If there ever was a “you can’t win them all” example, it was Friday night
as it pertains to high school football in the Napa Valley.
as it pertains to high school football in the Napa Valley.
The previous week had no team lose with five enjoying victories and the
other (Calistoga Wildcats) having an open date. Calistoga (26-12 to
Woodside Priory-Portola Valley) and the Napa Grizzlies (20-14 in
overtime to Nevada Union-Grass Valley) each sustained losses. The
American Canyon Wolves (20-6 over St. Patrick’s-Vallejo), Vintage
Crushers (29-9 over El Cerrito), Justin-Siena Braves (27-0 over
Healdsburg) and St. Helena Saints (52-0 over Sir Francis Drake-San
Anselmo) improved to 2-0 with wins.
other (Calistoga Wildcats) having an open date. Calistoga (26-12 to
Woodside Priory-Portola Valley) and the Napa Grizzlies (20-14 in
overtime to Nevada Union-Grass Valley) each sustained losses. The
American Canyon Wolves (20-6 over St. Patrick’s-Vallejo), Vintage
Crushers (29-9 over El Cerrito), Justin-Siena Braves (27-0 over
Healdsburg) and St. Helena Saints (52-0 over Sir Francis Drake-San
Anselmo) improved to 2-0 with wins.
Here’s a closer look in alphabetical order:
AMERICAN CANYON
Looking back: Many people clamored for this matchup in 2016 when
St. Pat’s won the state title and American Canyon went 11-2. Guilty as
charged, I was one of them as yours truly covered the Wolves on a weekly
basis that season. The Wolves offense did just enough despite being
shackled by penalties and turnovers while the defense did the heavy lifting.
The Bruins scored first and American Canyon followed with 20
unanswered points, two touchdowns for Kaave Gaviola and another for
Vance Eschenburg. Defensively, the Wolves surrendered 68 yards on 35
plays and intercepted St. Pat’s quarterback Ja’vione Shepherd twice, one
by Justin Del Rosario and Jordan Fisher. Derrick Conner had two sacks
while Jordan Hamilton and Jeffery Brown each had one.
St. Pat’s won the state title and American Canyon went 11-2. Guilty as
charged, I was one of them as yours truly covered the Wolves on a weekly
basis that season. The Wolves offense did just enough despite being
shackled by penalties and turnovers while the defense did the heavy lifting.
The Bruins scored first and American Canyon followed with 20
unanswered points, two touchdowns for Kaave Gaviola and another for
Vance Eschenburg. Defensively, the Wolves surrendered 68 yards on 35
plays and intercepted St. Pat’s quarterback Ja’vione Shepherd twice, one
by Justin Del Rosario and Jordan Fisher. Derrick Conner had two sacks
while Jordan Hamilton and Jeffery Brown each had one.
Looking ahead: Unlike the last two seasons, the Wolves are starting with
forward momentum. That trend has a chance to continue on Friday as
American Canyon travels to Montgomery (Santa Rosa), whom the Wolves
beat 43-29 in last year’s CIF North Coast Section Div. III playoffs. The
Vikings are 0-2 with a 40-0 loss to traditional power Campolindo (Moraga)
and 32-10 to Casa Grande (Petaluma).
forward momentum. That trend has a chance to continue on Friday as
American Canyon travels to Montgomery (Santa Rosa), whom the Wolves
beat 43-29 in last year’s CIF North Coast Section Div. III playoffs. The
Vikings are 0-2 with a 40-0 loss to traditional power Campolindo (Moraga)
and 32-10 to Casa Grande (Petaluma).
CALISTOGA
Looking back: Despite the tremendous effort of quarterback Christian
Caldera, 208 yards on 26 carries, the Wildcats offense could not sustain
drives. On four occasions, Calistoga’s offense faced fourth down only to
run out of downs. The irony is that the Wildcats scored the game’s first
touchdown came on a fourth down conversion when Caldera connected
with Yuli Caballero for a 36-yard connection. With the win, Woodside
Priory atoned for last year’s 46-6 loss.
Caldera, 208 yards on 26 carries, the Wildcats offense could not sustain
drives. On four occasions, Calistoga’s offense faced fourth down only to
run out of downs. The irony is that the Wildcats scored the game’s first
touchdown came on a fourth down conversion when Caldera connected
with Yuli Caballero for a 36-yard connection. With the win, Woodside
Priory atoned for last year’s 46-6 loss.
Looking ahead: Calistoga travels to Upper Lake on Friday. In past years,
trips to the Northern Lake County school involved a Saturday afternoon
affair that often involved sweltering heat even in late October. Despite
winning the turnover battle 3-2, Upper Lake is 0-1 with a 20-0 loss to
Virginia City (Nevada). Calistoga defeated the Cougars 39-20 in last
year’s meeting.
trips to the Northern Lake County school involved a Saturday afternoon
affair that often involved sweltering heat even in late October. Despite
winning the turnover battle 3-2, Upper Lake is 0-1 with a 20-0 loss to
Virginia City (Nevada). Calistoga defeated the Cougars 39-20 in last
year’s meeting.
JUSTIN-SIENA
Looking back: The Braves scored all 27 of their points in the first half.
Justin gained 153 yards rushing on 40 carries with Caden Partlett amassing
101 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Noah Young rushed for two
scores and returned an interception for a score. Blake Hoban also returned
a fumble for a score. Playing an overmatched opponent, Braves head coach
Brandon LaRocco used the NBA’s “load management” approach by resting
some starters in the second half. Healdsburg went backwards on offense,
literally and figuratively with minus-4 yards on 37 plays. Justin recorded
five interceptions.
Justin gained 153 yards rushing on 40 carries with Caden Partlett amassing
101 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Noah Young rushed for two
scores and returned an interception for a score. Blake Hoban also returned
a fumble for a score. Playing an overmatched opponent, Braves head coach
Brandon LaRocco used the NBA’s “load management” approach by resting
some starters in the second half. Healdsburg went backwards on offense,
literally and figuratively with minus-4 yards on 37 plays. Justin recorded
five interceptions.
Looking ahead: In a matchup that figures to involve familiarity on both
sides since Justin has students with Fairfield roots, the Braves visit Armijo
for the second half of a home-and-home. Justin won last year’s game 40-14.
Armijo, which has struggled mightily for numerous seasons, is 0-2 with
losses to Acalanes-Lafayette (75-6) and Pioneer-Woodland (41-21).
sides since Justin has students with Fairfield roots, the Braves visit Armijo
for the second half of a home-and-home. Justin won last year’s game 40-14.
Armijo, which has struggled mightily for numerous seasons, is 0-2 with
losses to Acalanes-Lafayette (75-6) and Pioneer-Woodland (41-21).
NAPA
Looking back: Nevada Union’s Jaxon Horne compiled 203 yards rushing
on 27 carries with three touchdowns, including the game-winner from 6-
yards away in overtime. Napa never led but tied the game on two occasions
with two Hunter St. Clair touchdown passes, 33 yards to Christoph Horton
and 90 yards to Brock Bowers. St. Clair, who is a sophomore, stepped in
for an injured Isaiah Newton. As of this writing, there was no definitive
word on the extent of the injury. Losing the turnover battle 4-1 did not
help the Grizzlies.
on 27 carries with three touchdowns, including the game-winner from 6-
yards away in overtime. Napa never led but tied the game on two occasions
with two Hunter St. Clair touchdown passes, 33 yards to Christoph Horton
and 90 yards to Brock Bowers. St. Clair, who is a sophomore, stepped in
for an injured Isaiah Newton. As of this writing, there was no definitive
word on the extent of the injury. Losing the turnover battle 4-1 did not
help the Grizzlies.
Looking ahead: Though this was a tough loss to sustain, through two
games, the Grizzlies are demonstrating that they are a much improved
team over the previous two seasons, during which time they went 3-16.
With Vallejo and Armijo forthcoming as the next two opponents, Napa
has a chance to match that win total before the month of September ends.
Vallejo is 1-0 with a 24-20 win over Fairfield in a matchup of two
programs that were once perennial winners that have struggled mightily
for more than a decade. Napa-Vallejo is the third oldest rivalry in California
but the two teams are playing for the first time since 2013.
games, the Grizzlies are demonstrating that they are a much improved
team over the previous two seasons, during which time they went 3-16.
With Vallejo and Armijo forthcoming as the next two opponents, Napa
has a chance to match that win total before the month of September ends.
Vallejo is 1-0 with a 24-20 win over Fairfield in a matchup of two
programs that were once perennial winners that have struggled mightily
for more than a decade. Napa-Vallejo is the third oldest rivalry in California
but the two teams are playing for the first time since 2013.
ST. HELENA
Looking back: St. Helena entered the 2019 campaign with big aspirations
and got early separation from an overmatched opponent. The Saints led
46-0 at halftime and rushed for 299 yards, 120 on 16 carries from
sophomore sensation Ivan Robledo, who ran for three touchdowns and
returned an interception for another. Rowan Desmond also returned an
interception for a score. The Saints defense stifled the Pirates offense in
allowing just 25 yards on 27 plays.
and got early separation from an overmatched opponent. The Saints led
46-0 at halftime and rushed for 299 yards, 120 on 16 carries from
sophomore sensation Ivan Robledo, who ran for three touchdowns and
returned an interception for another. Rowan Desmond also returned an
interception for a score. The Saints defense stifled the Pirates offense in
allowing just 25 yards on 27 plays.
Looking ahead: If the Saints are not the best team in Div. VII of the NCS,
you can make a pretty good argument and not be wrong. If Robledo stays
healthy, he could finish his career shattering Saints school records. St.
Helena hits the road for its final game before North Central League I
competition arrives for a nonleague contest at Winters. The two teams
will meet for the sixth straight season. The Saints won the first of those
five before Winters won 33-14 last season. Winters lost its season-opener
28-14 to Dixon.
you can make a pretty good argument and not be wrong. If Robledo stays
healthy, he could finish his career shattering Saints school records. St.
Helena hits the road for its final game before North Central League I
competition arrives for a nonleague contest at Winters. The two teams
will meet for the sixth straight season. The Saints won the first of those
five before Winters won 33-14 last season. Winters lost its season-opener
28-14 to Dixon.
VINTAGE
Looking back: Pedja Zivkovic broke a scoreless tie with a 2-yard
touchdown run to send the Crushers on their way to 2-0. Quarterback
Jacob Aaron add two rushing touchdowns while Dylan Smith added
another. For the second time in as many weeks, the Crusher defense
came up large. This time, Vintage limited an athletic Gaucho team
that has big play capability.
touchdown run to send the Crushers on their way to 2-0. Quarterback
Jacob Aaron add two rushing touchdowns while Dylan Smith added
another. For the second time in as many weeks, the Crusher defense
came up large. This time, Vintage limited an athletic Gaucho team
that has big play capability.
Looking ahead: Being 2-0 after a pair of games is a good sign, especially
for a team looking to sustain its success of the last two seasons. The
Crushers, however, figure to face a stringent test on Friday at home
against Acalanes-Lafayette, which is 2-0 with a 75-6 win over Armijo
(Fairfield) and 44-14 over Sacred Heart (San Francisco). Acalanes defeated
Vintage 28-27 in a game that was a tale of two halves last season. The
Dons led 28-7 in the third quarter before Vintage’s rally fell short. That
second half sparked a 10-game winning streak.
for a team looking to sustain its success of the last two seasons. The
Crushers, however, figure to face a stringent test on Friday at home
against Acalanes-Lafayette, which is 2-0 with a 75-6 win over Armijo
(Fairfield) and 44-14 over Sacred Heart (San Francisco). Acalanes defeated
Vintage 28-27 in a game that was a tale of two halves last season. The
Dons led 28-7 in the third quarter before Vintage’s rally fell short. That
second half sparked a 10-game winning streak.
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