Napa Valley high school football around the horn Week 8

High school football in late October means the stakes become

exceedingly higher with each passing week. 

As it pertains to schools in Napa Valley, CA, the Vintage Crushers

rolled to a 48-7 win over the Justin-Siena Braves at Memorial Stadium.

The Napa Grizzlies pulled away from the Casa Grande (Petaluma)

Gauchos 41-18. The St. Helena Saints snapped their two-game losing

streak with a 40-28 road win over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves. The

Tomales Braves defeated the Calistoga Wildcats 46-28. 

Here’s a closer look: 

JUSTIN/VINTAGE

Looking back: For the second time in as many weeks, the Braves visited

Memorial Stadium and it was the same song, different verse. The first half

was a battle with Vintage clinging to a 14-7 lead at halftime. In the second

half, however, the Crushers depth avalanched Justin. Vintage outscored the

Braves 34-0 in the second half. The previous week against Napa featured a

similar scenario. Napa led 14-7 at halftime and pulled away for a 42-14

victory. 

Nine different Crushers carried the ball on the way to amassing 331 yards

rushing. Four different Crushers also ran for touchdowns. Jacob Aaron had

two while Pedja Zikovic, Dylan Smith and Mauricio Castro each had one.
Defensively, Vintage limited Justin to 153 yards on 51 plays. The Crushers

sacked Justin quarterback Hudson Beers six times and intercepted him three

others, one of which was a 63-yard interception by Kyle Dandini.

Looking ahead: The Crushers (7-1 overall, 4-0 Vine Valley Athletic League)

have a simple task. Beat Sonoma (1-8 overall, 0-5 VVAL) on Friday and

clinch no worse than a tie for the VVAL title. Follow that presumed win by

beating crosstown rival Napa (6-2 overall, 3-1 VVAL) and win sole possession

of the VVAL for the second time in as many seasons. Next week’s road game

at Arnold Field will present a step back in time because the venue has a grass

field that is a combination of football and baseball facility. 

Justin has a bye and will visit American Canyon (7-1 overall, 3-1 VVAL)

on November 1. The Braves (6-3 overall, 2-3 VVAL) have lost back-to-back

games but figure to be a shoe-in for the NCS Div. VI playoffs regardless of

the outcome against the Wolves. Vintage, in the meantime, is seeking a

league title to bolster its cause for a first-round home game.

NAPA

Looking ahead: The Grizzlies found themselves in a tussle after trailing

12-7 after one quarter. Then, the next three quarters happened with phenom

Brock Bowers leading Napa to pull away for a decisive win. Quarterback

Isaiah Newton connected with Bowers for touchdown passes from 30 and

45 yards away. Bowers also scored on touchdown runs of 46 and 55 yards.

Bowers accumulated 236 yards of offense. Newton was 6 of 12 for 135

yards and two scores. Benito Saldivar added 108 yards on 18 carries and

a touchdown. The Grizzlies gave up 300 yards on 46 plays but only 18

points, six with the game out of reach. The Napa defense also recorded

two interceptions. 

Looking ahead: Napa needs to beat Petaluma (2-6 overall, 1-3 VVAL)

and Vintage to assure itself at chance for an NCS Div. II playoff berth. The

Grizzlies should beat the former but defeating the latter, while possible,

will not be an easy task. Splitting the final two games, however, makes the

NCS Div. II playoffs an iffy possibility. At present, Napa and Dublin are

fighting for the final spot in the NCS Div. II playoffs. 

ST. HELENA

Looking back: Thanks to the dynamic rushing duo of Ivan Robledo and

Cody DiTomaso, the Saints escaped Fort Bragg with their first victory at

that venue since 2005. DiTomaso carried 14 times for 234 yards and two

touchdowns, including the game-clincher from 65 yards away to seal the

win with 2:14 left in the contest. Robledo carried 12 times for 217 yards

and two touchdowns. The Saints led 28-8 with 10:02 left in the third

quarter on a 33-yard Daniel Martinez to Jacob Mendes touchdown before

the Timberwolves made things interesting. Fort Bragg quarterback Wyatt

Curti had 306 yards of total offense (168 passing, 138 rushing).

Looking ahead: The two-game losing skid is in the rearview mirror for the

Saints (6-2 overall, 3-2 North Central League I). Their attention now

becomes finishing with back-to-back wins, Cloverdale at home on Friday,

and Lower Lake on the road Nov. 1, to assure an NCS Div. VII playoff

home game. Cloverdale has struggling in going 2-6 overall and 1-4 in

NCL I. Lower Lake (6-2 overall, 4-1 NCL I) will present a stringent test. 

CALISTOGA

Looking back: Tomales took a 14-0 lead after one quarter. Every time

Calistoga appeared to have a comeback brewing, the Braves would open

up more distance and keep Calistoga at bay. The Braves amassed 238

yards on 43 carries led by quarterback Zach Porteous’ 24 carries for 117

yards and four touchdowns. The Wildcats were unable to overcome the

early deficit in spite of another incredible performance by quarterback

Christian Caldera, 30 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown and 9 of 13

passing for 213 yards, one touchdown and one interception. 

Looking ahead: The loss changes Calistoga’s fate from win out and you

are in the postseason. Calistoga is now in a spot where winning at Stuart

Hall (3-3 overall, 1-1 NCL III South) and Roseland Prep (0-5 overall, 0-1

NCL III South) does not guarantee a playoff spot. However, the task now

becomes win both and see where the chips fall.