NCS Div. IV five year trends

This is the third story in a series looking at the re-alignment
of the CIF North Coast Section football playoff format as it
pertains to Napa Valley high school football programs. Today,
the focus is on Div. IV, where the Justin-Siena Braves will
compete. 

The Justin-Siena Braves football program is now at a point where
Brandon LaRocco is the only head coach the players have known,
from freshmen to seniors. LaRocco replaced Rich Crotuvo, who was
the Braves head coach for 19 seasons, in April 2016. 

In LaRocco’s three seasons, the Braves have gone 11-20 with two
NCS Div. IV playoff appearances, including a 53-28 win over
Piedmont last year. The Braves season against Vine Valley Athletic
League foes was one with warning track power. Justin went 1-5
against such foes with three of those setbacks coming by a
combined 10 points. 

Life for the Braves in the VVAL is not much different than what they
faced in the Marin County Athletic League in that they are a Div. IV
school aligned with Div. II and III programs. Therefore, if Justin
simply survives the regular season, it goes to the playoffs. 

The NCS made wholesale changes to its playoff format. Refer to
this column: 

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2019/04/ncs-football-playoff-
format-changes.html

Today, we look at the landscape of the NCS Div. IV, not so much
to break down the upcoming season but to look at how the
programs have fared the last five seasons. There are 13 teams
in Div. IV with the playoff bracket reaching up to eight teams.
The list dwindled to 13 as a result of Elsie Allen (Santa Rosa)
not fielding a football team. That story broke in the online version
of the Press Democrat on Tuesday. Here’s a closer look: 

Albany

League -- Tri County (Stone)

Last five seasons -- 2-8 in 2014, 5-6, in 2015, 3-6 in 2016, 1-8
in 2017, 6-4 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, no wins. 

Arcata

League -- Humbolt Del Norte (Little 4)

Last five seasons -- 0-10 in 2014, 1-8 in 2015, 5-6 in 2016, 8-5
in 2017, 6-5 in 2018, Three playoff appearances, two wins. 

Fort Bragg

League -- North Central League I

Last five seasons -- 8-3 in 2014, 11-1 in 2015, 11-2 in 2016, 3-8
in 2017, 7-5 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, four wins. 

Justin-Siena

League -- Vine Valley Athletic

Last five seasons -- 11-3 in 2014, 9-3 in 2015, 3-7 in 2016, 3-6
in 2017, 5-7 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, six wins, one
section championship. 

Kelseyville

League -- North Central League I

Last five seasons -- 5-6 in 2014, 3-7 in 2015, 9-4 in 2016, 8-3
in 2017, 10-2 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, four wins. 

Lower Lake

League -- North Central League I

Last five seasons - - 5-6 in 2014, 4-6 in 2015, 6-5 in 2016, 7-3
in 2017, 2-8 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, no wins. 

Middletown

League -- North Central League I

Last five seasons -- 8-4 in 2014, 6-5 in 2015, 7-4 in 2016, 10-2
in 2017, 11-3 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, six wins, one
section championship. 

Pinole Valley

League -- Tri County (Stone)

Last five seasons -- 7-7 in 2014, 6-5 in 2015, 2-8 in 2016, 1-8
in 2017, 10-1 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, two wins. 

St. Bernard (Eureka)

League -- Humbolt Del Norte (Big 4)

Last five seasons -- 11-2 in 2014, 14-1 in 2015, 12-2 in 2016,
11-1 in 2017, 7-5 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, 12 wins,
one section title, one state title. 

St. Mary’s (Albany)

League -- Tri County (Rock)

Last five seasons -- 11-2 in 2014, 8-4 in 2015, 4-7 in 2016,
4-6 in 2017, 5-6 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, three wins. 

St. Patrick’s (Vallejo)

League -- Tri County (Rock)

Last five seasons -- 4-8 in 2014, 2-8 in 2015, 13-3 in 2016, 11-2
in 2017, 6-6 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, seven wins, one
state championship, two section championships. 

Ygnacio Valley (Concord)

League -- Diablo Valley

Last five seasons -- 3-8 in 2014, 3-8 in 2015, 2-7 in 2016, 5-4 in
2017, 2-7 in 2018. One playoff appearance, no wins. 

North Coast Section Div. III five-year trends

This is the second story in a series looking at the re-alignment
of the CIF North Coast Section football playoff format as it
pertains to Napa Valley high school football programs. Today,
the focus is on Div. III, where the American Canyon Wolves will
compete. 

Though the American Canyon Wolves had their streak of winning six
consecutive league titles snapped in 2018, they continued their
strong of postseason appearances to seven. 

The Wolves overcame an 0-4 start a year ago, which was John
Montante’s first as head coach, to reach the CIF North Coast Section
Div. III playoffs. American Canyon finished 6-6, with the lone
remaining losses being to eventual Vine Valley Athletic League
champion Vintage and in the NCS Div. II playoffs against Rancho
Cotate. The Wolves also recorded a 43-29 win over Montgomery
(Santa Rosa) one game earlier in the postseason. 

Montante was not hired until July, two months after former head
coach Larry Singer resigned. Therefore having the benefit of a full
offseason where he can call the program his own should be to his
advantage. 

The NCS made wholesale changes to its playoff format. Refer to
this column: 

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2019/04/ncs-football-playoff-
format-changes.html

Today, we look at the landscape of the NCS Div. III, not so much to
break down the upcoming season but to look at how the programs
have fared the last five seasons. There are 18 teams in Div. III with
the playoff bracket reaching up to eight teams. Here’s a closer look: 

Alameda

League -- West Alameda County (Shoreline)

Last five seasons -- 2-7 in 2014, 6-5 in 2015,, 3-8 in 2016, 4-7 in
2017, 8-3 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, no wins. 

American Canyon

League -- Vine Valley Athletic League

Last five seasons -- 7-4 in 2014, 5-6 in 2015, 11-2 in 2016, 7-4 in
2017, 6-6 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, four wins. 

Arroyo (San Lorenzo)

League -- West Alameda County (Shoreline)

Last five seasons -- 1-9 in 2014, 2-8 in 2015, 4-6 in 2016, 1-9 in
2017, 1-9 in 2018. No playoff appearances. 

Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland)

League -- West Alameda County (Shoreline)

Last five seasons -- 5-6 in 2014, 7-6 in 2015, 15-1 in 2016, 9-3 in
2017, 12-2 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, 12 wins, one state
championship, one section championship. 

Benicia

League -- Diablo Valley

Last five seasons -- 7-5 in 2014, 8-4 in 2015, 6-5 in 2016, 6-4 in
2017, 8-4 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, three wins. 

Casa Grande (Petaluma)

League -- Vine Valley Athletic

Last five seasons -- 6-7 in 2014, 5-7 in 2015, 4-7 in 2016, 4-7 in
2017, 4-7 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, three wins. 

El Cerrito

League -- Tri County (Rock)

Last five seasons -- 5-6 in 2014, 6-6 in 2015, 8-4 in 2016, 7-2 in
2017, 9-4 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, four wins. 

Hayward

League -- West Alameda County (Shoreline)

Last five seasons -- 5-6 in 2014, 6-5 in 2015, 5-6 in 2016, 4-6 in
2017, 6-3 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, no wins. 

Jesse Bethel

League -- Tri County (Stone)

Last five seasons -- 5-5 in 2014, 0-10 in 2015, 4-6 in 2016, 3-6
in 2017, 5-5 in 2018. No playoff appearances. 

Las Lomas (Walnut Creek)

League -- Diablo (Foothill)

Last five seasons -- 9-3 in 2014, 1-9 in 2015, 0-10 in 2016, 4-6
in 2017, 12-1 in 2018. Two playoff appearances, three wins. 

Montgomery (Santa Rosa)

League -- North Bay (Redwood)

Last five seasons -- 5-7 in 2014, 2-8 in 2015, 3-7 in 2016, 3-6 in
2017, 8-3 in 2018. Two playoff appearances, one win. 

Northgate (Walnut Creek)

League -- Diablo Valley

Last five seasons -- 4-6 in 2014, 6-5 in 2015, 7-3 in 2016, 8-3 in
2017, 1-9 in 2018. Two playoff appearances, one win. 

Santa Rosa

League -- North Bay (Redwood)

Last five seasons -- 1-9 in 2014, 2-8 in 2015, 6-6 in 2016, 2-7 in
2017, 7-4 in 2018. Two playoff appearances, one win. 

Ukiah

League -- North Bay (Oak)

Last five seasons -- 1-9 in 2014, 2-8 in 2015, 8-5 in 2016, 7-5 in
2017, 7-4 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, three wins. 

Washington (Fremont)

League -- Mission Valley

Last five seasons -- 2-8 in 2014, 3-8 in 2015, 5-5 in 2016, 4-7 in
2017, 1-9 in 2018. Two playoff appearances, no wins. 

Windsor

League -- North Bay (Oak)

Last five seasons -- 8-4 in 2014, 7-5 in 2015, 9-4 in 2016, 5-6 in
2017, 3-7 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, four wins. 

CIF North Coast Section Div. II football landscape five-year trends

This is the first story in a series looking at the re-alignment
of the CIF North Coast Section football playoff format as it
pertains to Napa Valley high school football programs. Today,
the focus is on Div. II, where long-time rivals Napa and Vintage
will compete. 

The Vintage Crushers and Napa Grizzlies enter the 2019 season in
similar yet different positions. After years of languishing in the shadow
of their peers, the Crushers appear to be set up for long-term and
sustained success as long as head coach Dylan Leach is at the helm.
Leach, who is a 1992 graduate of Vintage, enters his fourth season.
His team has steadily improved each season. 

Topping last season will be a challenge in which the Crushers reached
the semifinals of the NCS Div. II, going 10-3. Vintage won the Vine
Valley Athletic League, winning its first league title since 2005 as
members of the Monticello Empire League (three way tie with Napa
and Vacaville). The Crushers are the hunted, no longer the hunter. 

From 2002-2016, Napa was a program many envied but has now
gone through its fourth head coaching change in as many seasons,
compiling a 3-6 record in 2017 and 0-10 in 2018, its first winless
campaign since 1955. Richie Wessman was hired as the new head
coach in February. The Grizzlies, however, have a perfect storm for
a bounceback season. For openers, there is ample talent coming up
from the JV team and a favorable non league schedule. By all
appearances, a season ranging from 6-4 on the low end to 8-2 on
the high end appears attainable. 

The NCS made wholesale changes to its playoff format. Refer to this
column: 

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2019/04/ncs-football-playoff-format-
changes.html

Today, we look at the landscape of the NCS Div. II, not so much to
break down the upcoming season but to look at how the programs
have fared the last five seasons. There are 16 teams in Div. II with
the playoff bracket reaching up to eight teams. Here’s a closer look: 

American (Fremont)

League -- Mission Valley

Last five seasons -- 7-4 in 2014, 8-3 in 2015, 4-6 in 2016, 0-10 in
2017, 1-9 in 2018. Two postseason appearances, no wins. 

Campolindo (Moraga)

League -- Diablo (Foothill)

Last five seasons -- 16-0 in 2014, 14-2 in 2015, 12-3 in 2016, 10-5
in 2017, 10-3 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, two section
championships and two state championships. 

Clayton Valley Charter

League -- East Bay (Mountain)

Last five seasons -- 15-1 in 2014, 13-2 in 2015, 9-2 in 2016, 8-3 in
2017, 9-2 in 2018. Five playoff appearances. Two Section titles and
two state title game appearances. 

College Park (Pleasant Hill)

League -- Diablo Valley

Last five seasons -- 3-7 in 2014, 1-8 in 2015, 6-5 in 2016, 4-6 in
2017, 5-6 in 2018. Two playoff appearances, no wins. 

Deer Valley (Antioch)

League -- Bay Valley

Last five seasons -- 4-6 in 2014, 3-7 in 2015, 2-8 in 2016, 2-8 in
2017, 4-6 in 2018. No playoff appearances. 

Dublin 

League -- East Bay (Valley)

Last five seasons -- 4-7 in 2014, 7-4 in 2015, 4-6 in 2016, 5-7 in
2017, 4-6 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, one win. 

Foothill (Pleasanton)

League -- East Bay (Mountain)

Last five seasons -- 9-3 in 2014, 12-1 in 2015, 6-5 in 2016, 8-4 in
2017, 2-8 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, four wins. 

Granada (Livermore)

League -- East Bay (Valley)

Last five seasons -- 3-9 in 2014, 6-7 in 2015, 6-7 in 2016, 9-4 in
2017, 9-3 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, nine wins. 

Irvington (Fremont)

League -- Mission Valley

Last five seasons -- 2-8 in 2014, 3-8 in 2015, 6-6 in 2016, 4-8 in
2017, 4-7 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, two wins. 

Livermore

League -- East Bay (Valley)

Last five seasons -- 2-8 in 2014, 3-8 in 2015, 6-6 in 2016, 4-8 in
2017, 4-7 in 2018. Four playoff appearances, two wins. 

Mt. Eden (Hayward)

League -- West Alameda County (Shoreline)

Last five seasons -- 7-3-1 in 2014, 5-5 in 2015, 7-4 in 2016, 6-5
in 2017, 2-8. Three playoff appearances, no wins. 

Napa

League -- Vine Valley Athletic

Last five seasons -- 9-3 in 2014, 11-1 in 2015, 7-4 in 2016, 3-6
in 2017, 0-10 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, two wins. 

Redwood (Larkspur)

League -- Marin County Athletic

Last five seasons -- 4-6 in 2014, 5-6 in 2015, 9-3 in 2016, 3-7 in
2017, 6-5 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, one win. 

San Leandro

League -- West Alameda County (Foothill)

Last five seasons -- 6-5 in 2014, 6-5 in 2015, 6-5 in 2016, 8-3 in
2017, 6-6 in 2018. Five playoff appearances, two wins. 

Vintage

League -- Vine Valley Athletic

Last five seasons -- 6-5 in 2014, 5-5 in 2015, 5-5 in 2016, 7-3 in
2017, 10-3 in 2018. Three playoff appearances, two wins (both in
2018).