The deeper a high school football season gets into October,
the more seasons become defined.
In Napa Valley, CA, while the picture is not crystal clear, the
view has become more definitive on a few fronts.
The Vine Valley Athletic League title still runs through 1375
Trower Avenue in Napa, CA, but there’s a school location on
3000 Newell Dr. in American Canyon, CA, that will have a
say in the matter. On Friday, the American Canyon Wolves
defeated the Napa Grizzlies 14-7 in a pivotal VVAL contest.
The Willits Wolverines prevailed over the St. Helena Saints
30-28. The Vintage Crushers routed the Petaluma Trojans
40-7. The Justin-Siena Braves whitewashed the Sonoma
Valley Dragons 41-0. The Calistoga Wildcats blanked the
Laytonville Warriors 46-0.
Here’s a closer look:
AMERICAN CANYON/NAPA
Looking back: American Canyon went 92 yards to score
the decisive touchdown, culminating with Kaave Gaviola’s
1-yard touchdown run, with 6:25 left in the contest. The
drive was aided by five Napa penalties, a few of which the
Grizzlies and their fans deemed egregious. Gaviola scored
both Wolves touchdowns while quarterback Isaiah Newton
accounted for Napa’s lone score with a 73-yard touchdown
run.
Statistically, the game played out strangely with both teams
having scoring opportunities go by the boards with drives
ending either in a missed field goal, turnover or running out
of downs. American Canyon gained 261 yards on 67 plays
while Napa compiled 156 yards on 36 plays, 73 on Newton’s
touchdown.
Looking ahead: For the second time in as many seasons,
American Canyon and Vintage sit atop the VVAL without a
loss heading into their game against one another. The
Wolves are 3-0 in VVAL while Vintage is 2-0. The Crushers
had their bye while American Canyon’s open date will follow
this contest between the two teams at American Canyon.
The Crushers are 2-1 lifetime against American Canyon,
winning the last two. For American Canyon, the question
becomes, who will be taking snaps from center? Vance
Eschenburg left the game in the second quarter with an
apparent head injury before being replaced by Vinnie
Espejo. As of this writing, there was no definitive word on
Eschenburg’s status.
For Napa, which falls to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in VVAL, this
defeat means it will have to win out and get help to win even
a share of the VVAL title. The Grizzlies host Justin at
Memorial Stadium. The Braves won last year’s game 36-32
on a blocked punt in the final minute. Just an aside, Napa
radio station KVON, which broadcasts local high school
football, was slated to carry the Justin/Napa matchup. In all
likelihood, the station will try to flex out and broadcast
Vintage at American Canyon given the ramifications.
VINTAGE
Looking back: For the second time in as many weeks,
the Crushers delivered the knockout punch in the early
going against an overmatched opponent. The Crusher
offense produced 322 yards of offense on 34 plays. On the
rushing side, Vintage had 23 carries for 192 yards with ten
different Crushers carrying the ball. Pedja Zivkovic, Mauricio
Castro, Jayden Benjamin and quarterback Jacob Aaron each
ran for a score. Aaron completed 6 of 11 passes for 130 yards
with touchdown passes to Logan Bartlett and Reid McCaffery.
Defensively, the Crushers allowed just 163 yards on 40 plays.
Looking ahead: For the Crushers, another chapter involving
American Canyon awaits. The Wolves are 7-0 overall and 3-0
in VVAL. Vintage is also unbeaten in VVAL atop the standings
with its lone loss being a 21-13 defeat against Bellarmine Prep
(San Jose). Winning this game for either team means that they
would put them in a position where they would clinch no worse
than a tie for the VVAL title. Vintage and American Canyon have
met three times. American Canyon won the first meeting, 42-14
in 2016. Vintage has won the previous two, 28-14 in 2017 and
27-14 in 2018.
ST. HELENA
Looking back: The Saints offense, most notably Ivan Robledo,
continued to put up gaudy numbers. Robledo broke his own
school record established a week earlier. This time gaining 294
yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns. As an offense, the
Saints gained 482 total yards (423 rushing) but five turnovers
would be too much to overcome. Willits scored the game’s first
17 points as Jacob Arms led the way with 192 yards on eight
carries and two touchdowns. Despite all of its mis-steps,
quarterback Daniel Martinez connected with George Cutting
for a 9-yard touchdown pass on the game’s final play, making it
30-28 Willits. The two-point conversion failed and Willits escaped
with a win.
Looking ahead: For Willits, which defeated St. Helena for the
first time since 2010, it is tied atop the North Central League I
standings with Middletown. While the loss represents the first
of the season for St. Helena, the Saints can still have a say in
the NCL I race. The Saints host Middletown on Friday. The two
schools have had a few compelling matchups this decade but
the Mustangs have won the previous three head-to-head
meetings.
JUSTIN-SIENA
Looking back: For the second time in as many weeks, the
Braves overwhelmed their opponent. Quarterback Hudson
Beers fired six touchdown passes with three recipients (Miles
Williams, Blake Hoban and Solomone Anitoni) each catching
two. On the defensive end, Sonoma twice got inside the Justin
20-yard line only to run out of downs.
Looking ahead: Most people deemed the VVAL as a two,
possibly three team race before the season (Vintage, American
Canyon and Napa). Well, you might want to a fourth team at
least for the moment -- Justin. Much has been made of the
Braves having four one possession losses in two seasons in
the VVAL. Justin is 6-1 overall and 2-1 in VVAL. The Braves
visit Memorial Stadium on Friday to face Napa, which they beat
36-32 last season. With Napa, Vintage and American Canyon
awaiting and representing three tall drinks of water, the Braves
have a chance to prove a point to the skeptics.
CALISTOGA
Looking back: The Wildcats thoroughly dominated Laytonville
from pillar to post on Saturday night. Joey Russo started the
onslaught with a 26-yard fumble return for a score and Calistoga
had the only points it would need. Nonetheless, quarterback
Christian Caldera accounted for the next six Wildcat scores.
Caldera had 105 yards rushing on 18 carries and five
touchdowns. He also connected with Isaac Garcia for a 35-yard
score. Calistoga gained 246 yards of total offense on 43 plays.
The Wildcats defense limited the Laytonville offense to 121
yards on 52 plays.
Looking ahead: Calistoga sits at 4-1 overall with its most
important NCL III South games in front. The Wildcats are at
Branson (Ross) on Saturday. The Bulls are 3-1 overall. That
game will be followed by a home contest against 3-2 Tomales.
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