Napa-Vintage Big Game 48 awaits

In these parts, specifically, Napa, CA, it is known as The Big

Game. 

There is the Blue & Gold side and the Burgundy & Gold side.

The former are the Napa High ….. Grizzlies. To anyone over

the age of 25, they are the Indians. Shot fired. The latter is the

Vintage Crushers. 

The 48th version of the Big Game will take place on Friday art

Memorial Stadium. For the first time since 2005, the matchup

involves league title ramifications but a different scenario

involves both teams. 

The Crushers are 8-1 overall and 5-0 in Vine Valley Athletic

League. Napa is 7-2 overall and 4-1 in VVAL. For Vintage, win

this game and take sole possession of the league title, which

most likely gets a first round home game for the CIF North

Coast Section Div. II playoffs. For Napa, win this game and

create a potential three-way tie for the title with American

Canyon and Vintage. American Canyon visits the Justin-

Siena Braves. Figuring out playoff scenarios, however, can

be like drinking coffee with a fork. To appreciate the position

the 48th edition of the Big Game sits, you have to take into

account the recent journey. 

Rewind to 2005, the two schools were members of the CIF

Sac Joaquin Section and the Monticello Empire League.

Vintage entered the game 5-4. Napa was 9-0 and state ranked.

Entering the contest, however, Vintage had a brutal non league

schedule of Montgomery, Nevada Union, Pittsburg and Deer

Valley, those teams had a combined record of 41-14 and an

average calpreps.com ranking of 31.5. Napa’s opponents had

a record of 21-20-1 with an average calpreps.com ranking of

11.4. When the two teams met, the Crushers stunned Napa

28-7. Perhaps, the win was not as much of an upset as initially

perceived. 

Fast forward to 2019, the two teams are in the NCS as members

of the VVAL. Neither team has played a world beater non league

schedule but in this scenario, Vintage has the edge. The Crushers

four non league opponents have an average calpreps.com

ranking of 12.0. Napa’s opponents have an average calpreps.com

rating of minus-5.8.  

By no means are these two aforementioned years a consistent

reflection of the two teams strength of schedule, I simply provide

these nuggets for context. 

The series has produced some great memories, including but not

limited to 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1998,

1999, 2001, 2002 and 2017. Those games were all decided by

a touchdown or less.

In recent seasons, however, the matchup has not been compelling

on the field. From 2002-2016, Napa has won 14 of the 15 contests

by an average score of 33.4-11.4 since 2002 before Vintage broke

the spell with a 14-7 win in 2017. In 2018, the Crushers rolled to a

69-14 win on the way to winning sole possession of the Vine Valley

Athletic League. In the aforementioned 2002-2016 stretch, Napa

went 131-44-1 with an SJS Div. I title in 2007 and went to the

playoffs in every season. In that same span, Vintage went 65-88-1

with Dylan Leach being the fifth head coach in that time frame.

Both programs went in opposite directions. Since starting the Leach

era 2-3 in 2016, the Crushers have gone 28-9. Leach, who is a

1992 Vintage High graduate and longtime assistant before joining

Napa’s staff from 2010-2015, was hired in April 2016. Napa,

meanwhile, went through a myriad of events from a hazing scandal,

four coaching coaches in as many seasons and a mascot change

from Indians to Grizzlies. No need to go into more particulars

because we’ve been down that rabbit hole enough but I mention it

because it is part of the story, for better or worse. 

From 2017-2018, the Indians/Grizzlies went 3-6 under Jesus

Martinez (2017) and 0-10 Tom Petitomme (2018). The 2019 season

has brought the well-travelled Richie Wessman. Napa has enjoyed

a bounceback season. If there was one adjective to describe those

currently in the Napa program, particularly the senior class, --

survivors. 

The narrative behind Napa’s 2019 success by some has been

because of an easy schedule. 

The Grizzlies lone losses were to Nevada Union (20-13 in overtime)

and American Canyon (14-7), teams with a combined record of

13-5. The seven wins Napa has compiled have come against

teams with a combined mark of 23-40. You can debate whether

that narrative is right, wrong, good, bad or indifferent but it is open

for conversation. I am simply stating what others are uttering. 

Calpreps.com has installed the Crushers as a 28-21 favorite to win.

Napa has the best player in Brock Bowers. The junior phenom is

getting a truckload of Div. I college scholarship offers. He is a

generational talent. The Crushers have resembled a well-oiled

machine the last three years. Vintage had a de facto bye with its

forfeit win over Sonoma, which had multiple players deemed

ineligible for their role in a melee that took place the previous week

against Petaluma. 

I’m not into making definitive predictions at the high school level.

However, there are a few things I find equally true: With a talent like

Bowers, Napa has a puncher’s chance. The week off could be a

minus for Vintage but I simply cannot see Leach and staff having

the Crushers ill-prepared. 

Enjoy chapter No. 48 of The Big Game. 

Napa Valley High School football around the horn

Reporter’s note: This story would have been up on Sunday but due to

power outages and internet connection issues as a result of the

Kincaide Fire, the publishing was delayed. 

The last Friday evening was a light night in Napa Valley, CA, as it

pertains to Friday Night Lights. 

The Vintage Crushers received a forfeit win over Sonoma Valley. The

Dragons had to forfeit because various players were ejected for their role

in a melee that took place one week earlier against Petaluma. Calistoga

had its road game against Stuart Hall (San Francisco), which was slated

to be played at Kezar Stadium, cancelled because Calistoga is being

affected by the Kincaide Fore that has caused evacuations for Northern

Sonoma County residents. The Justin-Siena Braves, meanwhile, had a

scheduled bye. 

As for games that took place on the field, the American Canyon Wolves

defeated the Casa Grande (Petaluma) Gauchos 13-9. The Napa Grizzlies

blasted the Petaluma Trojans 49-7. The St. Helena Saints whitewashed

the Cloverdale Eagles 47-0. 

The regular season finale along with the CIF North Coast Section playoffs

await with the only question being, how much will the poor air quality

stemming from the Kincaide Fire linger? 

Here’s a closer look: 

AMERICAN CANYON

Looking back: In an era where higher-scoring games prevail, this one had

1986 written all over it but, in this scribe’s point of view, there is

something refreshing about such games. Kekoa Wilson finished a 10-play

drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to put American Canyon in front 6-0.

The Gauchos tied the game at 6-6 on a 13-yard touchdown pass from

Miguel Robertson to Rashad Dixon. Though the Wolves offense provided

the decisive score, it was the defense that turned the tide. In the second

half, Casa Grande gained just 11 yards of total offense. The go-ahead score

came on a 1-yard run from Kaave Gaviola. Casa Grande had two more

drives to answer but the Wolves defense shut the door. Jordan Fisher’s

interception sealed the win. 

Looking ahead: Despite the record disparity between the two teams, 8-1

for American Canyon and 3-6 for Casa Grande, entering the contest only

one game separated the two teams in the Vine Valley Athletic League

race. Though the game was not aesthetically pleasing to some people, the

importance of the win cannot be overstated. American Canyon needed

to keep winning to avoid a low end seed in the Div. III bracket. The

Wolves travel to Dodd Stadium to take on Justin, which is vying for a

spot in the Div. VI playoffs. 

NAPA

Looking back: The Grizzlies dominated from the opening whistle in

racing to a 28-0 lead after one quarter and 49-0 at halftime, beating a

Petaluma team that recorded its first victory of the season one week

earlier over Sonoma. Napa compiled 414 yards of total offense on

just 23 plays. On the rushing side nine different Grizzlies carried the

ball for a total for 299 yards with Benito Saldivar carrying five times

for 142 yards and three touchdowns. The Napa defense also shined,

giving up just 144 yards on 38 plays. 

Looking ahead: While you could come up with scenarios where Napa

can reach the CIF North Coast Section Div. II playoffs with a 7-3 record,

the shortest distance would be to defeat the crosstown rival Vintage

Crushers on Friday in The Big Game. Napa is 7-2 while Vintage is 8-1.

The Div. II ratings could get shaken up with Clayton Valley (31-21 to

Monte Vista-Danville), San Leandro (13-12 to Encinal), Foothill (28-21

to Amador Valley) and Livermore (14-12 to Granada) losing on Friday.

Campolindo (14-12 over Las Lomas), Dublin (39-3 over Dougherty

Valley), College Park (42-6 over Mt. Diablo) and Mt. Eden (49-13

over Alameda) winning. 

ST. HELENA

Looking back: It was a blowout win that took place so often in the

early 2010s as the Saints scored all 47 of their points in the first half.

The fourth quarter went to the running clock format. Cody DiTomaso

rushed for two touchdowns while Ivan Robledo, Daniel Martinez and

George Cutting each had one. Robledo also returned an interception

for a score while Martinez connected with Henry Dixon for a 33-yard

touchdown pass. Eight different Saints carried the ball for a team total

of 241 yards. Defensively, the Saints gave up just 104 yards on 44

plays, generating five takeaways and three sacks. 

Looking ahead: St. Helena did its expected duty and dispatched an

overmatched opponent. The challenge will be a lot more daunting next

week when the Saints visit Lower Lake (7-2 overall, 5-1 North Central

League I). The Trojans have only failed to score 30 points on two

occasions and have scored 45 or more three of the past four weeks. 

SHHS Athletic Hall of Fame having its own shrine is a great thing

There are times when you see refreshing revelations when you revisit

your previous career for a day. 

On Saturday night, I had the chance to wear my sports reporter hat and

cover the St. Helena High Athletic Hall of Fame at the Native Sons Hall

in St. Helena, CA. Current St. Helena Star/Weekly Calistogan sports

reporter Gus Morris reached out to me because he has an exceedingly

busy schedule. I can relate because I was in his shoes from 2004-2014

and I know the community pressure that comes with it. 

First of all, shoutout to the six new inductees: Bob “Bimmer” Sculatti

(Class of 1946, athlete and distinguished service), Hardland Morley

(1954), Terry O’Rourke (1977), Fred Miller (Coach, 1980-1997),

Rebecca “Beci” Ivanoff (1987) and Adam Beattie (1999). Each of the

inductees hold or are among the leaders in school season or career

records. 

When I was devoting 18 years to the journalism industry, I had a chance

to cover many great sporting events but I had never covered a Hall of

Fame induction ceremony. Hearing the stories from the inductees and

those who presented them were fascinating because you learned about

the jumping off points of their success. 

The second shoutout goes to board members Jim Gamble, Mike Werle

and Tom Hoppe for welcoming me with open arms as their guest to

cover the event. I also had the pleasure of sitting next to former Saints

football head coach Dan Boyett, who introduced Beattie. Yes, Boyett

was desperate enough to sit next to an objectionable soul like yours

truly but don’t hold that against him. All kidding aside, I consider

Boyett a friend and valued resource. 

During the ceremony, Gamble referred to yours truly as the “best sports

reporter in St. Helena Star history.” I’m flattered beyond belief because

the newspaper has been around for 120 years. I feel great about my

legacy but there’s only one Starr Baldwin. He truly is the GOAT

(Greatest Of All Time). 

The SHHS Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2013 thanks to the

heavy lifting of Jim Hunt, who passed away in 2017. Gamble added

that the organization received permission from St. Helena Unified

School District superintendent Dr. Marylou Wilson to proceed with

construction of the Hall of Fame room in the foyer of the gym at St.

Helena High. The goal is to complete the project in two years. 

The Hall of Fame having its own home is as important if not more so

than having the Hall of Fame itself. About five years before the

aforementioned Hunt made the SHHS Athletic Hall of Fame come to

fruition, yours truly openly lobbied for it in the Star sports section. 

“The goal of the Hall of Fame committee is to preserve history, honor

excellence, and connect generations,” Gamble said while addressing

the crowd. “Connecting the generations is something we take great

pride in. What the Hall of Fame committee is trying to do every year

is honor the great athletic accomplishments of deserving men and

women from all generations by dividing them into three groups and

inducting members from each of those generations.”

My reasons were many, recognizing history, appreciating excellence,

etc. For the Hall of Fame to have its own sacred place within a couple

of years, however, is significant. 

Boyett had a sentiment that was on point before he introduced his

former quarterback, Beattie. 

“It is so wonderful to hear that there is going to be a home for the Hall

of Fame,” Boyett said. “It adds to all of the great athletic facilities that

are here in St. Helena.”

Gamble went on to quip: “The Green Bay Packers will have nothing

on our Hall of Fame.” 

While much of what Gamble said was in jest, the importance of the

Hall of Fame having a permanent home cannot be overstated. While

the gym itself would have been a nice, during basketball and volleyball

season, loose balls fly around and hit either the plaques or the

plexiglass that protects them. Oh, and don’t forget baseballs and

softballs when it gets too rainy to practice outside. Not to mention,

there are loose balls from any myriad of PE classes. 

For the St. Helena High Athletic Hall of Fame, there will be no place

like home.