Nonleague high school football schedule outlook: Napa Indians

This is the fourth story in a series featuring nonleague schedules for Napa
Valley high school football teams. Today, the focus is the Napa Indians:

Bob Dylan wrote and released a song titled “Times They Are A-Changin” in 1964.

The same thing can be said for Napa High football. For openers, they will no longer
be known as “Indians” as the mascot will be retired June 30, 2018. There is no
decision yet on the new mascot. I'll have a more extensive column on various
changes later this month but for now let's focus in the direction of on the field.

The Indians will be going through their third coaching change in as many seasons.
Troy Mott resigned after the 2016 season and Jesus Martinez was fired earlier this
month. Newly appointed athletic director Tom Petithomme has been named the
interim coach. Napa went 3-6 last season, their first losing season since going 5-6
in 2009 and the first losing regular season since going 3-7 in 2001.

The 2018 campaign represents a huge change on another front. Vintage, Napa
and American Canyon are vacating the SJS for the North Coast Section. The Indians
will now compete in the newly formed Vine Valley Athletic League with Vintage,
Justin-Siena, American Canyon, Casa Grande, Petaluma and Sonoma.  

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?

The formula used for breaking down the nonleague 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?

The Indians’ 2018 nonleague foes have gone a combined 78-134 the previous five
seasons and 16-26 in 2017.

Here is a closer look:

AT PITMAN (TURLOCK)

Aug. 17

Pitman has been a prime example of teetering between average-to-above average. The
Tigers went 5-5 in 2017 and are 33-24 the past five seasons. In that span, Pitman has been
5-5 on the low end and 8-4 on the high end. The two programs have met in each of the last
four years. The soon-to-be former Indians beat Pitman in the 2014 SJS Div. I playoffs
(39-14) and the 2015 regular season (24-14). The Tigers have won the last two matchups,
7-6 in 2016 and 16-0 in 2017.

VS. EAST UNION (MANTECA)

Aug. 25

East Union is 20-32 the last five years but has been on an upward trajectory the last two
seasons, going 13-9. The Miners compete in the Valley Oak League with behemoths like
Oakdale, Manteca and Central Catholic (Modesto). East Union has ten starters returning
and went 7-3 on the JV level last season.

AT NEVADA UNION (GRASS VALLEY)

Aug. 31

The name Nevada Union once made people tremble -- not anymore. The Miners won the
2009 SJS Div. I title but have had just once winning season since that time. Nevada Union
went 2-8 in 2017 and 8-42 the last five campaigns. Napa beat Nevada Union 35-34 in
overtime in 2016 and lost 14-13 last season.

VS. RIORDAN (SAN FRANCISCO)

Sept. 8

Riordan went 2-8 in 2017 and 16-26 the last five years but that record is skewed by a 9-4
season in 2015. Riordan reached the Central Coast section Open III title, losing to Sacred
Heart (San Francisco). Napa defeated Riordan 28-13 in 2017.