2018 nonleague football schedule outlook: American Canyon

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

The fact that American Canyon is venturing into an entirely new world in leaving the
CIF Sac Joaquin Section for the North Coast Section is a big shakeup.

After a seven-year association with the SJS and Solano County Athletic
Conference, the Wolves will compete in the newly formed Vine Valley Athletic
League with Napa, Vintage, Justin-Siena, Casa Grande, Petaluma and Sonoma.

The Wolves have gone 55-28 in seven seasons since becoming a varsity program,
winning six SCAC titles (either sole possession or shared) under three different
head coaches. American Canyon will once again be hitting the reset button on the
coaching front with the resignation of Larry Singer this past week. How soon the
program finds a viable replacement will largely determine whether or not the
program sustains or enhances its success.

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 schedule
or someone else’s lack of schedule strength.

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?

Here’s a closer look as the Wolves four nonleague foes are a combined 131-89 the
last five years and went 25-19 in 2017:

VS. DEER VALLEY (ANTIOCH)

August 17

Deer Valley went 2-8 last season and 22-31 the last five years. The Wolverines
went 11-2 in 2013, reaching the CIF North Coast Section Div. I semifinals but are
11-29 thereafter and have had back-to-back 2-8 seasons. American Canyon and
Deer Valley met as JV opponents in 2010 when the former only had freshmen and
sophomores. Deer Valley won that game 20-6.

AT INDERKUM (SACRAMENTO)

August 24

Inderkum has been the epitome of a powerhouse, going 56-10 the last five years
and 11-1 in 2017. The Tigers reached the Sac Joaquin Section finals in 2014 and
2016, losing both times. In the former season, Inderkum lost the Div. III finals to
Oakdale and the latter lost in the Div. II title game to Del Oro (Loomis). The two
teams have met each other three times. Inderkum won the 2015 (43-6) and 2017
(53-0) games while the Wolves won the 2016 matchup 54-19.

VS. AMADOR VALLEY (PLEASANTON)

August 31

Amador Valley has been a good example of fair to middlin’ in going 7-5 in 2017 and
29-27 the past five seasons. In that span, the Dons have gone 5-6 on the low end
and 8-4 on the high end.

AT WOOD

September 7

Wood was 5-5 in 2017 and 34-21 the last five seasons. That record is skewed by a
10-2 mark in 2015. The Wildcats have seven starters returning but lose quarterback
Carson Strong and running back Daniel McFadden. Wood’s JV team was 1-9 last
season. The Wolves and Wildcats have plenty of history. American Canyon won the
matchups in 2013 (38-22), 2016 (71-36) and 2017 (42-29). Wood beat American
Canyon twice in 2015 (70-33; 59-33). Another compelling subplot is that Kirk
Anderson, who was an American Canyon assistant this past season, will be joining
the Wildcats’ coaching the defensive line.