2019 nonleague schedule breakdown: American Canyon Wolves

Reporter’s note: This is the first in a series looking at the nonleague
footballschedule breakdown of Napa Valley high school programs.
Today, the focusis the American Canyon Wolves.

Like it’s Vine Valley Athletic League brethren Napa and Vintage, the
Wolves have digested a full season of the CIF North Coast Section after
spending its previous eight in the Sac Joaquin Section. Despite having
four different head coaches in that span, the Wolves have gone 61-34.
American Canyon enters its second season under current head coach
John Montante.

The Wolves went 6-6 last season, recovering from an 0-4 start to finish
the regular season 5-5 with the lone remaining loss coming to VVAL
champion Vintage, 28-14. American Canyon defeated Montgomery
(Santa Rosa) 43-29 before falling to Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park),
55-7 in the NCS Div. III playoffs.

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 scheduleor someone else’s lack of schedule strength. On
paper, however, American Canyon’s nonleague schedule has an addition
by subtraction -- no more Inderkum Tigers. The Wolves blasted
Inderkum 54-19 in 2016. That win catapulted American Canyon to
an 11-2 season and a trip to the SJS Div. III semifinals. The other
three matchups, however, the Tigers got the better of American
Canyon by a combined 165-6.

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
from a different time?

The formula yours truly is using for breaking down the nonleague slates
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? Also, the formula is not prediction based.
I simply provide information and you can draw your own conclusion.

Here’s a closer look as the Wolves four nonleague foes are a combined
121-108 the last five years and went 25-19 in 2018:

AT DEER VALLEY

Aug. 23

Deer Valley has not had a winning season since 2013, when the Wolverines
went 11-2 to reach the NCS Div. I semifinals. Deer Valley is 14-36 since
that season. The Wolverines went 4-6 in 2018 which included a 36-21 win
at American Canyon to begin the season. Deer Valley, however, competes
in a loaded Bay Football League with Liberty (Brentwood), Antioch,
Pittsburg and Freedom (Oakley).

VS. ST. PATRICK’S

Aug. 30

This matchup makes you want to play revisionist history and ask, “Where
was this in 2016?” Of course, hindsight is always 20-20. That season,
the Wolves went 11-2 and advanced to the semifinals of the SJS Div.
III playoffs. The Bruins went 13-3 and were the CIF State champs,
winning the 6-A bowl game. Watching the Div. III Wolves against the
Div. V Bruins would have been interesting. The 2018 version of both
teams were distant cousins with each team going 6-6. The Bruins are
36-28 the previous five years but that record is skewed based on a 24-5
mark in 2016-2017.

AT AMADOR VALLEY

Sept. 7

The Dons are a prime example of fair to midland. Amador Valley has
gone 34-24 the previous five seasons, 5-6 on the low end to 8-3 a year
ago, including a 42-13 win at American Canyon.

VS. WILL C. WOOD

Sept. 14

These two teams have a lot of history and a crossover history angle.
For openers, Wood has gone 37-20 the past five years with a 10-2 season
in 2015 skewing that mark ever so slightly. Though the Wildcats have
been perennially viewed as Ticket No. 2 in Vacaville, having their own
on-campus stadium has changed the perception on some level. American
Canyon and Wood have met five times the last five seasons with the
Wildcats winning three, including last season’s 28-22 victory. Wood
hired Kirk Anderson as its head coach. Anderson was an American
Canyon assistant under Larry Singer in 2017.

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.

Consumers are part of the reason why media sensationalizes the news

There are many commonly uttered narratives that while they are
true, require another layer of examination as to why they hold
credence.

Consider it an explanation more than a justification.  

As a sports reporter of 18 years before changing careers in
December 2014, I notice a lot of disdain toward the media in this
country and it includes all factions, news, sports, etc. The reason
for the outrage is rooted in the consumers’ belief that the media
sensationalizes the news.

Before I go any further, I want to make one thing perfectly clear, I
agree that the media as a broad generalization embellishes the
news. Turn on most any network and it confirms the complaints
that consumers have that the news is depressing. If it does not
have a saddened tone, it contains shrill voices arguing back and
forth. If they are not loudly arguing, they are pontificating. It’s as
if the Joe Friday, “Just the facts” approach is long gone.

As a sports fan, the biggest examples of sensationalism are ESPN
First Take with Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman or FS1’s
Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless. Those pairs are so notorious
for arguing in loud tones of voice that it is news when they don’t.
The networks that engage in political interactions take an approach
that is often all too similar.

Though journalism is no longer my career, I enjoy writing too much
to give it up entirely. The root of my decision to leave the newspaper
industry stems from the fact that the pay and lifestyle are too limiting
for a family man with a wife and three kids. The more secondary
reasons, but they are reasons nonetheless, is that a) With my own
kids being involved in sports, I don’t want to be saddled with covering
other kids’ events while missing my own and b) The fundamentals of
journalism have changed to a point where I am simply not on board.

I enjoy getting my writing fix as a freelance writer for my former
employer, Napa Valley Publishing, on Friday nights during high school
football season and by updating this blog a couple of times per week.
Both involve different writing approaches. With the former, I am
covering the game, presenting facts, talking to the local coach, and
at the same time taking an analytical approach on the outcome of
the game. With the latter, I’m not claiming to be a member of the
media because I’m not breaking stories. I am giving my opinion but
at the same time substantiating my views with facts, at least I try to
do so. Sometimes those facts are not to some people’s satisfaction
by so be it.

Which brings me to my next point, those who complain about how
the news is presented also need to assume a role in the media
sensationalizing the news. Before you scream, “Vince, you are
blaming the victim! How dare you!” understand one thing, the
media is like any other business, they are there to make money.
The reason they sensationalize the news? Why? Because the same
news that you are tired of listening to or reading, you keep returning
to that place. Translation, you are enabling the media. I know you
don’t want to hear that but you need to hear it.

That approach is no different that if a restaurant is selling more
French Dip sandwiches than hamburgers, they are going to plan on
cooking more French Dip sandwiches.

I recently had a conversation with someone and this person said:
“Journalism stopped being journalism 20 years ago.” While I agree
that the fundamentals of journalism have been bastardized in than
span, I would contend that 20 years ago was the pre-social media
era and was not off the rails yet.

When social media networks got into full bloom around the mid-to-late
2000s, the lines between citizen journalism and traditional journalism
became increasingly blurred to where there is no line whatsoever.
The media culture has also gotten to where anyone with a body
temperature can establish a blog, start cacamaimy rumors and get
10,000 clicks. Since I established this blog, I suppose you can say
that it is a stone that I should not throw. However, since I grew up
in a generation of reading and hear journalists that had standards
and I was taught in college to have standards -- shoutout University
of Nebraska College of Journalism -- on those moments where I
have hot takes, I know how to be measured.

While I am not absolving or defending the media for sensationalizing
the news, the consumers need to understand that they play a role.
You can debate this argument on a chicken and egg level. Does
the media sensationalize because the consumers like it? Or do
consumers like it because the media sensationalize?

Let that question marinate for a moment.  

Bosa social media tweets should be a cautionary tale

Sometimes irony strikes where you least expect it.

Take the San Francisco 49ers. Three years ago, the franchise had a
quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, who led a controversial social movement
of kneeling during the National Anthem. The purpose of Kaepernick’s
gesture was to protest police brutality against black people and the
systemic racism those people have experienced in the United States.

Several players throughout the NFL followed Kaepernick’s lead to the
pleasure of some and chagrin of others. Kaepernick has not played in
the NFL since 2016, in part because he was trending down as a player
and teams believed that “the baggage outweighed the passenger.”

Fast forward to the 2019 draft and the franchise selects Ohio State
defensive end Nick Bosa with the second overall pick in the draft. The
selection is significant because the 49ers are counting on Bosa to bolster
their defense in an effort to improve on a 4-12 season in 2018 and most
importantly gain an uptick in Kyle Shanahan’s third season as San
Francisco’s head coach.

Bosa’s selection gained news on another front. He is a known supporter
of current United States president Donald Trump. To suggest that Trump
is polarizing would be like saying water is wet. Trump also spoke out
strongly against players kneeling during the National Anthem, calling
them SOBs (and I don’t meant Sweet Old Bill) and suggesting that they
should be fired from their jobs.

Within the past six years, Bosa sent tweets referring to Kaepernick as a
clown. He also referred to Beyonce’s music as “trash.” Beyonce is a black
singer, actress, song writer, record producer and dancer.

At his introductory press conference, Bosa addressed his past tweets.

“I’m sorry if I hurt anybody,” Bosa said. “I definitely didn’t intend for that
to be the case. I think me being here (San Francisco) is even better for me
as a person, because I don’t think there's anywhere, any city, that you could
really be in that would help you grow as much as this one will. I’m going
to be surrounded with people of all different kinds, so I’m going to grow
as a person. I'm going to be on my own. I’m going to grow up, I’m gonna
learn a lot of new things. It’s exciting.”

On what his feelings are toward Kaepernick today, Bosa said: “No. It wasn’t
directed toward that. It's not like I’m saying his stance and what he was
doing -- that’s not what I was talking about at all. It was just a specific
thing that happened, and me, as a young kid, a thought popping into my
head and, boom, decided to tweet it out. Bad decision. I respect what he's
done. If it empowers anybody, then he's doing a good thing. I apologize
for that.”

For Bosa’s part, I’ll give the young man his due, he answered the questions
in a forthright manner, never once appearing on the defensive, which is
more than I can say for Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant.
While Durant is an overwhelming talent, he can be hypersensative toward
questions from the media.

Is Bosa’s apology genuine or rehearsed? That’s in the eye of the beholder
but if nothing else, he made the optics look good, which will buy him some
breathing room. The result of Bosa getting out in front of the issue is that as
long as he keeps his nose clean, he is less likely to get questioned. As a
lifelong 49er fan, I personally do not care who he supports -- or what he
tweets -- as long as he sacks Jared Goff, Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray.

I’m not here to tell anyone who they should or should not support in the
political arena because it is our individual right. That is the beauty of the
United States of America. All I ask is that you do not choose company
time to advance your agenda, a la Kaepernick. If Trump loses the 2020
election and Bosa decides to take a knee during the National Anthem,
you bet your tail I’ll be raking him over the coals. However, regardless
of which side of the aisle you lean, Bosa’s aforementioned social media
posts should serve as a cautionary tale.

Is posting political points of view worth the headache? I am only
speaking for myself but I would say no. However, if you think it’s worth
it, knock yourself out because it’s your account, just be aware that
ramifications come with it. We live in a world where you can post an
opinion, substantiate it with fact but people will a) Still lose your
message in translation and b) Assume that if you like one side, you
automatically hate the other even if you never stated anything to the
effect.

I would utter the same message if Bosa was a Hillary Clinton supporter.
Given that Bosa was raised in a Republican household, should it surprise
you that he is a Trump supporter? On the other hand, would you expect
Nancy Pelosi’s kids to be anything other than Democrat?

Perhaps the most comical social media post I saw was, “He’s a Trump
supporter, he’d better produce.” Really? Bosa needs to produce because
he is the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. There is no reason other than
that one.

Regardless of how much irony strikes.