Week 3 of what was in Napa Valley high school football mainly consisted of the conclusion
of nonleague competition.
of nonleague competition.
American Canyon, Napa and Justin-Siena will enter their Vine Valley Athletic League slate
next week while Vintage has a bye. St. Helena had a bye and will open North Central League
I competition at home against Kelseyville. Justin and Vintage defeated Hercules and
Bellarmine Prep (San Jose) 39-8 and 26-14 respectively. American Canyon and Napa fell to
Wood (Vacaville) and Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), 28-22 and 40-31 respectively.
Calistoga is 2-1 after defeating Upper Lake 39-20.
next week while Vintage has a bye. St. Helena had a bye and will open North Central League
I competition at home against Kelseyville. Justin and Vintage defeated Hercules and
Bellarmine Prep (San Jose) 39-8 and 26-14 respectively. American Canyon and Napa fell to
Wood (Vacaville) and Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), 28-22 and 40-31 respectively.
Calistoga is 2-1 after defeating Upper Lake 39-20.
Here’s a look in alphabetical order:
AMERICAN CANYON
Looking back: Though the Wolves fell to 0-4, they finished their nonleague slate by playing
their best game of the season against a pretty solid Wood team. Turnovers and subpar tackling
had been American Canyon’s Achilles Heel but both issues were much better on Friday.
Offensively, Eddie Byrdsong led the way with 133 yards rushing on 21 carries and two
touchdowns. Defensively, American Canyon yielded two third-and-long conversions that
loomed large but limited the Wildcats offense to 191 yards on 39 plays.
their best game of the season against a pretty solid Wood team. Turnovers and subpar tackling
had been American Canyon’s Achilles Heel but both issues were much better on Friday.
Offensively, Eddie Byrdsong led the way with 133 yards rushing on 21 carries and two
touchdowns. Defensively, American Canyon yielded two third-and-long conversions that
loomed large but limited the Wildcats offense to 191 yards on 39 plays.
Looking ahead: American Canyon opens VVAL competition at home against the Petaluma
Trojans, who are 3-1 after beating El Molino (Forestville) 56-31. The difference between the
two team’s nonleague slates, however, bears mentioning. The Wolves opponents have a
combined record of 11-4 with an average calpreps.com rating of 16.07. The Trojans nonleague
foes are 8-6 with an average calpreps.com rating of -10.8.
Trojans, who are 3-1 after beating El Molino (Forestville) 56-31. The difference between the
two team’s nonleague slates, however, bears mentioning. The Wolves opponents have a
combined record of 11-4 with an average calpreps.com rating of 16.07. The Trojans nonleague
foes are 8-6 with an average calpreps.com rating of -10.8.
CALISTOGA
Looking back: The Wildcats had their schedule turned upside down, inside out and right side
up but once they took the field, Calistoga handled its business. The game was originally slated
for a 7 p.m. kickoff but Calistoga received notice that the officials that were supposed to work
the game were unavailable. The contest was going to get rescheduled to Saturday but that would
not work because most Calistoga players have Saturday jobs. The game was called by one
official as opposed to the customary four. Despite having just 18 rushing yards on 17 carries in
the first half, Calistoga led 14-13. Christian Caldera had a kickoff return for a score and
completed 4 of 5 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns.
up but once they took the field, Calistoga handled its business. The game was originally slated
for a 7 p.m. kickoff but Calistoga received notice that the officials that were supposed to work
the game were unavailable. The contest was going to get rescheduled to Saturday but that would
not work because most Calistoga players have Saturday jobs. The game was called by one
official as opposed to the customary four. Despite having just 18 rushing yards on 17 carries in
the first half, Calistoga led 14-13. Christian Caldera had a kickoff return for a score and
completed 4 of 5 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns.
Looking ahead: Calistoga travels to Point Arena on Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff. The Pirates
are 2-0 with wins over Round Valley (48-36) and Anderson Valley 66-6.
are 2-0 with wins over Round Valley (48-36) and Anderson Valley 66-6.
JUSTIN-SIENA
Looking back: The Braves won three games in each of head coach Brandon LaRocco’s first
two seasons. Justin needed just four games to get their third victory in 2018 against a Hercules
team that has fallen hard after reaching the CIF North Coast Section Div. IV title game a year
ago. Justin throttled the Titans thanks to the right arm of Barrett Donohoe, who completed 18
of 31 passes for 311 yards and five touchdowns. He ran for another score. Hercules suited up
just 18 players. Justin’s defense held the Titans in check with Miles Williams recording three
sacks.
two seasons. Justin needed just four games to get their third victory in 2018 against a Hercules
team that has fallen hard after reaching the CIF North Coast Section Div. IV title game a year
ago. Justin throttled the Titans thanks to the right arm of Barrett Donohoe, who completed 18
of 31 passes for 311 yards and five touchdowns. He ran for another score. Hercules suited up
just 18 players. Justin’s defense held the Titans in check with Miles Williams recording three
sacks.
Looking ahead: The Braves open their VVAL slate with a road contest against Casa Grande
(Petaluma). The Gauchos recorded their first victory of the season, 41-7 over Carrillo (Santa
Rosa). Casa Grande had previously lost to Windsor (30-22), Montgomery (35-7) and San
Marin (28-14).
(Petaluma). The Gauchos recorded their first victory of the season, 41-7 over Carrillo (Santa
Rosa). Casa Grande had previously lost to Windsor (30-22), Montgomery (35-7) and San
Marin (28-14).
NAPA
Looking back: For the second time in as many weeks, Napa’s offense showed signs of life
only to see the defense continue to struggle. The Grizzlies’ offense, however, hamstrung
itself by turning the ball over three times. Riordan quarterback Adham Abdelghani completed
14 of 25 passes for 302 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 73 more on 13 carries.
Napa quarterback Gunner Schoeps had 105 yards on 18 carries and four touchdowns. As a
passer, he completed 16 of 29 throws for 264 yards and two interceptions. Napa led 17-12 at
halftime.
only to see the defense continue to struggle. The Grizzlies’ offense, however, hamstrung
itself by turning the ball over three times. Riordan quarterback Adham Abdelghani completed
14 of 25 passes for 302 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 73 more on 13 carries.
Napa quarterback Gunner Schoeps had 105 yards on 18 carries and four touchdowns. As a
passer, he completed 16 of 29 throws for 264 yards and two interceptions. Napa led 17-12 at
halftime.
Looking ahead: The good news for the Grizzlies is that the rest of the VVAL hasn’t set the
world on fire. That’s not to suggest they won’t face challenges in VVAL but you get the idea.
Napa opens VVAL competition against a Sonoma team that won its first game of the season,
24-8 to El Camino (South San Francisco). Napa, though winless, has faced a more rugged
nonleague slate than the Dragons. Napa’s opponents are 7-7 with a calpreps.com average
rating of minus-2.0. Sonoma’s opponent are 8-5 with an average calpreps.com ranking of
minus-18.6.
world on fire. That’s not to suggest they won’t face challenges in VVAL but you get the idea.
Napa opens VVAL competition against a Sonoma team that won its first game of the season,
24-8 to El Camino (South San Francisco). Napa, though winless, has faced a more rugged
nonleague slate than the Dragons. Napa’s opponents are 7-7 with a calpreps.com average
rating of minus-2.0. Sonoma’s opponent are 8-5 with an average calpreps.com ranking of
minus-18.6.
VINTAGE
Looking back: The Crushers squared their record at 2-2. Even though three weeks have
passed since their season-opening 35-7 loss at Wood, it feels more like three months ago
based on Vintage’s bounceback from being outscored 55-15 in the first six quarters of an
0-2 start. This game was Exhibit A of “win the line of scrimmage, win the game.” Then,
throw in skill players like Jacob Aaron, Michael Webber, Drew Hatfield and Viliami
Schaumkel capitalizing and you have a winner. The Crushers marched 80 yards on 13
plays to start the contest. Webber was the Crushers’ Swiss Army knife, catching a
touchdown, rushing for another and sealing the game with an interception. Vintage’s
defense played like a salty bunch in giving up just 79 first half yards and no first downs
until the 4:41 mark of the second quarter.
passed since their season-opening 35-7 loss at Wood, it feels more like three months ago
based on Vintage’s bounceback from being outscored 55-15 in the first six quarters of an
0-2 start. This game was Exhibit A of “win the line of scrimmage, win the game.” Then,
throw in skill players like Jacob Aaron, Michael Webber, Drew Hatfield and Viliami
Schaumkel capitalizing and you have a winner. The Crushers marched 80 yards on 13
plays to start the contest. Webber was the Crushers’ Swiss Army knife, catching a
touchdown, rushing for another and sealing the game with an interception. Vintage’s
defense played like a salty bunch in giving up just 79 first half yards and no first downs
until the 4:41 mark of the second quarter.
Looking ahead: Though Bellarmine is not the powerhouse it once was, the Crushers
handled business and are playing like the team most people anticipated before the season.
Heading into its bye week, head coach Dylan Leach’s team appears to be in a good place.
The Crushers return to action on Sept. 21 when it hosts Casa Grande.
handled business and are playing like the team most people anticipated before the season.
Heading into its bye week, head coach Dylan Leach’s team appears to be in a good place.
The Crushers return to action on Sept. 21 when it hosts Casa Grande.
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