushers have gone 22-11 since Leach,
who is a 1992 graduate of Vintage, was appointed as head coach including
17-6 the previous two years. Last season, Vintage went 10-3 after an 0-2
start. The Crushers won the Vine Valley Athletic League for their first
league crown since 2005, when they finished in a three-way tie with Napa
and Vacaville as members of the Monticello Empire League.
established a bankable culture. The Crushers have gone 22-11 since Leach,
who is a 1992 graduate of Vintage, was appointed as head coach including
17-6 the previous two years. Last season, Vintage went 10-3 after an 0-2
start. The Crushers won the Vine Valley Athletic League for their first
league crown since 2005, when they finished in a three-way tie with Napa
and Vacaville as members of the Monticello Empire League.
The Crushers blasted James Logan (Union City) 36-0 in the CIF North
Coast Section Div. I playoffs before upsetting No. 1 seeded Antioch 24-21
in overtime. Vintage lost to eventual champion San Ramon 14-3.
Coast Section Div. I playoffs before upsetting No. 1 seeded Antioch 24-21
in overtime. Vintage lost to eventual champion San Ramon 14-3.
Before each high school football season, one of the most comical things
to listen to is fans, parents and even coaches talking about their team’s
strength of schedule or someone else’s lack of schedule strength.
to listen to is fans, parents and even coaches talking about their team’s
strength of schedule or someone else’s lack of schedule strength.
Each time I hear such sentiments I ask myself, “OK, and what exactly are
you basing your statement on?” Is it last year’s record? Is it based on how
many starters a team has returning? Even though an opponent is subpar
now are you basing it on remembering them as a powerhouse?
you basing your statement on?” Is it last year’s record? Is it based on how
many starters a team has returning? Even though an opponent is subpar
now are you basing it on remembering them as a powerhouse?
The formula used for breaking down the nonleague is looking at last season’s
record and the collective mark of the past five seasons. In addition, what are
that team’s trends within the five-year period? Is that record skewed by one
really good or bad season? The problem with solely going by last season’s
record is that one season does not transfer to the next?
record and the collective mark of the past five seasons. In addition, what are
that team’s trends within the five-year period? Is that record skewed by one
really good or bad season? The problem with solely going by last season’s
record is that one season does not transfer to the next?
The Crushers’ 2019 nonleague opponents have a combined 134-93 record
over the past five seasons and went 22-22 last season. Here’s a closer look:
over the past five seasons and went 22-22 last season. Here’s a closer look:
AUGUST 23
Vs. Will C. Wood (Vacaville)
The Crushers and Wildcats continue to square off even though they are no
longer MEL combatants. Wood has won four of the past five meetings
(42-28 in 2014, 56-39 in 2015, 24-21 in 2017, 35-7 in 2018). Wood’s
decisive win over Vintage in 2018 was in the season opener and was the
low point for the Crushers’ otherwise great season. Vintage defeated Wood
28-27 in 2016, which could be surmised as a high point in Leach’s tenure.
The Wildcats have gone 34-21 the past five seasons, ranging mostly between
5-5 and 7-4 with a 10-2 mark in 2015 also in the picture.
longer MEL combatants. Wood has won four of the past five meetings
(42-28 in 2014, 56-39 in 2015, 24-21 in 2017, 35-7 in 2018). Wood’s
decisive win over Vintage in 2018 was in the season opener and was the
low point for the Crushers’ otherwise great season. Vintage defeated Wood
28-27 in 2016, which could be surmised as a high point in Leach’s tenure.
The Wildcats have gone 34-21 the past five seasons, ranging mostly between
5-5 and 7-4 with a 10-2 mark in 2015 also in the picture.
AUGUST 30
At El Cerrito
The Gauchos are an NCS Div. III team but a higher end one that competes in
the Tri County League’s Rock Division. El Cerrito has won its league twice
in the past five years, during which time it has compiled a record of 35-22
and have been to the postseason in each of those years, never going worse
than 6-6. The 2018 season was the high water mark of that stretch. The
Gauchos went 9-4, reaching the NCS Div. III semifinals, beating Petaluma
(49-0) and Miramonte-Orinda (44-21) before losing 38-0 to Cardinal Newman
(Santa Rosa).
the Tri County League’s Rock Division. El Cerrito has won its league twice
in the past five years, during which time it has compiled a record of 35-22
and have been to the postseason in each of those years, never going worse
than 6-6. The 2018 season was the high water mark of that stretch. The
Gauchos went 9-4, reaching the NCS Div. III semifinals, beating Petaluma
(49-0) and Miramonte-Orinda (44-21) before losing 38-0 to Cardinal Newman
(Santa Rosa).
SEPTEMBER 6
Vs. Acalanes (Lafayette)
For the second time in as many seasons, the Dons, who are coached by long
time Solano Community College head man Floyd Burnsed, will venture into
Memorial Stadium. Acalanes prevailed 28-27 in last year’s matchup, dropping
the Crushers to 0-2. That game, however, had Vintage rally from a 20-7 second
half deficit only to fall short. The second half of that game catapulted the
Crushers’ 10-game winning streak. Acalanes has been a mixed bag the last five
years, going 29-27. The 2017 campaign was the high point (9-2) while 2015
was the low point at 4-8.
time Solano Community College head man Floyd Burnsed, will venture into
Memorial Stadium. Acalanes prevailed 28-27 in last year’s matchup, dropping
the Crushers to 0-2. That game, however, had Vintage rally from a 20-7 second
half deficit only to fall short. The second half of that game catapulted the
Crushers’ 10-game winning streak. Acalanes has been a mixed bag the last five
years, going 29-27. The 2017 campaign was the high point (9-2) while 2015
was the low point at 4-8.
SEPTEMBER 13
At Bellarmine Prep (San Jose)
If there ever was a case of how the mighty have fallen, look no further than the
Bells. Bellarmine was once a West Catholic League powerhouse along with
Serra (San Mateo). Despite a 36-23 five-year record that looks good on the
surface, the Bells’ arrow has been plummeting downward, going a combined
6-15 the last two seasons. Vintage won last year’s contest 26-14.
Bells. Bellarmine was once a West Catholic League powerhouse along with
Serra (San Mateo). Despite a 36-23 five-year record that looks good on the
surface, the Bells’ arrow has been plummeting downward, going a combined
6-15 the last two seasons. Vintage won last year’s contest 26-14.
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