The week that was for Napa Valley high school football highlighted two teams gearing up.for
a collision course.
a collision course.
The only one that was not victorious involved an all-Napa Valley matchup with American
Canyon defeating Napa 35-7. Vintage motorboated Petaluma 50-7 while Justin-Siena lost to
Sonoma 6-0. St. Helena railroaded Willits 43-15 and Calistoga upended Rincon Valley
Christian 19-12.
Canyon defeating Napa 35-7. Vintage motorboated Petaluma 50-7 while Justin-Siena lost to
Sonoma 6-0. St. Helena railroaded Willits 43-15 and Calistoga upended Rincon Valley
Christian 19-12.
American Canyon and Vintage sit tied atop the Vine Valley Athletic League standings and
meet at Memorial Stadium. Here’s a closer look in alphabetical order:
meet at Memorial Stadium. Here’s a closer look in alphabetical order:
American Canyon
Looking back: For the third time in as many weeks, the Wolves defense set the tone in their
three game winning streak. As a result, American Canyon is tied atop the VVAL with Vintage
entering the aforementioned showdown on Friday. The Wolves defense limited Napa to 208
yards on 57 plays and recorded eight eight sacks (3.5 by Alec Hoover and 2.5 by Derrick
Conner). In its three game winning streak, American Canyon’s defense has allowed just 114.7
yards, 2.2 yards per play and has generated seven takeaways.
three game winning streak. As a result, American Canyon is tied atop the VVAL with Vintage
entering the aforementioned showdown on Friday. The Wolves defense limited Napa to 208
yards on 57 plays and recorded eight eight sacks (3.5 by Alec Hoover and 2.5 by Derrick
Conner). In its three game winning streak, American Canyon’s defense has allowed just 114.7
yards, 2.2 yards per play and has generated seven takeaways.
Looking ahead: The Wolves are looking to extend their streak of league titles to seven.
American Canyon won six straight, either sole possession or shared, as members of the now
disbanded Solano County Athletic Conference. The Wolves’ biggest threat stands in their
way. One issue American Canyon will have to be more on point is penalties. In the win over
Napa, the Wolves were hit with 10 infractions for 85 yards.
American Canyon won six straight, either sole possession or shared, as members of the now
disbanded Solano County Athletic Conference. The Wolves’ biggest threat stands in their
way. One issue American Canyon will have to be more on point is penalties. In the win over
Napa, the Wolves were hit with 10 infractions for 85 yards.
Calistoga
Looking back: In 1984, Calistoga had a team known as the “Dirty Dozen.” On Saturday, the
Wildcats won despite having just 11 players in uniform as three players were injured and
another was out based on disciplinary reasons. Christian Caldera keyed a strong defensive
effort with two interceptions and several tackles from his safety position as the last line of
defense. The rainy conditions on a grass field also served as an equalizer for both defenses.
Wildcats won despite having just 11 players in uniform as three players were injured and
another was out based on disciplinary reasons. Christian Caldera keyed a strong defensive
effort with two interceptions and several tackles from his safety position as the last line of
defense. The rainy conditions on a grass field also served as an equalizer for both defenses.
Looking ahead: Calistoga enters the North Central League III with a 3-1 record, hosting the
Branson (Ross) Bulls. Branson is 2-0 with wins over Thatcher (Ojai), 34-28, and South Fork
(Miranda), 36-22. South Fork is a common opponent for both clubs. Calistoga lost to South
Fork By that logic, expect Branson to win by 22 points. Actually, don’t, I’m just openly
trolling those who apply the “If Team A beat Team B by X number of points” theory.
Branson (Ross) Bulls. Branson is 2-0 with wins over Thatcher (Ojai), 34-28, and South Fork
(Miranda), 36-22. South Fork is a common opponent for both clubs. Calistoga lost to South
Fork By that logic, expect Branson to win by 22 points. Actually, don’t, I’m just openly
trolling those who apply the “If Team A beat Team B by X number of points” theory.
Justin-Siena
Looking back: With the exception of one game, a 47-0 loss to American Canyon, the Sonoma
defense has been a headache for opponents. The 3-4 Dragons have given up an average of
16.0 points per contest. Sonoma was a thorn in the Braves’ rearend on Friday. Even more
impressive was that Sonoma gave up just 49 yards of offense despite the Braves having
advantageous field position all night. Justin had drive starts at the Dragons 6, 25, 36 and 39
yard lines but had nothing to show for it. Three interceptions did not help matters.
defense has been a headache for opponents. The 3-4 Dragons have given up an average of
16.0 points per contest. Sonoma was a thorn in the Braves’ rearend on Friday. Even more
impressive was that Sonoma gave up just 49 yards of offense despite the Braves having
advantageous field position all night. Justin had drive starts at the Dragons 6, 25, 36 and 39
yard lines but had nothing to show for it. Three interceptions did not help matters.
Looking ahead: Justin matches up against Napa for the first time ever. In one respect, this
game should move the needle except six miles away Vintage and American Canyon meet. By
all accounts, this represents a get right game for Justin’s offense, which averages 30 points
per game against a Napa defense that has yielded an average of 45.3 points per contest. It’s
hard to imagine Justin’s offense having two bad games in a row.
game should move the needle except six miles away Vintage and American Canyon meet. By
all accounts, this represents a get right game for Justin’s offense, which averages 30 points
per game against a Napa defense that has yielded an average of 45.3 points per contest. It’s
hard to imagine Justin’s offense having two bad games in a row.
Napa
Looking back: Coming off the bye, the still winless Grizzlies stayed remotely close in their
loss to American Canyon as they trailed 21-7 after three quarters. Granted, the Wolves were
not in danger of losing but the game was not signed, sealed and delivered either. Napa made
a quarterback change going from Gunner Schoeps to Isaiah Newton one week earlier in a
28-16 loss to Sonoma. Newton and the Napa offense showed glimmers of hope but eight
sacks and three turnovers are hard to overcome.
loss to American Canyon as they trailed 21-7 after three quarters. Granted, the Wolves were
not in danger of losing but the game was not signed, sealed and delivered either. Napa made
a quarterback change going from Gunner Schoeps to Isaiah Newton one week earlier in a
28-16 loss to Sonoma. Newton and the Napa offense showed glimmers of hope but eight
sacks and three turnovers are hard to overcome.
Looking ahead: Five of Napa’s six losses have been by at least double digits and four have
been by North of 20 points. The Grizzlies have given up an average of 45.3 points per game.
Justin has three VVAL losses by less than seven points. The Braves have averaged 30 points
per contest despite Friday’s shutout loss to Sonoma. Justin will be out to prove the whitewash
was an anomaly. Napa is having a bad season but one would think the Grizzlies will show
some intensity in this one.
been by North of 20 points. The Grizzlies have given up an average of 45.3 points per game.
Justin has three VVAL losses by less than seven points. The Braves have averaged 30 points
per contest despite Friday’s shutout loss to Sonoma. Justin will be out to prove the whitewash
was an anomaly. Napa is having a bad season but one would think the Grizzlies will show
some intensity in this one.
St. Helena
Looking back: Though the Saints are far from being a great team, they handled business
against a winless team to improve to 4-2. The irony is that the Wolverines outgained the Saints
422-406 in total yardage. The Saints defense set the tone with two Jake Lehman interceptions,
both in the first quarter. Offensively, quarterback Daniel Martinez (21 carries, 130 yards,
three touchdowns) and running back Cody DiTomaso (28 carries, 163 yards, two touchdowns)
did the heavy lifting.
against a winless team to improve to 4-2. The irony is that the Wolverines outgained the Saints
422-406 in total yardage. The Saints defense set the tone with two Jake Lehman interceptions,
both in the first quarter. Offensively, quarterback Daniel Martinez (21 carries, 130 yards,
three touchdowns) and running back Cody DiTomaso (28 carries, 163 yards, two touchdowns)
did the heavy lifting.
Looking ahead: St. Helena is in a good place for a return trip to the CIF North Coast Section
Div. V playoffs. The Saints have two games that are well within their grasp, Oct. 12 and 26
home games against Fort Bragg and Lower Lake respectively, both are 2-4. Then they have
two contests that will take a really good performance to win, Friday at Middletown and Oct.
19 at Cloverdale, which are 4-2 and 5-1 respectively.
Div. V playoffs. The Saints have two games that are well within their grasp, Oct. 12 and 26
home games against Fort Bragg and Lower Lake respectively, both are 2-4. Then they have
two contests that will take a really good performance to win, Friday at Middletown and Oct.
19 at Cloverdale, which are 4-2 and 5-1 respectively.
Vintage
Looking back: The Crushers scored on eight of ten possessions as they blasted Petaluma.
Vintage’s offense pounded Petaluma into submission to the tune of 357 yards rushing. When
Vintage’s offense wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard like a Roman candle, its defense was
shackling the Trojans offense, specifically running back Garrett Freitas. Vintage held the star
Petaluma running back to 25 yards on 12 carries, six attempts went for negative or zero yards.
Vintage’s offense pounded Petaluma into submission to the tune of 357 yards rushing. When
Vintage’s offense wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard like a Roman candle, its defense was
shackling the Trojans offense, specifically running back Garrett Freitas. Vintage held the star
Petaluma running back to 25 yards on 12 carries, six attempts went for negative or zero yards.
Looking ahead: It was not long ago when alarm bells were sounded as Vintage was outscored
55-15 in its first six quarters of the season, the first was a 35-7 loss to Wood. The second one
was a 28-27 loss to Acalanes (Lafayette) in which the Crushers trailed 20-8 at halftime. Since
then, the Crushers have been boatracing opponents to the tune of outscoring them 165-50.
Vintage will face a Wolves team that has outscored its opponents 125-23.
55-15 in its first six quarters of the season, the first was a 35-7 loss to Wood. The second one
was a 28-27 loss to Acalanes (Lafayette) in which the Crushers trailed 20-8 at halftime. Since
then, the Crushers have been boatracing opponents to the tune of outscoring them 165-50.
Vintage will face a Wolves team that has outscored its opponents 125-23.
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