Time Out with Austin Connolly: 2013 Justin-Siena High graduate

Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Austin Connolly: The greatest aspect of playing sports while growing up was the friendships I made and mentors I learned from. I began playing football at seven years old and continued to play every fall for the next 11 years up to winning the North Coast Section (Div. IV) championship my senior year of high school. I believe the relationships I created on the field with teammates and coaches had one of the greatest impacts on creating the person I am today but of course while growing up I didn’t view these relationships as such. They were simply my best friends who I could compete with in practice, and next to in the games. The bonds created while going through drills and conditioning are unlike any other relationships I have had outside of sports.

D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school?

Connolly: After graduating from Justin-Siena I have attended the University of Redlands where I am currently in my senior year. I am majoring in Global Business with a minor in Mathematics and a focus on Chinese language.

In the spring of my senior year, my mother and I launched a patented plush toy where one squeezes the stomach called NightBuddies. Our first trade show was at the San Francisco Gift fair but since then we have attended tons of trade shows including the New York Toy Show, the largest toy trade show in the world. During my junior year, I designed the toys on adobe illustrator while conferring with the factory in Shenzhen, China for months until we had the opportunity to visit the manufacturing site. That day was where I knew I wanted to return to China to learn the language and culture.

During my sophomore year, I applied for and received a scholarship to fund a language intensive summer program as well as a petition to study abroad my entire junior year of college. As a result I left from San Francisco on June 10, 2015 and spent the next fourteen months in Beijing, China studying Mandarin Chinese. During the summer in 2015 I studied at the Duke in China language intensive program, then in the Fall and Spring I studied at Beijing Foreign languages university with IES study abroad program. In the spring, I received an opportunity to work part time in the Foreign Commercial Services at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China while intensively studying Chinese. Through my hard work, I was invited to continue working at the Embassy full time this past summer. My experiences abroad in China have shaped my life and the way I view the world immensely. The ability to be a student as well as work full time gave me a greater understanding of the culture, and language of China as well as business practices and international relations.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Justin-Siena High?

Connolly: I will have to say any of the three classes I had with Mr. Carpenter, the math teacher. Prior to having him as a teacher, I thought mathematics was the most difficult subject in the world but the way he taught math changed my world. His teaching style of demanding attention from students, offering retakes during study time, and explanation of topics allowed the subject to click in my brain. My experiences in his class opened up opportunities to continue studying mathematics in college.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Justin- Siena High?

Connolly: My athletic favorite moment at Justin-Siena was probably one of the worst plays I committed during my time on the field. It was late in the North Coast Section Championship game my senior year with the score still close. I was soaked from the rain and stood around our twenty yard line to return the punt from the opposing team.

After a great punt by the other team’s kicker that sent the ball into the air for what seemed like forever and I dropped the ball through my arms. The other team recovered it on our twenty or thirty yard line. It was such a great mistake to me at that moment that I was numb to what actually had just happened. I got up and the coaches pulled me in and don’t worry, just keep grinding at the rock. I went to the defensive huddle and my teammates looked at me and said we’ll get it back. The other team pushed us back to around the two yard line but we held them up to a fourth down. On this fourth down play, the running back came out to my side where I contained him and forced him inside into the pile. At some point he fumbled the ball and we recovered. My teammates held me up when I was at my lowest. That is what Justin-Siena football was about. The coaches of that team taught us more than just a sport. They taught us how to hold your friends up in a time of need. They taught us to shrug off a mistake and to keep working at your goal with relentless effort. They taught us to trust and to love.

D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?

Connolly: Would it be crazy to say that I am a completely different person? Not in the way of opposite to my prior personality in high school but the way I view life and the world has either changed or become more permanent in my beliefs (not to say that nothing is up to change). My experiences in college and more recently in China has allowed me to mature into a person with a greater appreciation of the support and opportunities I have been given. I believe with a constant appreciation of what I have has allowed me to stay motivated to give the same support and opportunities to my own family one day.

Family, friends, and football is the foundation of who I am today. The habits I learned from football growing up has propelled me to where I am today. Some of the greatest lessons I have learned through football include a relentless work ethic, respect for all others, preparation is the key to success, learn from your mistakes, and to love “the game”. “The game” after high school football is now simply my life.

D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?

Connolly: I can’t choose just one person. Every person in my family both immediate and more distant has had an influence on me for the better.

My father has always shown me how to get ahead in life through hard work and respect. The line he has always told me is to be respectful and gentlemanly. My mother has shown me how to follow my dreams with passion and hard work. As an entrepreneur she has shown me a window into the business world. I have seen how much of a grind the entrepreneurial world is but through the lessons my mother has taught me I know it is a viable path in life.

My brother is the combination of my parents teachings in a younger, more relatable person. He has shown me a work ethic unparalleled to peers as well as a work life balance. During my sophomore year of college, I had the opportunity to watch him work part time at Matthew’s Real Estate firm while completing an accelerated MBA at Chapman University.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would most like to meet.

Connolly: Ralph Lauren. He’s taken so many risks, a true american icon who’s lived the American dream.

As league play beacons, Wolves can clear big hurdles early

It is often said that when a high school or college team enters league and/or conference competition, that is the time where seasons get defined as successes or failures.

With regard to the 2016 version of American Canyon High football, the Wolves will have a chance to define themselves right away as they enter Solano County Athletic Conference games. American Canyon, which is 5-0 and has outscored its foes 265-97, will face its two biggest hurdles the next two weeks to win another SCAC title. The Wolves are in their sixth varsity football season and have won four straight SCAC titles (solo or shared). The smart money here says there’s a good chance the Wolves make it five, be it shared or sole possession.

American Canyon will host Benicia on Friday, Oct. 7, and will visit Vanden one week later on Oct. 14. Benicia and Vanden are both 2-3 but don’t be fooled, both are a genuine threat to the Wolves. To use a baseball analogy, American Canyon has not only hit the ball out of the park, it has reached the upper deck with tape-measure shots. Highlighting the five wins were blowout victories over reigning CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. III runnerup Inderkum (54-19) and Wood (71-36). Both teams tormented the Wolves last season with Inderkum beating American Canyon 43-6 and Wood getting the upper hand twice, 70-33 in the regular season and 59-33 in the SJS Div. II playoffs.

The Wolves aforementioned 5-0 record has come against foes that have amassed a 12-13 record. Armijo’s 1-4 mark, however, skews that record. Benicia and Vanden are each 2-3. The former has been outscored 106-84 against teams that have compiled a 11-14 record. Vanden, however, has outscored its opponents 141-67 against teams that have a combined 16-9 mark. The Vikings are no joke.

When you’re 5-0, there are far more things to celebrate than lament. Keep in mind, the Wolves were 1-4 last season at this time. However, it was the Wolves last game on Sept. 23 that had head coach Larry Singer see enough negative things to get his team’s attention during the bye week. Yes, American Canyon blew Armijo’s doors off 57-20 but you can’t just look at the final score and assess a team’s performance.

Though Armijo recorded its first win of the season on Saturday, 30-0 over Fairfield in a battle of two winless clubs, the Indians are struggling for a reason. However, on the first drive Armijo marched right down the field and scored to go ahead 6-0 over the Wolves. The Indians lined up in the wishbone formation and ran right at the Wolves. American Canyon, however, more than recovered in scoring 29 unanswered points. Watching that game, one came away with the feeling that American Canyon played down to Armijo’s level. Wolves head coach Larry Singer said as much after the game.

“We could have played better today,” Singer said. “The bye comes at a perfect time. It doesn’t matter how many points you score. 57 is great but we left a lot out there. I didn’t do a good enough job getting the defense ready for facing a team running right at us. They put up 20 points running the wishbone. I thought I was watching old Big 12 games again.”

Being a Kansas State alum, Singer would know what an old Big 12 game looks like. As a Nebraska alum, so would I. Such an effort does not matter against a subpar team like Armijo, a similar performance though probably gets you beat against Benicia or Vanden. However, things things are equally true: a) One game does not always transfer to the next, b) Each game is its own entity and c) The Wolves were playing at such a high level before the Armijo contest that they were bound to take a step back.

Never mind that Benicia and Vanden are both 2-3, these are high alert games where as a fan/media member as a hobby/truck driver for a living, I encourage you to take a “pump the brakes” approach. I’m not just saying this because I cover the Wolves during football season but I believe they are superior to both teams. However, both are good enough to beat American Canyon if it is not on point but coming out of a bye. I expect a well-prepared Wolves team on Friday and against Vanden. What that translates into the win column who knows but I think you’ll see a different team than the one that played Armijo.

Time Out with Jonathan Roeder: 2017 American Canyon High senior

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Jonathan Roeder: Competing in athletics throughout my life has had a major impact on myself and the people I choose to be around. Playing only little league baseball as a kid, I was very competitive and wanted to be the best. Though I wanted to be the best, I didn't do the necessary steps to actually be the best. Playing football for the first time my freshman year, I was nervous and wanted to continue playing this sport in the future. I didn't have good grades in junior high, but there was something about the standards of football that drove me to keep my grades up in high school. I soon fell in love with the game of football. This game specifically has changed me from being the most cockiest kid to the humble one. This game has taught me that there will always be someone stronger, faster, and bigger than me but if I give 48 minutes of my perfect effort, no one can beat that.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Roeder: After high school I plan on going to a four-year university, hopefully USC. I would love to continue playing football in college, and would love to be a Trojan. Another dream I may pursue after college is joining the Navy. Many of my family members are in branches of the military. I feel as if the Navy has the benefits I want to take to make my college life easier for my parents.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Roeder: I am actually not 100% sure of what I want to major in, but it will be something in the medical field. A majority of my family is in any type of medical field, whether it's a registered nurse or a surgeon. Even though a lot of my family is in the medical field, they aren't pressuring me to pursue their work but instead motivating me to pursue my dreams. I am actually very interested in working in the surgeon fields.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at American Canyon High?

Roeder: My favorite class at ACHS has been my Junior year humanities (English/US History) class. This class was my favorite in many different aspects. The things we've learned was interesting to me and really caught my eye. But this class wasn't my favorite for that reason only. The relationship I had with the teachers, Mr. Hsu and Mr. Olson was outstanding. They pushed me, and lifted me up when I thought I had nowhere to go. When I gave up, they got on me and really showed me that they cared. They didn't only do this to me, they did this to every student. I feel like that's rare nowadays, for teachers to really show that they care for the students.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Roeder: My mother is without a doubt the most influential and most important person in my life. She's raised me by herself from when I was 15 months old to 12 years old. Everything I am today is because of her, and I am so proud of what she has accomplished. Of course we have had our ups and downs but that has only made us stronger. She's raised me to always be respectful and have integrity in my mind, think before I act and to put others before myself. I wish right now I can give everything back that she has sacrificed for me. But the day will come, and I will finally be able to tell her that I made it and that is because of her. Every time I see her at each of my games I thank God for blessing me with the incredible support she gives me. She is the strongest person I know, she is my hero, and she is the person I look up to. Love you, mama.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

Roeder: Someone I would really like to meet is Martin Luther King Jr. A lot of racial tension is happening in America and we all want change. But what King did was actually make that change happen. Yes we all hope for change, but what can we do to make that change happen, not only do I want to meet him for what he did but for what he did to make the change happen.

Time Out with Maggie Johnson: 2017 Justin-Siena High senior

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Maggie Johnson: Volleyball for me has always been something I can count on. I know at the end of a long day at school where I'm stressed out about AP classes, I can rely on volleyball to be there for me. I can go to practice or a match and take my mind off everything else and just do what I love for a few hours and not worry about whatever I'm dealing with at school or in my personal life. I'm also a very competitive person, so I love the competition of playing a sport

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Johnson: I plan on going to a small, academic four year college, preferably on the east coast. I want to go somewhere where academics is the main focus, but I can still participate in extracurriculars like joining clubs and maybe a sorority, and studying abroad is something I'm really interested in as well. I definitely want to try and play in college. I'm not looking for anything too special when it comes to volleyball, I'm really only looking at D-III and NAIA schools in terms of volleyball. Again I want a school that is all academics first, so I if I do play volleyball, the coach will understand that academics are my top priority and volleyball is a close second.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Johnson: Right now I'm looking to major in English, probably with a focus on creative writing, and a minor in education. Teaching is something that really interests me, and English has always been my favorite subject since I love reading and writing, so I feel like it would be a really good career option for me. Plus, I'm sure my dad would feel good knowing I've followed in his footsteps becoming a teacher :)

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at Justin-Siena High?

Johnson: This is tough, I really have enjoyed nearly all the classes I've taken. I think the English class I took last year would have to be my absolute favorite. English last year was really fun, because the course was called Myths and Legends, so we got to look at and study a bunch of Greek, Roman, Norse, and other countries creation myths, God myths, and other myths, and even write our own myths, and then with the legends part of the course we looked a lot at superheroes and did a whole unit on marvel comics, as well as a unit on Plato and the ideal leader which we compared to superman. We also looked at JFK as a legend, and Beowulf. Overall the class was just really interesting and I had a lot of fun with it.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Johnson: My dad has probably been the most influential person in my life. He has always pushed me to be my best and supported me in everything I do. It helps that my dad happens to coach volleyball, and I've gotten the chance to both play for him my freshman year and coach with him all four years of high school during the club season. My dad always believed in me, he knew I could do it so he pushed me to do it, no matter what "it" was. I don't know that I ever would have started playing volleyball if it wasn't for my dad, and I don't know that I would have ever found my passion and love for the game that's kept me playing all these years if it wasn't for him.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

This one's hard too. I've never really been a history person, and I also don't have many people that I don't know in real life that I look up too. I think it'd be really interesting to meet Obama. He's been a pretty good president from what I've heard, plus I think it's just be really interesting to know what goes through the president's mind and how he feels about everything going on in our country, including the next election.

Orr's caring personality impacted many lives for multiple generations

There are people in your life that make impressions. They can be good, bad or lasting. With Keith Orr, two out of three are true. The good and lasting.

The 85-year old Orr died on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo, CA after an illness. Funeral services were held Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Napa, CA. Orr’s passing sent shockwaves throughout the entire Napa Valley with news travelling at the speed of light in both traditional and social media. News of his death not only ran as an obituary but drew an introspective feature courtesy of Napa Valley Register senior sports reporter Marty James. At Napa High’s home football game against Pleasant Valley (Chico), Orr was honored in a moment of silence. Orr was inducted into the Napa High Hall of Fame in 2000 and taught at the school from 1965-1998. He joined the Napa Valley Unified School District in 1958.  

Orr was 85, which most people consider a full life. Sure, as time goes on, we can put a positive spin on the life he led. Intellectually, we know that no one who lives 85 years gets cheated. However, emotionally, Orr’s passing leaves a void.

Before coming to Napa in 1958, Orr spent his life in Oshkosh, NE, and Caldwell, ID. Orr was part of a generation that learned his work ethic on his family’s farm. He also gained a unique perspective of life on a different layer, serving his country for two years in Korea. After getting his Master’s Degree in Education from Oregon State University, he started his teaching career in Caldwell, Idaho. Shortly thereafter, Orr moved his family to Napa. The rest, as they say, is history.

The man wore many hats. He taught physical education, coached football, track and field, along with both boys and girls basketball. Orr began his teaching and coaching prowess for Silverado Junior High before taking those talents to Napa High. He also coached football at Napa Valley College for one year as well as the Napa Valley Bears, which was a semi-pro football team that played in the California Football League for one season. Orr was also widely known as a dedicated family man as well as to his church.

Orr’s passing is not just a loss to Napa High but to the entire valley. Orr retired from teaching and coaching in 1998 but the term “retired” was a loose definition in his case. He still continued to officiate sporting events and substitute teach. Orr also taught summer school every year.

I have met many teachers and coaches that say they care about youngsters and their well-being but when Orr preached that message, it was gospel.

Seriously, how many career teachers do you know that would have followed Orr’s path after retiring? While not doing so does not make them lesser as people, it speaks volumes about Orr’s humanity.

What I remember about Orr’s personality was that he was always positive. In a world where negativity has become more commonplace and even celebrated, Orr’s personality was a refreshing.

Since I went to Justin-Siena (a private Catholic high school in Napa), I did not know Mr./Coach Orr like the Napa High alums. I first became acquainted with him because he was a frequent customer at my father’s service station, where I worked during my high school year and college years.

Two of my three sisters and my brother had him as a teacher at Napa High. Since I played football and ran track at Justin, we had an instant connection. He would call me “Brave Stud.” Well, with my athleticism (or lack thereof), “stud” would be a loose definition but I digress. Though our interactions were infrequent, I remember him being very relatable. After I graduated from high school in 1991, I moved away, four of those years were spent in his home state, specifically at the University of Nebraska, where I got my journalism degree in 1997. When I returned to California in 1998 to start an 18-year career in journalism, I learned that he retired.

However, I frequently saw him as a referee or spectator at high school sports events that I covered. When I was in St. Helena and Calistoga as a sports reporter, I frequently saw him as a substitute teacher. We would kid each other but have a good time. I would be walking toward him, Orr would say one of two things, “Man, they let anyone in these parts.” Or he’d quip, “You’re looking good, kid. They must be feeding you well up here.” Without missing a beat, I’d quip in return, “I’ve got to keep doing good things up here or they’ll run me out of town.”

From there, the conversation continued, everything from sports at all levels to family life. I could talk to the man for hours.

In a way it’s a shame that I’m thinking of this now that he is at that sporting event or classroom in the sky but I can think of a way right now that I relate to Orr. He continued to officiate and substitute teach after retiring. As for me, two years after making a career change to route sales representative (fancy term for truck driver) for Alhambra Water, I continue my writing fix through this blog and helping the Register with high school football coverage.

With Orr, impacting the lives of young people was not just a job, it was his passion.

When it came to making a difference in the lives of youngsters, this man had both Orrs in the water. Pun intended.

Time Out with Andrew Rapacon: 2017 American Canyon High senior

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Andrew Rapacon: The biggest thing that I've enjoyed most in athletics is the bond that I form with my team. I have been playing sports with the same people I've played with when I was little and we have really grown into a family. Having that bond with your friends makes it easier to compete, because when you are losing, they are there to pick you up, and when you're winning, there is no better feeling than winning with your family.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Rapacon: After high school I plan to attend college. I'd want to stay close to home somewhere. Any type of offer or scholarship I'd be grateful for. If I don't get a offer for football, then I'd probably walk on, because I can't picture myself not playing football.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Rapacon: I want to major in Architectural Engineering. In school, I've always been above average in math and I've always enjoyed creating and designing things. I've been wanting to major in some type of Engineering, but I never knew which one to choose. Then my junior year in high school I took a construction class and we learned about "Green Building", and I was really intrigued. Now I have the chance to do exactly that and I feel like that's a perfect fit for me.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at American Canyon High?

Rapacon: My favorite class at American Canyon High has to be Calculus. From PreCalculus, to AP Calculus AB, to AP Calculus BC, it has always been a great class. Calculus is not an easy, but I've always enjoyed having the course. Not only is the subject interesting to learn, but I've had the same group of friends in each class. And we've also had the same teacher all three years and it's been a great experience my whole high school career.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Rapacon: My parents have definitely been the most influential people in my life. Everything that I've learned about life has been from them. I am grateful to have them in my life and I hope one day I can pay them back for all they've done for me.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

Rapacon: If I could meet anyone, I'd meet Ray Lewis. He was a great player and a phenomenal speaker. I've always looked up to him and his leadership qualities, and I've always admired his inspirational speeches because that's something I need to work on as a leader on my team.

American Canyon High football moving the needle

There are a ton of reasons to feel good about American Canyon High football.

Let’s start with the obvious, the Wolves are 4-0 and have outscored opponents 208-77 but sometimes you have to understand the journey before you can comprehend the success. However, this American Canyon High football ride is very much in progress.

They have beaten two teams that terrorized them last season. In 2015, Inderkum (Sacramento) beat American Canyon 43-6 and Wood (Vacaville) beat the Wolves twice, once in the regular season (70-33) and again in the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. III playoffs (59-33). Flip the script one year later, the Wolves smoked both Inderkum (54-19) and Wood (71-36) like a nickel cigar.

Though the revenge angle can be an overplayed narrative, being a Wolves fan is a much better feeling than last season at this time, when American Canyon was 0-4. Granted, the Wolves were breaking in some new faces at the skilled positions as well facing four teams in that span that were playoff teams that finished with a combined record of 32-15.

The Wolves were also breaking in their third head coach, Larry Singer, in as many seasons. While Singer has been with American Canyon since the school opened its doors in 2010, it generally takes time for a new head coach to establish his culture. Singer, however, appears to have grown into his role as varsity head coach very well after five years as the JV head coach and one as the freshman head man. Since the aforementioned 0-4 start to 2015, the Wolves have gone 9-2 heading into Friday’s game at Wolf Den Stadium against Armijo. Like any successful head man, Singer knows the value of having good assistant coaches. Like Singer, American Canyon assistant coaches Joe Beachum, Chris Rapacon and Chris Yepson have been Wolves assistants from Day One. Previous head coaches Ian MacMillan and Ernie Lawson also have sweat equity in the Wolves current success.

The Napa Valley has extensive football tradition with Napa, Vintage, Justin-Siena, St. Helena and Calistoga all having various pockets of success either currently or previously. American Canyon has established a tradition of its own. The Wolves are in their sixth varsity season. In its first five, American Canyon has won or shared the Solano County Athletic Conference four times. The only time the Wolves did not reach the postseason was 2011, when they went 4-6 but even with a truckload of injuries, they were in SJS Div. III playoff contention until the final week.

Unless the team gets hit by a blimp, the Wolves appear well on their way to another league title (outright or shared) with a chance to make noise in the postseason. American Canyon’s last three wins, the aforementioned victories over Inderkum and Wood along with Vintage (42-14), have moved the needle in these parts and beyond. In fact, the Wolves have received coverage on Sacramento’s FOX-TV affiliate. Inderkum is a traditional powerhouse and the Sacramento area has many of them. Beating a school from that area will resonate. The Wolves not only beat the Tigers, they boat-raced them.

Though the Monticello Empire League has been dominated by Napa and Vacaville, Wood has climbed the league’s hierarchy. Though Vintage has been fair-to-middling, beating an in-county team will move the needle.

Another layer to American Canyon’s 4-0 start, Vintage and Wood are MEL teams with Armijo being another. Yours truly made it no secret that the Wolves belong in the MEL in a previous blog entry:

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2016/04/american-canyon-high-would-be-good-fit.html

I could expound on that more but I cannot think of any new ways to say it though I will probably revisit that topic extensively sooner rather than later.

Going forward, the Wolves two biggest hurdles will be SCAC foes Benicia (at home Oct. 7) and Vanden (on the road Oct. 14). Though most people did not see Benicia struggling to a 24-16 win at traditionally lowly Armijo. However, you cannot just assume that one game will transfer to the next.

Offensively, the Wolves running game is like an octopus, if one arm doesn’t grab you, the other one will. You have fast and shifty running backs like Anthony Gobert and Kama Aalona. Though the former is 5-foot-9, 170-pounds, he is also a physical runner. You have a bruiser with speed like Andrew Rapacon and the hub of the wheel is quarterback Darren Antes. Anytime you have a returning starter with command of the offense like Antes, that is a huge advantage. Most people don’t think of a run-based offense with quarterbacks reading defenses but the veer involves exactly that element. While some plays are pre-determined, there are many that are not. Antes makes the right read far more often than not.

Defensively, the Wolves have improved enormously. Though they yielded 36 points and over 400 yards of offense against Wood, you have to have perspective. Unlike their previous three foes that are run-oriented, the Wildcats offense will pass first and ask questions later. Though the Wolves offense scored on 10 of 11 possessions, the defense got just enough stops to where Wood was not in danger of surpassing American Canyon.

As a freelance writer/fan/water truck driver, I can look ahead and say 10-0 is in play for the Wolves. However, Singer and the coaches will take the “one game at a time” approach because it’s their job to keep the players grounded even with the enormity of their success.

Singer has a point though. Look no further than 2012. The Wolves entered SCAC play 5-0 against an 0-5 Vallejo team at Corbus Field. Vallejo knocked off American Canyon 33-28. Though the Wolves won their last four regular season games to win the SCAC, plus two playoff games (37-8 over River Valley and 28-20 over Cosumnes Oaks) before falling in the semifinals at Oakdale, you don’t want to put yourself in position where you are out of mulligans.

Much like the Duran Duran song, the key now is for American Canyon to stay “Hungry Like a Wolf.” While Singer did not use that exact reference, he emphasized that the team will have a target on its back. With that means every opponent will give American Canyon its best shot going forward.