The week that was for high school football in the Napa Valley involved the debut of the
newly formed Vine Valley Athletic League teams squaring off against one another.
newly formed Vine Valley Athletic League teams squaring off against one another.
American Canyon scored its first victory of the 2018, and under new head coach John
Montante, 43-16 over Petaluma. Napa is still looking for its first win under Tom Petithomme
after losing to Sonoma 28-16. Justin-Siena and Casa Grande engaged in a thriller, which the
latter won 36-35. Vintage had a bye and hosts Casa Grande on Friday. Calistoga defeated
Point Arena on Saturday while St. Helena lost its North Central League I opener, 50-29.
Montante, 43-16 over Petaluma. Napa is still looking for its first win under Tom Petithomme
after losing to Sonoma 28-16. Justin-Siena and Casa Grande engaged in a thriller, which the
latter won 36-35. Vintage had a bye and hosts Casa Grande on Friday. Calistoga defeated
Point Arena on Saturday while St. Helena lost its North Central League I opener, 50-29.
Here’s a closer look in alphabetical order:
AMERICAN CANYON
Looking back: The final score was not indicative of how evenly matched the two teams
were. American Canyon, despite a comfortable 27-point win, only outgained the Trojans
191-138 in total yards. The difference in the contest was three non-offensive touchdowns,
two on interception returns (63 yards from Brandon Seay and 12 yards from Billy Biondini)
and a 22 yard blocked punt for a touchdown by Antonio Perez. The difference was also
explosive plays, 18 yard pass connection from Vance Eschenburg to Seay, 29 yard touchdown
toss from Eschenburg to Perez and a 55 yard touchdown run by Darius Thomas. Petaluma
ran 64 plays, only two went for 10 yards or more, nine for negative yardage and 20 for three
yards or fewer.
were. American Canyon, despite a comfortable 27-point win, only outgained the Trojans
191-138 in total yards. The difference in the contest was three non-offensive touchdowns,
two on interception returns (63 yards from Brandon Seay and 12 yards from Billy Biondini)
and a 22 yard blocked punt for a touchdown by Antonio Perez. The difference was also
explosive plays, 18 yard pass connection from Vance Eschenburg to Seay, 29 yard touchdown
toss from Eschenburg to Perez and a 55 yard touchdown run by Darius Thomas. Petaluma
ran 64 plays, only two went for 10 yards or more, nine for negative yardage and 20 for three
yards or fewer.
Looking ahead: The Wolves will be visiting a Sonoma team that figures to be sky high after
defeating Napa for its second win in a row. Another factor is that the Dragons home field is a
natural grass surface. Given that American Canyon likes to beat teams with athleticism, does
that become an equalizer? The two programs met twice as nonleague foes, Sonoma won the
2011 game 32-19 at Arnold Field and American Canyon won the 2012 contest 45-0 at Wolf
Den Stadium. Sonoma has given up just 63 points in five games.
defeating Napa for its second win in a row. Another factor is that the Dragons home field is a
natural grass surface. Given that American Canyon likes to beat teams with athleticism, does
that become an equalizer? The two programs met twice as nonleague foes, Sonoma won the
2011 game 32-19 at Arnold Field and American Canyon won the 2012 contest 45-0 at Wolf
Den Stadium. Sonoma has given up just 63 points in five games.
CALISTOGA
Looking back: In an era of FieldTurf and fast tracks, a trip to Point Arena means football
field with grass and gopher holes along with dirt tracks with weeds and pickup trucks. Yours
truly speaks from experience. Calistoga improved to 3-1 thanks to 21 unanswered fourth
quarter points and a defense that created five interceptions, including two by Christian
Caldera on back-to-back drives. Teammate Juan Vega also added two picks. Jasiel Flores
added another.
field with grass and gopher holes along with dirt tracks with weeds and pickup trucks. Yours
truly speaks from experience. Calistoga improved to 3-1 thanks to 21 unanswered fourth
quarter points and a defense that created five interceptions, including two by Christian
Caldera on back-to-back drives. Teammate Juan Vega also added two picks. Jasiel Flores
added another.
Looking ahead: After losing their opener, 28-20 to South Fork (Miranda), the Wildcats
appear to be in a good place having won three in a row to improve to 3-1 under first-year
head coach Jim Klaczak. Calistoga has a bye and returns to action to face a school where
there is no love lost, Rincon Valley Christian (Santa Rosa). Yours truly also speaks from
experience. The Eagles are 2-1 with wins over Trinity Christian (Monterey) and Roseland
Prep (Santa Rosa), 32-8 and 41-0 respectively. RVC lost to Cornerstone Christian (Antioch)
30-16. The Eagles had a bye and are back in action Saturday when they host Upper Lake.
appear to be in a good place having won three in a row to improve to 3-1 under first-year
head coach Jim Klaczak. Calistoga has a bye and returns to action to face a school where
there is no love lost, Rincon Valley Christian (Santa Rosa). Yours truly also speaks from
experience. The Eagles are 2-1 with wins over Trinity Christian (Monterey) and Roseland
Prep (Santa Rosa), 32-8 and 41-0 respectively. RVC lost to Cornerstone Christian (Antioch)
30-16. The Eagles had a bye and are back in action Saturday when they host Upper Lake.
JUSTIN-SIENA
Looking back: One would be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining contest than this one.
After spotting the Gauchos a 14-0, Justin stormed back and appeared poised for victory
when quarterback Barrett Donohoe scored on a 1-yard run, giving Justin a 35-28 lead with
4:28 left in the contest which was followed by a Francisco Morales-Florentino two-point
conversion. With 16 seconds remaining, Casa Grande’s Jordan Gramjo scored on a 1-yard
run. Gramjo also followed with the two-point conversion. Despite the Braves spectacular
offense, the defense missed too many tackles to the tune of 370 yards and five rushing
touchdowns.
After spotting the Gauchos a 14-0, Justin stormed back and appeared poised for victory
when quarterback Barrett Donohoe scored on a 1-yard run, giving Justin a 35-28 lead with
4:28 left in the contest which was followed by a Francisco Morales-Florentino two-point
conversion. With 16 seconds remaining, Casa Grande’s Jordan Gramjo scored on a 1-yard
run. Gramjo also followed with the two-point conversion. Despite the Braves spectacular
offense, the defense missed too many tackles to the tune of 370 yards and five rushing
touchdowns.
Looking ahead: The Braves will host a Petaluma team that is licking its wounds from a
43-16 loss to American Canyon. Justin’s defense hopes for a similar effort that American
Canyon had against the Trojans, who run a mixture of the veer and triple-option. Assignment
discipline will be crucial. Another subplot is that both clubs are 0-1 in VVAL and need a win
to avert an 0-2 mark. Those concerned that Justin might be in over its head in the VVAL saw
Exhibit A of why the opposite may play out.
43-16 loss to American Canyon. Justin’s defense hopes for a similar effort that American
Canyon had against the Trojans, who run a mixture of the veer and triple-option. Assignment
discipline will be crucial. Another subplot is that both clubs are 0-1 in VVAL and need a win
to avert an 0-2 mark. Those concerned that Justin might be in over its head in the VVAL saw
Exhibit A of why the opposite may play out.
NAPA
Looking back: The Grizzlies came out flat and their performance revealed. Headlining the
game’s plot was starting quarterback Gunner Schoeps being replaced by Isaiah Newton after
getting intercepted on the first drive. Newton finished the contest completing 10 of 18 passes
for 119 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Napa turned the ball over three times in
the first 12:05 as the Dragons took a 14-0 lead. Napa trimmed the margin to 14-9 at halftime
only to see Sonoma open the second half with an 84 yard kickoff return from Jake Baker.
Sonoma’s Tyler Winslow carried 22 times for 143 yards and a touchdown.
game’s plot was starting quarterback Gunner Schoeps being replaced by Isaiah Newton after
getting intercepted on the first drive. Newton finished the contest completing 10 of 18 passes
for 119 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Napa turned the ball over three times in
the first 12:05 as the Dragons took a 14-0 lead. Napa trimmed the margin to 14-9 at halftime
only to see Sonoma open the second half with an 84 yard kickoff return from Jake Baker.
Sonoma’s Tyler Winslow carried 22 times for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Looking ahead: Considering that the Dragons, who had also been struggling, were Napa’s
best chance for a victory, finding a win on the schedule is exceedingly difficult. Petithomme
was noncommittal on who the starting quarterback would be moving forward. The last time
Napa struggled to this magnitude was 1992, when the team went 1-9. The school, program
and culture were in a much different place. Napa also went 2-7-1 in 1999. The Grizzlies
have a bye and visit American Canyon on Oct. 4.
best chance for a victory, finding a win on the schedule is exceedingly difficult. Petithomme
was noncommittal on who the starting quarterback would be moving forward. The last time
Napa struggled to this magnitude was 1992, when the team went 1-9. The school, program
and culture were in a much different place. Napa also went 2-7-1 in 1999. The Grizzlies
have a bye and visit American Canyon on Oct. 4.
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ST. HELENA
Looking back: Kelseyville was considered one of the behemoths of the NCL I along with
Middletown entering the season and gave little reason to dispel that notion. The Knights
led 20-15 at halftime before outscoring St. Helena 22-6 in the third quarter to fashion a
42-21 lead after three periods. St. Helena actually led 15-6 at one point. Kelseyville rushed
for 399 yards and six touchdowns. Jordy Lopez accounted for 171 of those yards and four
scores. Big plays against a quality opponent continue to be the Saints problem.
Middletown entering the season and gave little reason to dispel that notion. The Knights
led 20-15 at halftime before outscoring St. Helena 22-6 in the third quarter to fashion a
42-21 lead after three periods. St. Helena actually led 15-6 at one point. Kelseyville rushed
for 399 yards and six touchdowns. Jordy Lopez accounted for 171 of those yards and four
scores. Big plays against a quality opponent continue to be the Saints problem.
Looking ahead: St. Helena hosts Clear Lake (Lakeport) on Friday. After reaching the CIF
North Coast Section Div. V semifinals last season, the Cardinals are struggling with a 1-3
record. Clear Lake has momentum on its side coming into St. Helena, having beaten Willits
32-13. The Cardinals entered the game having scored nary a point but got healthy against a
weaker Willits team. This is a game St. Helena needs if it wants to finish in the
upper third-to-half of the NCL I.
North Coast Section Div. V semifinals last season, the Cardinals are struggling with a 1-3
record. Clear Lake has momentum on its side coming into St. Helena, having beaten Willits
32-13. The Cardinals entered the game having scored nary a point but got healthy against a
weaker Willits team. This is a game St. Helena needs if it wants to finish in the
upper third-to-half of the NCL I.
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