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.