Another chapter of Vintage/American Canyon awaits at the Wolf Den

In Napa and Sonoma Valleys, two high level wine producing

regions in Northern California, the term bud break is used in

reference to the first stage in the vine cycle that yields grapes. 

As it pertains to high school sports rivalries (most notably

football) in these parts, Napa and Vintage has stood the test

of time with the two schools having played each other every

year since 1972. That rivalry would be like a perfectly aged

wine. Any mixture of Justin-Siena vs. Vintage, Napa or

American Canyon would be like bud break because this will

represent only the second year those schools will have

played each other. American Canyon and Vintage, while not

a vintage (pun intended) wine, is a new one on the shelf that

is a very good sell. 

For previous entries on the newly formed rivalry click on the

links below: 

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2018/10/vintageac-football-

meet-for-new-chapter.html

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2016/03/vintage-american-

canyon-football.html

For the second time in as many seasons, the Vintage

Crushers (5-1 overall, 2-0 Vine Valley Athletic League) and

American Canyon (7-0 overall, 3-0 VVAL) Wolves meet for sole

possession of the first place at Wolf Den Stadium in American

Canyon. This contest is vital enough that KVON 1440 AM,

which is a Napa radio station that broadcasts local high school

football, flexed its schedule. KVON was originally slated to carry

Justin at Napa but switched to Vintage at American Canyon

because of the aforementioned ramifications. Shoutout Ira

Smith and Kent Fry. 

While this marks only the fourth meeting in football between the

two schools, this rivalry had been brewing. American Canyon,

which is nine miles South of Napa, opened in 2010 but in

previous years, kids from that town went elsewhere, with a

strong majority going to Vintage. While I would never dream of

suggesting that American Canyon/Vintage will ever supplant

Napa/Vintage (aka The Big Game), the former figures to be

compelling for the foreseeable future. 

True confession from yours truly, I feel genuinely conflicted from

a rooting interest about this game. I covered numerous American

Canyon games as a freelance writer from  2015-2018 and briefly

as a beat reporter for the American Canyon Eagle. To that end,

I developed relationships and in some cases friendships. On the

other hand, being a Napa resident, my three kids (two fifth

graders and one seventh grader) will be attending Vintage in all

probability. In addition, there are people affiliated at that school

that I consider friends. 

American Canyon boat-raced Vintage 42-14 in 2016 but the

Crushers returned the favor with a 28-14 win in 2017. At the

time, both schools were members of the CIF Sac Joaquin

Section. The Wolves were in the Solano County Athletic

Conference and the Crushers resided in the Monticello Empire

League. 

Then came 2018 when both schools moved to the North Coast

Section and became members in the VVAL. Last season,

Vintage defeated the Wolves 27-14. 

The narrative in this matchup has been styles make fights.

What wins? American Canyon’s speed or Vintage’s brawn. For

the Wolves, the question is who takes snaps from center?

Vance Eschenburg or Vinnie Espejo? Eschenburg left American

Canyon’s 14-7 win over Napa with an apparent head injury but

as of this writing, there was no definitively public answer. So,

we will make no assumptions. 

College football analyst Phil Steele uses a yards per point metric

to measure efficiency. On offense, you want the number to be

low. Conversely, on defense, you want the number to be high.

The Crushers average 9.7 yards per point on offense and 14.6

on defense. American Canyon is averaging 11.2 yards per

point on offense and 19.2 on defense. 

One advantage the Crushers have entering the game is

strength of schedule. Granted, you can only control winning the

game you are scheduled to play but the numbers don’t lie.

According to calpreps.com, and this is only a reference point,

Vintage’s opponents have an average ranking of minus-1.0

while American Canyon’s foes have an average ranking of

minus-15.3. 

In the meantime, the most recent chapter of Vintage/American

Canyon can enjoy some more fermentation. 

Napa Valley high school football around the horn -- Week 6

The deeper a high school football season gets into October,

the more seasons become defined. 

In Napa Valley, CA, while the picture is not crystal clear, the

view has become more definitive on a few fronts. 

The Vine Valley Athletic League title still runs through 1375

Trower Avenue in Napa, CA, but there’s a school location on

3000 Newell Dr. in American Canyon, CA, that will have a

say in the matter. On Friday, the American Canyon Wolves

defeated the Napa Grizzlies 14-7 in a pivotal VVAL contest.

The Willits Wolverines prevailed over the St. Helena Saints

30-28. The Vintage Crushers routed the Petaluma Trojans

40-7. The Justin-Siena Braves whitewashed the Sonoma

Valley Dragons 41-0. The Calistoga Wildcats blanked the

Laytonville Warriors 46-0. 

Here’s a closer look:

AMERICAN CANYON/NAPA

Looking back: American Canyon went 92 yards to score

the decisive touchdown, culminating with Kaave Gaviola’s

1-yard touchdown run, with 6:25 left in the contest. The

drive was aided by five Napa penalties, a few of which the

Grizzlies and their fans deemed egregious. Gaviola scored

both Wolves touchdowns while quarterback Isaiah Newton

accounted for Napa’s lone score with a 73-yard touchdown

run. 

Statistically, the game played out strangely with both teams

having scoring opportunities go by the boards with drives

ending either in a missed field goal, turnover or running out

of downs. American Canyon gained 261 yards on 67 plays

while Napa compiled 156 yards on 36 plays, 73 on Newton’s

touchdown.  

Looking ahead: For the second time in as many seasons,

American Canyon and Vintage sit atop the VVAL without a

loss heading into their game against one another. The

Wolves are 3-0 in VVAL while Vintage is 2-0. The Crushers

had their bye while American Canyon’s open date will follow

this contest between the two teams at American Canyon.

The Crushers are 2-1 lifetime against American Canyon,

winning the last two. For American Canyon, the question

becomes, who will be taking snaps from center? Vance

Eschenburg left the game in the second quarter with an

apparent head injury before being replaced by Vinnie

Espejo. As of this writing, there was no definitive word on

Eschenburg’s status. 

For Napa, which falls to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in VVAL, this

defeat means it will have to win out and get help to win even

a share of the VVAL title. The Grizzlies host Justin at

Memorial Stadium. The Braves won last year’s game 36-32

on a blocked punt in the final minute. Just an aside, Napa

radio station KVON, which broadcasts local high school

football, was slated to carry the Justin/Napa matchup. In all

likelihood, the station will try to flex out and broadcast

Vintage at American Canyon given the ramifications. 

VINTAGE

Looking back: For the second time in as many weeks,

the Crushers delivered the knockout punch in the early

going against an overmatched opponent. The Crusher

offense produced 322 yards of offense on 34 plays. On the

rushing side, Vintage had 23 carries for 192 yards with ten

different Crushers carrying the ball. Pedja Zivkovic, Mauricio

Castro, Jayden Benjamin and quarterback Jacob Aaron each

ran for a score. Aaron completed 6 of 11 passes for 130 yards

with touchdown passes to Logan Bartlett and Reid McCaffery.

Defensively, the Crushers allowed just 163 yards on 40 plays. 

Looking ahead: For the Crushers, another chapter involving

American Canyon awaits. The Wolves are 7-0 overall and 3-0

in VVAL. Vintage is also unbeaten in VVAL atop the standings

with its lone loss being a 21-13 defeat against Bellarmine Prep

(San Jose). Winning this game for either team means that they

would put them in a position where they would clinch no worse

than a tie for the VVAL title. Vintage and American Canyon have

met three times. American Canyon won the first meeting, 42-14

in 2016. Vintage has won the previous two, 28-14 in 2017 and

27-14 in 2018. 

 ST. HELENA

Looking back: The Saints offense, most notably Ivan Robledo,

continued to put up gaudy numbers. Robledo broke his own

school record established a week earlier. This time gaining 294

yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns. As an offense, the

Saints gained 482 total yards (423 rushing) but five turnovers

would be too much to overcome. Willits scored the game’s first

17 points as Jacob Arms led the way with 192 yards on eight

carries and two touchdowns. Despite all of its mis-steps,

quarterback Daniel Martinez connected with George Cutting

for a 9-yard touchdown pass on the game’s final play, making it

30-28 Willits. The two-point conversion failed and Willits escaped

with a win. 

Looking ahead: For Willits, which defeated St. Helena for the

first time since 2010, it is tied atop the North Central League I

standings with Middletown. While the loss represents the first

of the season for St. Helena, the Saints can still have a say in

the NCL I race. The Saints host Middletown on Friday. The two

schools have had a few compelling matchups this decade but

the Mustangs have won the previous three head-to-head

meetings. 

JUSTIN-SIENA

Looking back: For the second time in as many weeks, the

Braves overwhelmed their opponent. Quarterback Hudson

Beers fired six touchdown passes with three recipients (Miles

Williams, Blake Hoban and Solomone Anitoni) each catching

two. On the defensive end, Sonoma twice got inside the Justin

20-yard line only to run out of downs. 

Looking ahead: Most people deemed the VVAL as a two,

possibly three team race before the season (Vintage, American

Canyon and Napa). Well, you might want to a fourth team at

least for the moment -- Justin. Much has been made of the

Braves having four one possession losses in two seasons in

the VVAL. Justin is 6-1 overall and 2-1 in VVAL. The Braves

visit Memorial Stadium on Friday to face Napa, which they beat

36-32 last season. With Napa, Vintage and American Canyon

awaiting and representing three tall drinks of water, the Braves

have a chance to prove a point to the skeptics. 

CALISTOGA

Looking back: The Wildcats thoroughly dominated Laytonville

from pillar to post on Saturday night. Joey Russo started the

onslaught with a 26-yard fumble return for a score and Calistoga

had the only points it would need. Nonetheless, quarterback

Christian Caldera accounted for the next six Wildcat scores.

Caldera had 105 yards rushing on 18 carries and five

touchdowns. He also connected with Isaac Garcia for a 35-yard

score. Calistoga gained 246 yards of total offense on 43 plays.

The Wildcats defense limited the Laytonville offense to 121

yards on 52 plays. 

Looking ahead: Calistoga sits at 4-1 overall with its most

important NCL III South games in front. The Wildcats are at

Branson (Ross) on Saturday. The Bulls are 3-1 overall. That

game will be followed by a home contest against 3-2 Tomales.

Intriguing matchup awaits between AC and Napa

Sometimes, there are situations where a matchup does not

qualify as a rivalry but it is intriguing enough in the moment to

where you think there is potential. 

With Napa Valley high school football rivarlies, Napa and Vintage

stands alone because they are three miles apart and have played
continuously since 1972. It has gone through periods of being

compelling to unwatchable one the field but because it is The Big

Game, it has your attention. 

There have been small school versions of rivalries like St. Helena/

Justin-Siena and St. Helena/Calistoga but those series no longer

exist and even when they did, they only moved the needle with a

small segment of people. Be honest, if you were from Napa or

Vintage, you had passing interest at best. 

More recently, Vintage and American Canyon, while it will never

replace the Napa/Vintage rivalry, has become compelling on some

level. Why? Because American Canyon did not open its doors until

2010, before which time a large portion of American Canyon-ites

went to Vintage for the most part, with a smattering going elsewhere. 

Looking at the high school football schedule, Memorial Stadium in

Napa, CA, will be the site for what figures to be a matchup that is

both compelling and pivotal at the same time. 

The two combatants are the American Canyon Wolves and Napa

Grizzlies. Kickoff time 7 p.m. If you are not attending in person, you

can tune into 1440 AM KVON or listen online at kvon.com, shoutout

Ira Smith and Kent Fry. 

To set the scene, the Vintage Crushers, who won the Vine Valley

Athletic League last season, have what both of these teams want.

Vintage (4-1) visits a Petaluma team that has lost five in a row.

Granted, the game has to get played on the field but unless the

Crushers team bus gets hit by a blimp, Vintage wins going away. 

I hesitate to call Friday’s aforementioned contest an elimination

game for the VVAL title. However, the winner can still control its

fate to upend Vintage for the title but the loser would need to win

out and hope for help that it may not get. American Canyon is

6-0 overall and 1-0 in VVALL while Napa is 4-1 overall and 1-0

in VVAL. Their common opponent is Sonoma, which American

Canyon beat 68-0 and Napa defeated 62-19. Let’s see, based

on that logic, the Wolves should win by 25 points. I’m kidding of

course, just throwing shade at those who believe that logic

when every game is its own DNA. 

Both teams are compelling stories for different reasons. Napa is

on its fourth head coach, Richie Wessman, in as many seasons.

The Grizzlies went 0-for-2018 and entered the 2019 campaign

3-16 in the last two seasons. I have not met Wessman but to

this point, the reviews have been quite good. 

American Canyon is in its second year under head coach John

Montante, who is the fourth head coach in the school’s ten year

history. American Canyon has continuously won despite change.
Montante’s Wolves started last season 0-4 in part because of a

brutal nonleague schedule but has gone 12-2 since that time. I

saw Montante’s Wolves up close last season. He appears to be

settling in as the American Canyon lead dog. 

Both teams have thoroughly dominated their foes to date.

American Canyon has won by an average score of 35.1-6.0

while the Grizzlies have won by an average margin of 36.8-11.8.

The statistical domination also illustrates because American

Canyon has outgained its opponents by an average of 394.2-

111.7 yards per game. Offensively, the Wolves have enjoyed

two games of going North of 400 yards and three others where

they were on the cusp, as is between 390 and 400. Defensively,

the Wolves have not given up a single point in eight quarters,

only one opponent has gained over 200 yards and three

others failed to reach 100, including the last two. 

The Grizzlies have outgained their foes by an average of 343.2

-264.8. What skews that average is Napa being outgained 338

-217 in total yardage in a 20-14 overtime defeat against

Nevada Union. Against the other four opponents, all wins, that

average is 374.8-246.5. Napa has one 400 yard game on

offense and three others over 340. 

Yards per point is a modern day metric commonly used by

college football analyst Phil Steele. The lower your average on

offense, the better because it denotes maximizing productivity.

The higher your average on defense, the better because it

reflects giving up yards but not points. American Canyon’s

offense averages 11.2 yards per point while the defense gives

up 43.5 yards per point. For Napa, its offense is averaging 9.3

yards per point while its defense yields 22.4 yards per point. 

While the dominance of both teams has been impressive to

date, it comes with skepticism by some people because of

the lack of strength in schedule. I’m not saying it is good, bad

or indifferent because all youngsters can do is play their

assigned opponent. However, with the schedule not being

strong, skeptics will follow. 

Calpreps.com, which covers high school football and provides

rankings, American Canyon’s strength of schedule is only

slightly higher than what Napa possesses, minus-20.4 to

minus-22.2 as it pertains to all ten of their opponents. If you

base it solely on teams, they have played, American Canyon’s

opponents have an average rating of minus-16.65 while

Napa’s foes have compiled an average rating of minus-22.0. 

While rankings can be full of conjecture, Napa, which is an

NCS Div. II team, took its slings and arrows for scheduling Div.

VI Middletown, Div. IV Vallejo and Div. I Armijo. Middletown is

an annual small school powerhouse while Vallejo and Armijo

have struggled mightily in the past decade plus. 

Both teams will finish the 2019 regular season campaign with

a stellar win-loss record but the winner will have a better case

for dismissing perceived narratives.