Ben Jones, who starred as Cooter Davenport on the TV series The
Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985) was known to use the phrase “wall
-to-wall, 10-feet tall” when playing his role.
With all six Napa Valley, CA, high school football teams earning CIF
North Coast Section playoff berths on Sunday, “wall-to-wall, 10-feet
tall” could also apply in a region that produces wine as opposed to
shine (as in moonshine) in the aforementioned 1980s TV show.
We’re not breaking down these matchups centered around base schemes,
etc. Outside of the Napa Valley, I don’t know enough so I’m not going
to be Lee Corso and break down base schemes. I’m simply going on
information that involves numbers crunching and you can draw your
own conclusion.
Without further adieu, here are your matchups:
NCS Div. II
No. 8 Napa Grizzlies at No. 1 Clayton Valley Eagles
The last time Napa reached the playoffs in football, it was known as the
Indians (in 2016). After two seasons of missing the postseason with a
combined 3-16 mark, the program now known as the Grizzlies have
returned to a familiar spot. Napa was a playoff team from 2002-2016
every year as a member of the Sac Joaquin Section.
The Grizzlies enter the game 7-3 overall and 4-2 in Vine Valley Athletic
League. The Eagles are 5-5 overall and 1-3 against the East Bay League
(Mountain). So why is Clayton Valley the No. 1 seed and Napa No. 8?
That pesky strength of schedule thing. Napa’s strength of schedule
based on calpreps.com is minus-2.3 with only one win coming against
a team in a higher division, and that was a 42-0 win over lowly Armijo
(Fairfield).
Clayton Valley, on the other hand, had a strength of schedule rating of
29.0, by far the strongest in the NCS Div. II. The East Bay (Mountain)
League features the likes of De La Salle (Concord). I could mention
that school and stop there but add San Ramon Valley, Monte Vista,
California and Foothill and you’ve got no layups.
No. 7 Redwood Giants at No. 2 Vintage Crushers
Despite the seeding disparity, this one has the potential to be a close one.
The Crushers broke their 32-year playoff win drought win two victories
a year ago. For Redwood, there has been no in-between the last four
games, either the Giants have delivered a shutout win — 62-0 (Novato),
57-0, (San Rafael) and 74-0 (Drake) — or they have been shutout, 14-0
to eventual Marin County Athletic League champion Marin Catholic.
For the second time in as many seasons, the Crushers went 6-0 in the
VVAL but their most recent was a come-from-behind, tooth-and-nail
battle against archrival Napa, which was a 26-20 win.
The two leagues are equally comparable. Calpreps.com rates the VVAL
No. 8 and the MCAL No. 9, essentially a push but you could say either
league is better and not be wrong.
The equalizer for Vintage, neither team has played a game in two weeks.
The Crushers, however, would appear to have a sharper edge entering
this game having been pushed to the limit in their previous game.
NCS Div. III
No. 5 American Canyon Wolves at No. 4 Hayward Farmers
Both teams enter the game with gaudy win-loss records but more than a
few cynics regarding strength of schedule.
Hayward enters the contest 9-1 overall and 6-0 in the West Alameda
County (Shoreline) League. The Wolves are 8-2 overall and 4-2 in
VVAL. The Farmers last tasted defeat on Sept. 20 (21-0) to NCS No.
3 seed Campolindo (Moraga). American Canyon tasted some humble
pie in its last game, 17-10 loss to Justin-Siena (Napa).
With this matchup, American Canyon’s calpreps.com strength of
schedule is minus-3.6, Hayward’s is minus-14.0. As far as league
strength, the VVAL ranks No. 8 out of 17 teams, the WAC Shoreline
ranks 16th.
The question becomes, which Wolves team do we get? If American
Canyon can be front-runners, as in get out to an early lead, it can
advance to the second round. However, if the game gets sideways in
the early going, as in get behind multiple scores, it could be curtains.
NCS Div. VI
No. 5 Lower Lake Trojans at No. 4 Justin-Siena Braves
The Trojans have had a lot of lean years with the exception of a few
the past couple of decades. Lower Lake went 7-3 overall and 5-2 in
the North Central League I. The Trojans had won five straight before
a season-ending 54-39 loss to St. Helena. The Trojans have scored
40 points or more on five occasions but have given up 40 plus three
times.
The Braves have been overmatched at times since entering the VVAL
but are coming off their best win since entering the league, a 17-10
win over American Canyon. Justin is also a team that is seldom
ill-prepared.
NCS Div. VII
No. 5 St. Vincent Mustangs at No. 4 St. Helena Saints
The two teams have a lot of recent history. They were NCL I South
opponents from 2005-2010 and played each other regularly as non
league opponents. They meet again as playoff foes. St. Vincent went
9-1 in the Independent League.
For what it is worth, the two teams have two common opponents —
Willits and Cloverdale. Both teams lost to Willits with St. Vincent
falling 27-0 to the Wolverines. St. Helena was within a two-point
conversion of tying the game to force overtime before losing 30-28.
That loss cost the Saints a higher seed. The two teams also beat
Cloverdale, 28-7 for St. Vincent and 47-0 for St. Helena.
9-1. SH 8-2, 5-2. History. Common opponents Willits and
Cloverdale Willits — SV lost 27-0. SH lost 30-28. Cloverdale
win 28-7, SH win 47-0.
The stars are aligned for the Saints.
NCS 8-person football
No. 5 Calistoga Wildcats at No. 4 Tomales Braves
Realignment happens but these two follow each other from NCL
II to eight-man football. The Braves enter the game 6-3 overall
and 3-1 in NCL III South. The Wildcats were 5-3 overall and
1-2 in NCL III South, closing with a 44-0 win over Roseland
Prep (Santa Rosa) on Friday.
The two teams met on Oct. 18, with Tomales winning 46-28 at
Calistoga. The winner gets a trip to face Cornerstone Christian
(Antioch) at Heritage High (Brentwood) on Nov. 22.
No comments:
Post a Comment