For the second time in three weeks, all Napa Valley, CA, high school
football teams came away as winners.
football teams came away as winners.
How sustainable is that? Not very, since four reside in the Vine Valley
Athletic League but hey, celebrate success when you can.
Athletic League but hey, celebrate success when you can.
The American Canyon Wolves (20-10 over Montgomery-Santa Rosa),
Justin-Siena Braves (40-7 over Armijo-Fairfield), St. Helena Saints
(44-30 over Winters) and Vintage Crushers (28-20 over Acalanes-
Lafayette) improved to 3-0 with their victories. The Calistoga Wildcats
(64-29 over Upper Lake) and Napa Grizzlies (33-7 over Vallejo)
bounced back from defeats last week to improve to 1-1 and 2-1
respectively.
Justin-Siena Braves (40-7 over Armijo-Fairfield), St. Helena Saints
(44-30 over Winters) and Vintage Crushers (28-20 over Acalanes-
Lafayette) improved to 3-0 with their victories. The Calistoga Wildcats
(64-29 over Upper Lake) and Napa Grizzlies (33-7 over Vallejo)
bounced back from defeats last week to improve to 1-1 and 2-1
respectively.
Here is a closer look in alphabetical order:
AMERICAN CANYON
Looking back: The Wolves, who defeated Montgomery 43-29 in last
year’s CIF North Coast Section Div. II playoffs, turned a goal-line stand
into a 14-point swing with 9:03 left in the contest. Zeke Anderson
connected with Justin Del Rosario for a 99-yard touchdown on a
halfback pass. Del Rosario compiled 182 yards on three grabs. Anderson
also added a 1-yard touchdown run while quarterback Vance Eschenburg
carried 13 times for 101 yards and added an 80-yard scoring pass to Del
Rosario. While the explosive plays were the difference on offense, the
Wolves defense yielded just 220 yards on 47 plays. The last two games,
American Canyon has given up just 3.5 yards per play.
year’s CIF North Coast Section Div. II playoffs, turned a goal-line stand
into a 14-point swing with 9:03 left in the contest. Zeke Anderson
connected with Justin Del Rosario for a 99-yard touchdown on a
halfback pass. Del Rosario compiled 182 yards on three grabs. Anderson
also added a 1-yard touchdown run while quarterback Vance Eschenburg
carried 13 times for 101 yards and added an 80-yard scoring pass to Del
Rosario. While the explosive plays were the difference on offense, the
Wolves defense yielded just 220 yards on 47 plays. The last two games,
American Canyon has given up just 3.5 yards per play.
Looking ahead: The Wolves are 3-0 for the first time since 2016, when
they went 11-2. The team starting 4-0 is on the table as American Canyon
hosts Wood (Vacaville), which is coached by former Wolves assistant Kirk
Anderson. Wood defeated Deer Valley (Antioch) 42-24. For information
purposes only, Deer Valley is a common opponent. The Wolves opened
the season beating the Wolverines 40-8. Though Vintage is the reigning
VVAL champ, American Canyon most likely will not go quietly.
they went 11-2. The team starting 4-0 is on the table as American Canyon
hosts Wood (Vacaville), which is coached by former Wolves assistant Kirk
Anderson. Wood defeated Deer Valley (Antioch) 42-24. For information
purposes only, Deer Valley is a common opponent. The Wolves opened
the season beating the Wolverines 40-8. Though Vintage is the reigning
VVAL champ, American Canyon most likely will not go quietly.
CALISTOGA
Looking back: The Wildcats scored 30 points in the first quarter and it
was never a contest. Quarterback Christian Caldera compiled a combined
326 yards of offense. Yes, those are real time stats, not PlayStation or
Tecmo Bowl. Caldera ran for six touchdowns, returned a punt for another
score and threw a pair of touchdown passes to Isaac Garcia. As a team, the
Wildcats amassed 375 yards on 38 plays. Because of the 35-point rule in
the fourth quarter, the game went to a running clock format.
was never a contest. Quarterback Christian Caldera compiled a combined
326 yards of offense. Yes, those are real time stats, not PlayStation or
Tecmo Bowl. Caldera ran for six touchdowns, returned a punt for another
score and threw a pair of touchdown passes to Isaac Garcia. As a team, the
Wildcats amassed 375 yards on 38 plays. Because of the 35-point rule in
the fourth quarter, the game went to a running clock format.
Looking ahead: Will the real Wildcats please stand up. Are they the team
that blasted Upper Lake by 35 points or are they the team that lost to
Woodside Priory (Portola Valley) 26-12? Most likely, the truth lies in the
middle. Calistoga gets another trip to the peninsula as it visits Pinewood
(Los Altos Hills). The Panthers are 1-1 having beaten Crystal Springs
Uplands (Hillsborough) 20-6 and lost to Tomales 64-6.
that blasted Upper Lake by 35 points or are they the team that lost to
Woodside Priory (Portola Valley) 26-12? Most likely, the truth lies in the
middle. Calistoga gets another trip to the peninsula as it visits Pinewood
(Los Altos Hills). The Panthers are 1-1 having beaten Crystal Springs
Uplands (Hillsborough) 20-6 and lost to Tomales 64-6.
JUSTIN-SIENA
Looking back: For the second time in as many seasons, the Braves
dominated Armijo. Quarterback Hudson Beers completed 9 of 17 passes
for 217 yards and four touchdowns, two to Solomon Antoni and two to
Miles Williams. The former added a 95 yard kickoff return for a score and
the latter returned an interception 86 yards to paydirt. The Indians found
very little real estate against the Braves defense, gaining 177 yards on 58
snaps and intercepted Armijo quarterback Justin Duff three times.
dominated Armijo. Quarterback Hudson Beers completed 9 of 17 passes
for 217 yards and four touchdowns, two to Solomon Antoni and two to
Miles Williams. The former added a 95 yard kickoff return for a score and
the latter returned an interception 86 yards to paydirt. The Indians found
very little real estate against the Braves defense, gaining 177 yards on 58
snaps and intercepted Armijo quarterback Justin Duff three times.
Looking ahead: The Braves find themselves 3-0 for the first time since
2012, when they won the NCS Div. IV title. While no one is suggesting
that version of history will repeat itself, given that Justin will face an uphill
climb in the Vine Valley Athletic League, early wins are a good jumping
off point.
2012, when they won the NCS Div. IV title. While no one is suggesting
that version of history will repeat itself, given that Justin will face an uphill
climb in the Vine Valley Athletic League, early wins are a good jumping
off point.
NAPA
Looking back: The third oldest rivalry in California became revisited for
the first time since 2013. When the series was paused, Napa domination
had been the trend. Six years later, it was the same song, different verse
despite the Grizzlies having nine starters sidelined with injuries. Winning
in these circumstances could bode well for building depth. The Grizzlies
welcomed the return of running back Benito Saldivar, who missed the
first two games with a foot injury. The Napa offensive line paved the way
for the junior to rush for 286 yards and four touchdowns.
the first time since 2013. When the series was paused, Napa domination
had been the trend. Six years later, it was the same song, different verse
despite the Grizzlies having nine starters sidelined with injuries. Winning
in these circumstances could bode well for building depth. The Grizzlies
welcomed the return of running back Benito Saldivar, who missed the
first two games with a foot injury. The Napa offensive line paved the way
for the junior to rush for 286 yards and four touchdowns.
Looking ahead: The Grizzlies received the bounceback victory they
needed after falling to Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 28-20 in overtime
one week earlier. For a program looking for early wins and momentum,
next week appears to be in the Grizzlies wheelhouse. Napa hosts former
Monticello Empire League foe Armijo, which Napa routinely dominated.
There’s no reason to think that trend won’t continue. Armijo is 0-3 with
combined losses of 156-34 to Acalanes, Pioneer (Woodland) and Justin.
Winning streaks were once commonplace for Napa. The last time it won
back-to-back games was Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, 2016, 55-12 over Armijo
and 35-0 over Vintage.
needed after falling to Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 28-20 in overtime
one week earlier. For a program looking for early wins and momentum,
next week appears to be in the Grizzlies wheelhouse. Napa hosts former
Monticello Empire League foe Armijo, which Napa routinely dominated.
There’s no reason to think that trend won’t continue. Armijo is 0-3 with
combined losses of 156-34 to Acalanes, Pioneer (Woodland) and Justin.
Winning streaks were once commonplace for Napa. The last time it won
back-to-back games was Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, 2016, 55-12 over Armijo
and 35-0 over Vintage.
ST. HELENA
Looking back: Two things were equally true on Friday: a) For a rare
time since his elevation from the JV roster late last season, someone not
named Ivan Robledo led the Saints in rushing and b) The St. Helena
ground game was like an octopus, when one arm didn’t grab the Warriors,
the other did. Cody DiTomaso (eight carries, 189 yards, four touchdowns),
Robledo (19 carries, 115 yards, one touchdown) and Daniel Martinez (24
carries, 108 yards, one touchdown) kept the Winters defense off balance.
Though the Saints defense gave up points and real estate (294 yards), it
also had its opportunistic side. Jake Lehman, Jake Mendes and Henry
Dixon each intercepted a pass and the defense sacked quarterback Carson
Lowrie five times.
time since his elevation from the JV roster late last season, someone not
named Ivan Robledo led the Saints in rushing and b) The St. Helena
ground game was like an octopus, when one arm didn’t grab the Warriors,
the other did. Cody DiTomaso (eight carries, 189 yards, four touchdowns),
Robledo (19 carries, 115 yards, one touchdown) and Daniel Martinez (24
carries, 108 yards, one touchdown) kept the Winters defense off balance.
Though the Saints defense gave up points and real estate (294 yards), it
also had its opportunistic side. Jake Lehman, Jake Mendes and Henry
Dixon each intercepted a pass and the defense sacked quarterback Carson
Lowrie five times.
Looking ahead: St. Helena enters the North Central League I part of its
schedule on Friday by travelling to Kelseyville, which is 1-2 with losses
to San Marin-Novato (28-6) and Fortuna (29-12) coupled with a win over
Ukiah (40-14) sandwiched in between. The Saints have a bye week before
its aforementioned trip to Kelseyville, which is the front end of back-to-
back road trips to Lake County. That game is followed by a trip to Clear
Lake (Lakeport). That is 210 miles round trip, if you’re scoring at home.
schedule on Friday by travelling to Kelseyville, which is 1-2 with losses
to San Marin-Novato (28-6) and Fortuna (29-12) coupled with a win over
Ukiah (40-14) sandwiched in between. The Saints have a bye week before
its aforementioned trip to Kelseyville, which is the front end of back-to-
back road trips to Lake County. That game is followed by a trip to Clear
Lake (Lakeport). That is 210 miles round trip, if you’re scoring at home.
VINTAGE
Looking back: For the second time in as many seasons, Vintage and
Acalanes locked horns for a hotly contested battle. The Dons edged
Vintage in last year’s meeting, 28-27. Starting quarterback Jacob Aaron
sustained an injury that pressed Bill Chaidez into duty. As of this writing,
there is no definitive answer on the extent of Aaron’s injury. Special
teams also loomed large on the strength of Reid McCaffery’s 99-yard
kickoff return for a score with 1:25 left in the first half. Defensively,
Vintage was a prime example of bend but don’t break in yielding 303
yards on 64 snaps.
Acalanes locked horns for a hotly contested battle. The Dons edged
Vintage in last year’s meeting, 28-27. Starting quarterback Jacob Aaron
sustained an injury that pressed Bill Chaidez into duty. As of this writing,
there is no definitive answer on the extent of Aaron’s injury. Special
teams also loomed large on the strength of Reid McCaffery’s 99-yard
kickoff return for a score with 1:25 left in the first half. Defensively,
Vintage was a prime example of bend but don’t break in yielding 303
yards on 64 snaps.
Looking ahead: For a team that has aspirations of another deep postseason
run, perhaps a less than aesthetically pleasing win against what appears to be
a quality opponent was the order of the day. The Crushers travel to face
Bellarmine Prep at San Jose City College. The long time West Coast League
powerhouse has been on a downswing going 6-17 the last two seasons,
including last year’s 26-14 loss to Vintage. The Bells are 0-2 with losses to
Menlo-Atherton (51-14) and Clovis West (38-14).
run, perhaps a less than aesthetically pleasing win against what appears to be
a quality opponent was the order of the day. The Crushers travel to face
Bellarmine Prep at San Jose City College. The long time West Coast League
powerhouse has been on a downswing going 6-17 the last two seasons,
including last year’s 26-14 loss to Vintage. The Bells are 0-2 with losses to
Menlo-Atherton (51-14) and Clovis West (38-14).
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