Time Machine: 2012 high school football: Calistoga at Tomales

There are demons and there are demons. During the 2012 high school
football season, the Calistoga Wildcats enjoyed a 180 degree turn. In
the process, the Wildcats defeated their long-time nemesis, the Tomales
Braves 33-14 on a brisk late October night near the Pacific Ocean.

It marked the first time in 13 years since Calistoga beat Tomales and just
the second time since 1992. Calistoga is a community located in the
Upper Napa Valley in Northern California, population of 5,000 people,
plus or minus a few. Tomales, which can best be described as a hamlet,
has a population of about 200, plus or minus a few.  

In 2011, the Wildcats did not win a single game in 10 attempts in Paul
Harrell’s first season as head coach. Buoyed by an incoming group that
enjoyed enormous success with the Calistoga Cubs and later as JV
Wildcats, which Harrell coached, gave people hope that a shift in victory
total was imminent.

Going into the season, as one who covered the Upper Valley beat for
the better part of 10 years, I felt Calistoga was a year away from making
serious noise. The reason behind that thought process was that of the 26
players on the roster, only seven were seniors. JV success and youth
football is all well and good but keep in mind it takes time to acclimate
to varsity speed. I thought going into the season 3-7 on the low end to
5-5 on the high end.

Though the 2012 Wildcats enjoyed by all accounts a turnaround season
in going from 0-10 to 6-5 and a CIF North Coast Section Div. V playoff
berth, the season was a roller coaster. Unlike 2011, however, at least
there were highs involved. The season started with a 20-0 win over
Cloverdale at home and a 61-28 road win at South Fork (Miranda).
Then came three straight losses to California School for The Deaf
(Fremont), Willits and Emery (Emeryville) by a combined score of
103-45.

Calistoga bounced back with a 37-0 win over St. Elizabeth (Oakland)
and 28-20 over Stellar Prep (Oakland) to improve to 4-3. The thought
then became, “three straight games against North Central League II/
Bay Football League contenders Upper Lake, Tomales and St.
Vincent (Petaluma). The rubber meets the road now.” The Wildcats
followed with an inspired 10-6 home win over Upper Lake and the
aforementioned road win at Tomales.

Thumbnail sketch of game: The offensive line of left tackle Austin
Periera, left guards Alfonso Pena and James Prager, center Juan
Martinez, right guard Tony Martinez, right tackle Walker Hughes and
tight end Danny Alfaro blocked well throughout the game to create
open lanes of real estate for Calistoga’s skill position players.

The Wildcats outgained Tomales in total yardage, 348-274.

Tomales’ Jimmy Solomon jumped in front of an Orion Harrell pass
and returned the interception 42 yards to paydirt. The extra point
was no good, making it 14-6 Tomales at the 11:40 mark of the
second quarter.

However, that was the last time the Braves scored the remainder of
the evening. Calistoga answered with nine seconds left in the first
half as Harrell connected with Cris Flores for a 32-yard touchdown
pass on fourth and 12.

The extra point was no good as the Braves clinged to a 14-12 lead at
halftime. The Wildcats took their first lead of the game with 9:02 left
in the third quarter on Dylan Alvarado’s 33-yard run as he broke a
few tackles in the process. Harrell then connected with Alvarado on
the two-point conversion.

Alvarado struck again on a 57-yard run on a sweep in which Christian
Ramirez made a key downfield block. The two-point conversion
failed and Calistoga led 26-14. Alvarado continued his monster
performance when he caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Harrell,
running over a Tomales defender in the process.

Alvarado had 182 yards rushing on 16 carries.

The first half was a seesaw battle. The Braves never trailed but Calistoga
did not go quietly. Tomales struck first on Kyle Bianchi’s 3-yard run
with 3:25 left in the opening quarter to cap off a nine-play, 95-yard
drive. Anthony Feliciano added the two-point conversion.

Calistoga replied shortly thereafter as Uli Mejia scored on a 34-yard
run with 2:14 left in the first quarter. The extra point failed, making it
8-6 Tomales.

Feliciano gained 158 rushing yards on 22 carries, but the Braves had
trouble sustaining drives against a stingy Calistoga defense. Max
Caldera had two tackles for loss while Mejia, Danny Alfaro and
Walker Hughes each added one.

Alvarado and Prager each recorded sacks. Alfaro recovered a fumble
and Jesus Curiel intercepted a pass.

What it meant: As far as the 2012 season was concerned, it would
be the last time that season Calistoga tasted victory. The Wildcats
lost their net two games, both against eventual league champion St.
Vincent, 47-21 in the regular season finale and 34-6 in the NCS Div.
V playoffs. The next season, Calistoga went 8-2 and won a share of
the NCL II title, it’s first banner in varsity football since 1997.

This win over Tomales, however, was mostly about ending years of
torment. It marked the Wildcats first victory over the Braves since
1999 (when then Calistoga assistant coach Jake Blakeley was the
Wildcats quarterback) and just the second win over the Braves in
the last 20 meetings.

The Tomales wins were mostly decisive with the Braves pounding
Calistoga into submission. The win meant so much to Calistoga that
the team, coaches and players posed for a picture underneath the
scoreboard.