Subplots pertaining to Napa Valley high school football

Having had a chance to cover every team from North to South in the Napa Valley in my 18 years as a sports reporter, I had a chance to travel as far North as Humboldt County, as far West as the Mendocino Coast, as far East as Grass Valley and as far South as Oakdale.

Six Napa Valley high schools combine for five different leagues with only Napa and Vintage being in the same one, Monticello Empire League. American Canyon (Solano County Athletic Conference), Justin-Siena (Marin County Athletic League), St. Helena (North Central League I) and Calistoga (NCL III/8-man) comprise the other five leagues.

In my previous blog entry, I scoured the Napa Valley landscape:

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2016/08/2016-napa-valley-high-school-football.html

With this one, I’ll point out some dates to remember along with compelling info surrounding Napa Valley opponents:

Aberration or trend?

Wood (Vacaville) and Bethel (Vallejo) went opposite directions in 2015. Wood went 10-2 while Bethel went 0-10. That output is significant because from 2001-2014, Wood went 52-91-1 with just three seasons over .500. Bethel went 94-61-1 with just three seasons below .500. The question becomes, was last season an aberration or a sign of things to come?

For that matter, the same question could be posed for Vacaville, which went 5-5 last season. Since 2002, Napa and Vacaville have gone to virtually a dead heat in the win-loss column. In that span, Napa has gone 115-38-1 overall, 55-10 in MEL with one CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. I title (coming in 2007). Vacaville has gone 116-37-1 overall, 56-9 against MEL clubs with a SJS Div. I title in 2006. The head-to-head matchups in that span are 7-6 in Napa’s favor.

Can the Falcons soar again with Randy Hood?

Hood’s last stint as Falcons head coach was 1998-2001. In his last season, the Falcons started 0-2 in 2001 only to win their next 10 games before losing in the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. I title game to Elk Grove (34-12). After struggling from 2002-2014, the Falcons showed promise last year in going 5-5. Hood will bring a sense of direction but there are no Desmond Bishops or Quinton Ganthers on the roster.

St. Vincent returns to NCL I

From 2005-2010, the NCL I was split into North and South, creating two five team divisions. Upper Lake and St. Vincent, however, went back to NCL II and later Bay Football League before again rejoining the NCL II. St. Vincent is back in the NCL I but in only football. From 2001-2015, the Mustangs went 36-35 against NCL I foes.

Could this season be like 2014 for St. Helena?

The Saints went 9-1 the last two regular seasons, each time the lone regular season loss came against Fort Bragg. In 2014, however, St. Helena was in Div. V but since they scored six wins against Div. IV teams, the Saints earned the No. 3 seed in the NCS Div. V playoffs. St. Helena reached the Section title game only to lose to Salesian (Richmond) 14-7.

In 2015, St. Helena was Div. IV but with five wins coming against Div. V foes, its strength of schedule weakened. As a result, St. Helena was the No. 9 seed in the NCS Div. IV playoffs and lost the rematch to Fort Bragg in the postseason. While it would be dangerous to assume a repeat, I feel confident enough to say that the Saints will have a strong regular season. As for the postseason, much depends on which teams they draw. The Saints have three Div. IV foes (Sir Francis Drake, Lower Lake and Winters). Those are the games St. Helena has to make it rain.

New local rivalry

American Canyon opened its doors in 2010. Before that year, a strong majority of AC kids went to Vintage. On Sept. 2, the two teams meet at Memorial Stadium in Napa for the start of a home-and-home series. When it comes to Napa Valley rivalries, the Big Game between Napa-Vintage is the bellcow. Though Napa’s dominance has taken away some of the luster, Vintage last beat Napa in 2005, this rivalry will always draw the most interest.

However, American Canyon-Vintage is a rivalry that is likely to have staying power because who knows, AC could be in the MEL someday. The other two local rivalries not named Napa-Vintage, however, did not have staying power. Justin and St. Helena had the Vine Bowl but that series was discontinued after 2001. St. Helena and Calistoga have existed for over 100 years but have only played 46 times in that span, just twice since 1989.

The return of Cotruvo and Vargas

This would definitely fall into the “save the date” category, as in October 14. Though Justin has been in the MCAL since 2000, it’s hard to say which is the Braves most truly-defined rival. However, those Justin-Terra Linda games just became compelling. The Trojans visit Justin for homecoming. The game will mark the return of long-time Braves head coach Rich Cotruvo and defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Steve Vargas.

Cotruvo and Justin “parted ways” in April. He subsequently became the head coach at Terra Linda. Long-time Braves assistant Brandon LaRocco replaced Cotruvo. Though neither Cotruvo or the Justin administration said anything publicly inflammatory, the nature of the departure no doubt left a few scars. The return will be emotional but like any other game, once the ball is kicked off, it’s about which team executes its game plan better.

Eight-man football makes sense long-term for Calistoga and Upper Lake

Calistoga and Upper Lake each have the enrollment, 240 and 264 according to the NCS website, to have the roster-size to play 11-man football. The program is finding a viable league. Both would get overwhelmed in the NCL I. Upper Lake tried that league once, from 2005-2010, going 14-47 in that span.

The BFL is a potential option but both teams have been there, done that. Regardless of league, both face a lot of travel. It’s just a matter of do you want to travel to Emeryville or Laytonville? At least in the 8-man league, they have a chance for constant success.