This is the first story in a series looking at the re-alignment
of the CIF North Coast Section football playoff format as it
pertains to Napa Valley high school football programs. Today,
the focus is on Div. II, where long-time rivals Napa and Vintage
will compete.
of the CIF North Coast Section football playoff format as it
pertains to Napa Valley high school football programs. Today,
the focus is on Div. II, where long-time rivals Napa and Vintage
will compete.
The Vintage Crushers and Napa Grizzlies enter the 2019 season in
similar yet different positions. After years of languishing in the shadow
of their peers, the Crushers appear to be set up for long-term and
sustained success as long as head coach Dylan Leach is at the helm.
Leach, who is a 1992 graduate of Vintage, enters his fourth season.
His team has steadily improved each season.
similar yet different positions. After years of languishing in the shadow
of their peers, the Crushers appear to be set up for long-term and
sustained success as long as head coach Dylan Leach is at the helm.
Leach, who is a 1992 graduate of Vintage, enters his fourth season.
His team has steadily improved each season.
Topping last season will be a challenge in which the Crushers reached
the semifinals of the NCS Div. II, going 10-3. Vintage won the Vine
Valley Athletic League, winning its first league title since 2005 as
members of the Monticello Empire League (three way tie with Napa
and Vacaville). The Crushers are the hunted, no longer the hunter.
the semifinals of the NCS Div. II, going 10-3. Vintage won the Vine
Valley Athletic League, winning its first league title since 2005 as
members of the Monticello Empire League (three way tie with Napa
and Vacaville). The Crushers are the hunted, no longer the hunter.
From 2002-2016, Napa was a program many envied but has now
gone through its fourth head coaching change in as many seasons,
compiling a 3-6 record in 2017 and 0-10 in 2018, its first winless
campaign since 1955. Richie Wessman was hired as the new head
coach in February. The Grizzlies, however, have a perfect storm for
a bounceback season. For openers, there is ample talent coming up
from the JV team and a favorable non league schedule. By all
appearances, a season ranging from 6-4 on the low end to 8-2 on
the high end appears attainable.
gone through its fourth head coaching change in as many seasons,
compiling a 3-6 record in 2017 and 0-10 in 2018, its first winless
campaign since 1955. Richie Wessman was hired as the new head
coach in February. The Grizzlies, however, have a perfect storm for
a bounceback season. For openers, there is ample talent coming up
from the JV team and a favorable non league schedule. By all
appearances, a season ranging from 6-4 on the low end to 8-2 on
the high end appears attainable.
The NCS made wholesale changes to its playoff format. Refer to this
column:
column:
Today, we look at the landscape of the NCS Div. II, not so much to
break down the upcoming season but to look at how the programs
have fared the last five seasons. There are 16 teams in Div. II with
the playoff bracket reaching up to eight teams. Here’s a closer look:
break down the upcoming season but to look at how the programs
have fared the last five seasons. There are 16 teams in Div. II with
the playoff bracket reaching up to eight teams. Here’s a closer look:
American (Fremont)
League -- Mission Valley
Last five seasons -- 7-4 in 2014, 8-3 in 2015, 4-6 in 2016, 0-10 in
2017, 1-9 in 2018. Two postseason appearances, no wins.
2017, 1-9 in 2018. Two postseason appearances, no wins.
Campolindo (Moraga)
League -- Diablo (Foothill)
Last five seasons -- 16-0 in 2014, 14-2 in 2015, 12-3 in 2016, 10-5
in 2017, 10-3 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, two section
championships and two state championships.
in 2017, 10-3 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, two section
championships and two state championships.
Clayton Valley Charter
League -- East Bay (Mountain)
Last five seasons -- 15-1 in 2014, 13-2 in 2015, 9-2 in 2016, 8-3 in
2017, 9-2 in 2018. Five playoff appearances. Two Section titles and
two state title game appearances.
2017, 9-2 in 2018. Five playoff appearances. Two Section titles and
two state title game appearances.
College Park (Pleasant Hill)
League -- Diablo Valley
Last five seasons -- 3-7 in 2014, 1-8 in 2015, 6-5 in 2016, 4-6 in
2017, 5-6 in 2018. Two playoff appearances, no wins.
2017, 5-6 in 2018. Two playoff appearances, no wins.
Deer Valley (Antioch)
League -- Bay Valley
Last five seasons -- 4-6 in 2014, 3-7 in 2015, 2-8 in 2016, 2-8 in
2017, 4-6 in 2018. No playoff appearances.
2017, 4-6 in 2018. No playoff appearances.
Dublin
League -- East Bay (Valley)
Last five seasons -- 4-7 in 2014, 7-4 in 2015, 4-6 in 2016, 5-7 in
2017, 4-6 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, one win.
2017, 4-6 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, one win.
Foothill (Pleasanton)
League -- East Bay (Mountain)
Last five seasons -- 9-3 in 2014, 12-1 in 2015, 6-5 in 2016, 8-4 in
2017, 2-8 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, four wins.
2017, 2-8 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, four wins.
Granada (Livermore)
League -- East Bay (Valley)
Last five seasons -- 3-9 in 2014, 6-7 in 2015, 6-7 in 2016, 9-4 in
2017, 9-3 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, nine wins.
2017, 9-3 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, nine wins.
Irvington (Fremont)
League -- Mission Valley
Last five seasons -- 2-8 in 2014, 3-8 in 2015, 6-6 in 2016, 4-8 in
2017, 4-7 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, two wins.
2017, 4-7 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, two wins.
Livermore
League -- East Bay (Valley)
Last five seasons -- 2-8 in 2014, 3-8 in 2015, 6-6 in 2016, 4-8 in
2017, 4-7 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, two wins.
2017, 4-7 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, two wins.
Mt. Eden (Hayward)
League -- West Alameda County (Shoreline)
Last five seasons -- 7-3-1 in 2014, 5-5 in 2015, 7-4 in 2016, 6-5
in 2017, 2-8. Three playoff appearances, no wins.
in 2017, 2-8. Three playoff appearances, no wins.
Napa
League -- Vine Valley Athletic
Last five seasons -- 9-3 in 2014, 11-1 in 2015, 7-4 in 2016, 3-6
in 2017, 0-10 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, two wins.
in 2017, 0-10 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, two wins.
Redwood (Larkspur)
League -- Marin County Athletic
Last five seasons -- 4-6 in 2014, 5-6 in 2015, 9-3 in 2016, 3-7 in
2017, 6-5 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, one win.
2017, 6-5 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, one win.
San Leandro
League -- West Alameda County (Foothill)
Last five seasons -- 6-5 in 2014, 6-5 in 2015, 6-5 in 2016, 8-3 in
2017, 6-6 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, two wins.
2017, 6-6 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, two wins.
Vintage
League -- Vine Valley Athletic
Last five seasons -- 6-5 in 2014, 5-5 in 2015, 5-5 in 2016, 7-3 in
2017, 10-3 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, two wins (both in
2018).
2017, 10-3 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, two wins (both in
2018).
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