Unless you are a St. Helena Saints fan, opening week of high school football in
the Napa Valley was, as Archie Bunker was notorious for saying, “stinko.”
the Napa Valley was, as Archie Bunker was notorious for saying, “stinko.”
By virtue of St. Helena’s season-opening 26-20 win over the Arcata Tigers, the
Napa Valley avoided a winless weekend in high school football.
Napa Valley avoided a winless weekend in high school football.
American Canyon (36-21 to Deer Valley-Antioch), Justin-Siena (28-7 to
Piedmont), Napa (55-7 to Pitman-Turlock) and Vintage (35-7 to Wood-Vacaville)
all sustained losses in Week Zero. Calistoga had neither a good or bad week
because it did not play. The Wildcats open their season under new head coach
Jim Klaczak on Friday against South Fork (Miranda). Two other coaches also
made their debut: John Montante (American Canyon) and Tom Pettithome
(Napa).
Piedmont), Napa (55-7 to Pitman-Turlock) and Vintage (35-7 to Wood-Vacaville)
all sustained losses in Week Zero. Calistoga had neither a good or bad week
because it did not play. The Wildcats open their season under new head coach
Jim Klaczak on Friday against South Fork (Miranda). Two other coaches also
made their debut: John Montante (American Canyon) and Tom Pettithome
(Napa).
With these defeats, I do not sound alarm bells because it is just one game out
of a minimum of ten and it’s important to remember that one game does not
transfer to the next. However, at 1-4, I cannot pretend the weekend was anything
other than a subpar one. This week will reveal, win or lose, whether or not the
teams can hit the reset button and perform better next week. Had the teams
gone 4-1 or 5-0, the narrative would have been, “can they stay grounded?”
of a minimum of ten and it’s important to remember that one game does not
transfer to the next. However, at 1-4, I cannot pretend the weekend was anything
other than a subpar one. This week will reveal, win or lose, whether or not the
teams can hit the reset button and perform better next week. Had the teams
gone 4-1 or 5-0, the narrative would have been, “can they stay grounded?”
Here’s a closer look in alphabetical order:
AMERICAN CANYON
The tail of the tape is pretty simple. Four turnovers for the Wolves offense, three
of which came inside the Deer Valley 20. Deer Valley also recovered three onside
kicks. As a result, the Wolverines fashioned a 22-0 lead after one quarter that
swelled to 28-0 in the second. In the first quarter, Deer Valley ran 26 plays while
American Canyon ran two. For the game, Deer Valley had an offensive snaps
advantage of 56-47. Therein lies the problem, the lost onside kicks do not go as
turnovers in the scorebook but they had a similar effect because they are lost
possessions. The good news is the Wolves have an offense that can score when
they aren’t committing costly mistakes. The defense, however, was routinely
gashed with quarterback power runs by Joshua Scott (29 carries, 216 yards,
four touchdowns) and pistol runs by Patrick Robinson (24 carries, 150 yards,
two touchdowns).
of which came inside the Deer Valley 20. Deer Valley also recovered three onside
kicks. As a result, the Wolverines fashioned a 22-0 lead after one quarter that
swelled to 28-0 in the second. In the first quarter, Deer Valley ran 26 plays while
American Canyon ran two. For the game, Deer Valley had an offensive snaps
advantage of 56-47. Therein lies the problem, the lost onside kicks do not go as
turnovers in the scorebook but they had a similar effect because they are lost
possessions. The good news is the Wolves have an offense that can score when
they aren’t committing costly mistakes. The defense, however, was routinely
gashed with quarterback power runs by Joshua Scott (29 carries, 216 yards,
four touchdowns) and pistol runs by Patrick Robinson (24 carries, 150 yards,
two touchdowns).
Next week gets no easier for the Wolves, who travel to Inderkum (Sacramento).
The two teams have met the last three years. Inderkum won the 2015 (43-6) and
2017 (53-0) matchups while American Canyon won the 2016 contest 54-19.
Inderkum defeated Elk Grove 37-13 on Friday.
The two teams have met the last three years. Inderkum won the 2015 (43-6) and
2017 (53-0) matchups while American Canyon won the 2016 contest 54-19.
Inderkum defeated Elk Grove 37-13 on Friday.
JUSTIN-SIENA
The Braves started about as auspiciously as one could but early success proved
to be fleeting. Justin’s defense forced a three-and-out on Piedmont’s first series
and later fashioned a 7-0 lead on a three-yard Barrett Donohoe to Jordan
Bowman-Davis connection. The alarming thing for Justin is that Piedmont won by
three touchdowns and scored 28 unanswered despite committing 15 penalties,
most of which were holding calls against the offensive line. The Braves defense
had no answer for Highlanders’ running back Myles Smith (14 carries, 151 yards,
one touchdown). The Braves offense, which has many returners, managed just
120 yards of offense.
to be fleeting. Justin’s defense forced a three-and-out on Piedmont’s first series
and later fashioned a 7-0 lead on a three-yard Barrett Donohoe to Jordan
Bowman-Davis connection. The alarming thing for Justin is that Piedmont won by
three touchdowns and scored 28 unanswered despite committing 15 penalties,
most of which were holding calls against the offensive line. The Braves defense
had no answer for Highlanders’ running back Myles Smith (14 carries, 151 yards,
one touchdown). The Braves offense, which has many returners, managed just
120 yards of offense.
On the surface, next Friday would appear to be a chance for a bounceback week
as Justin hosts Healdsburg, which was once a consistent winner but has gone
18-34 the last five years. The Greyhounds lost 41-0 to Sir Francis Drake (San
Anselmo), which has not been setting the world ablaze in going 15-34 the last
five seasons, on Friday.
as Justin hosts Healdsburg, which was once a consistent winner but has gone
18-34 the last five years. The Greyhounds lost 41-0 to Sir Francis Drake (San
Anselmo), which has not been setting the world ablaze in going 15-34 the last
five seasons, on Friday.
NAPA
Napa’s debut as the Grizzlies after 120 years as the Indians was not a good
one on a sultry night in the Central Valley, specifically Turlock. The game reached
running clock territory with Pitman leading 42-0 after three quarters. On Pitman’s
first possession, Napa’s Domenic Topete recovered a fumble at its own 47 but the
Grizzlies got no further than the Pitman 40. After Pitman took a 7-0 advantage
with 4:12 left in the first quarter. Napa had a chance to tie the game on its next
series but a dropped pass and subsequent interception for a touchdown by
Pitman’s Payton Bass. While those two missed opportunities likely don’t change
the outcome, they changed the complexion and gave Napa a none chance to be
competitive.
one on a sultry night in the Central Valley, specifically Turlock. The game reached
running clock territory with Pitman leading 42-0 after three quarters. On Pitman’s
first possession, Napa’s Domenic Topete recovered a fumble at its own 47 but the
Grizzlies got no further than the Pitman 40. After Pitman took a 7-0 advantage
with 4:12 left in the first quarter. Napa had a chance to tie the game on its next
series but a dropped pass and subsequent interception for a touchdown by
Pitman’s Payton Bass. While those two missed opportunities likely don’t change
the outcome, they changed the complexion and gave Napa a none chance to be
competitive.
The Grizzlies will host East Union (Manteca) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Miners have ten starters returning and have gone 13-9 the last two seasons.
East Union fell to Downey (Modesto) 39-19 on Friday.
The Miners have ten starters returning and have gone 13-9 the last two seasons.
East Union fell to Downey (Modesto) 39-19 on Friday.
ST. HELENA
For a team seeking a bounceback season after going 3-5 a year ago, winning a
seesaw battle over the Arcata Tigers was a step in the right direction. Junior
running back Cody DiTomaso has all the appearances of giving the Saints offense
an explosive element, rushing 24 times for 128 yards and a touchdown. One
sequence that loomed large came when the Saints capped off a 65-yard drive
covering 6:37 that culminated with sophomore quarterback Daniel Martinez
connecting with Luis Robledo for a 3-yard touchdown pass, scrambling away
from Tiger defenders as time expired in the first half, tying the game at 14-14.
St. Helena later trailed 20-14 before the defense stiffened to give the offense
a chance to take the decisive lead.
seesaw battle over the Arcata Tigers was a step in the right direction. Junior
running back Cody DiTomaso has all the appearances of giving the Saints offense
an explosive element, rushing 24 times for 128 yards and a touchdown. One
sequence that loomed large came when the Saints capped off a 65-yard drive
covering 6:37 that culminated with sophomore quarterback Daniel Martinez
connecting with Luis Robledo for a 3-yard touchdown pass, scrambling away
from Tiger defenders as time expired in the first half, tying the game at 14-14.
St. Helena later trailed 20-14 before the defense stiffened to give the offense
a chance to take the decisive lead.
The Saints travel to Marin County to take on Sir Francis Drake (San Anselmo)
on Saturday afternoon. St. Helena has dominated the previous two matchups,
winning by a combined 93-41. Drake, which has not had a plus-.500 season
since 2013 whitewashed Healdsburg 41-0. The Pirates, however, have not had
back-to-back wins since Oct. 9 and 17 of 2015.
on Saturday afternoon. St. Helena has dominated the previous two matchups,
winning by a combined 93-41. Drake, which has not had a plus-.500 season
since 2013 whitewashed Healdsburg 41-0. The Pirates, however, have not had
back-to-back wins since Oct. 9 and 17 of 2015.
VINTAGE
The Crushers entered 2018 with high hopes in head coach Dylan Leach’s third
season. While one loss does not eliminate Vintage’s goals, it served as a
reminder to pump the brakes. I need to remind myself because I’ve been high
on this team. I still am but you get the point. Losing by 28 points to a perennially
good but not great Wildcats team is not what anyone had in mind. Wood scored
a touchdown on the game’s opening possession. Vintage followed by turning the
ball over and the proceedings got worse. The Crushers committed six for the
game. In one respect, perhaps Wood’s inspired effort was rooted in playing its
first game at newly constructed Wildcat Stadium after playing previous 26 at
Vacaville High.
season. While one loss does not eliminate Vintage’s goals, it served as a
reminder to pump the brakes. I need to remind myself because I’ve been high
on this team. I still am but you get the point. Losing by 28 points to a perennially
good but not great Wildcats team is not what anyone had in mind. Wood scored
a touchdown on the game’s opening possession. Vintage followed by turning the
ball over and the proceedings got worse. The Crushers committed six for the
game. In one respect, perhaps Wood’s inspired effort was rooted in playing its
first game at newly constructed Wildcat Stadium after playing previous 26 at
Vacaville High.
Vintage will host Acalanes (Lafayette). The Dons are coached by former Solano
Community College head coach Floyd Burnsed. Acalanes lost to Las Lomas
(Walnut Creek) 12-7 on Friday.
Community College head coach Floyd Burnsed. Acalanes lost to Las Lomas
(Walnut Creek) 12-7 on Friday.
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