Vintage took the inaugural season of the Vine Valley Athletic League by storm in 2018, and then added an impressive playoff run to get to 10 wins. But while the Crushers have some key components returning this year, they can expect a challenge from a couple teams who pushed them last season, American Canyon and Casa Grande, not to mention a Petaluma team which can give opponents fits with its triple-option attack.
We take a look at each of the teams heading into the 2019 season, in alphabetical order and with last year's records displayed.
AMERICAN CANYON (6-6, 5-1)
Coming off a 6-6 season, and a trip to the second round of the North Coast Section playoffs, the Wolves are expected to have another strong team this season.
With Vance Eschenburg back at quarterback running the triple option for American Canyon, the offense returns a key member. The Wolves lost Eddie Byrdsong to graduation, a 1,000-yard rusher from last season, but expect guys like Darius Thomas and Justin DelRosario to pick up some of the rushing slack. Don’t expect a big throwing game from American Canyon, as they threw for only 476 yards as a team last year. Defensive veterans Kekoa Wilson and Derrick Conner, the leading tacklers from last year's team, are expected to have a big year again.
American Canyon opens their season at Deer Valley-Antioch on Aug. 23.
CASA GRANDE (4-7, 4-2)
Casa Grande will have about 40 players on their roster this season, made up of returners and mostly young talent. Coach John Antonio has been pleased with the commitment of his players.
“We had a great summer. We had good attendance throughout the summer workouts and passing league. We’re really excited about the season,” said Antonio.
Casa Grande has been holding their camp at the Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma. This was started by former Casa Grande and now current St Vincent coach Trent Herzog.
“We wanted to get the kids out of their comfort zone. It’s a little warmer here, and we have been practicing on natural grass instead of the turf we have back home.”
Antonio also put a new twist on the kids. He took away every player’s cell phone for the three days. If he thinks they have a good practice session, he has been giving them one hour on their phones. He pointed out that there was no complaining when he announced this.
“I’m excited to know that they came here to focus on football. I didn’t want them spending every moment outside of the practice field on their phones. I’m also trying to make them feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations. Football won’t be comfortable and I want them to get used to that,” Antonio commented.
Miguel Robertson will be the man behind center for the Gauchos this season, as he replaces Jadon Bosarge. Dominic McHale is also back for Casa Grande as a wide receiver and safety. They also have Rashad Nixon back at those same positions. Antonio mentioned a big pick up for them is Kobe Krinaich, who is back playing football after a one-year hiatus from the sport. He will be another wide receiver and defensive back for the Gauchos.
“We have a lot of depth. We have about 18 receivers and 18 linemen.”
Casa Grande should be one of the better teams in the league. Vintage, the defending league champion should be up there, along with American Canyon and Napa.
Antonio mentioned a sleeper team that he thinks could cause some problems in the VVAL this year.
“Petaluma. We play them in the Egg Bowl in our very last game. By then, they usually have their triple option style offense really dialed in and could be tough to stop. Rick (Krist) is a great guy and a great coach. Throw records out the window in that game. It’ll be a battle," Antonio said. “The Egg Bowl is like playing for the city championship. The stands will be jam packed, and you bet that the winning team will be chanting ‘Egg Bowl!’ at the basketball games in the winter. You play against your friends that you grew up with, and you want to fiercely beat each other on the field that day, but in five years you’re sitting at McNear’s, you guys are just buddies again and you’ll give each other a hard time about who won and who lost, in good fun of course.”
Antonio said that his theme this year for his Gaucho team is “fight.” Fight for everything you want. Fight for playing time. Fight for wins. Fight through adversity.
Casa Grande opens up their season Aug. 23 at home vs Windsor.
JUSTIN-SIENA (5-7, 1-5)
Last year was a very interesting year for the Braves. Much like their neighbor only a mile down the street, they’ll be young.
Also, like their in-town rivals their coach isn't worried about having a youthful team.
“No, not at all because those guys have been working really hard this summer,” Justin-Siena coach Brandon LaRocco explained of the youthfulness on the team. “So our juniors have been very committed to being here and learning and working hard in the offseason. So, I'm feeling pretty good.”
“I feel like our team's coming along pretty well actually,”Justin-Siena senior Solomone Anitoni said. “I think we've been close.”
The Braves top returner is Anitoni. He’s someone who LaRocco plans to get the ball to a lot during a game.
“He’ll be playing offense and defense this year,” the coach said. “We find ways to get the ball in Solomone’s hands in a lot of different ways. Sometimes it’s down the field. Sometimes, it’s little dump passes in the flat. Sometimes we just handle the ball to him. So, kick return all that stuff. A little bit of everything.”
Other returners to the team include Nolan Dunkle, Marcus Nunes, Grant Koehler, Miles Williams and Blake Hoban.
Justin-Siena opens the season on Aug. 23 at home against Piedmont.
NAPA (0-10, 0-6)
The Grizzlies will begin the year with another new coach leading the way. Richie Wessman takes over as Napa’s fifth coach in the last five seasons.
“The weather’s been great, a lot of great people,” Wessman said of his short time in Napa thus far. “Outside of the weather and the people, I’ve been solely focused on football.”
Napa has a good amount of returning players coming back this season. Those returners are Brock Bowers, Jack Guigure, Isiah Newton, Jesse Desa, Jesus Pimentel, Tyler Clark, Filberto Chavez, and Jose Santos.
“I feel like we’re going to be a lot better than last year,” Bowers said of the team having a good amount of returners. “Just because we have more experience I think.”
“I feel like we have more chemistry than last year,” Newton added. “Last year was a lot of individualism, people not wanting to practice, people not wanting to be there. This year, it’s people that want to be here and it’s a lot of comradery, especially with coach Wessman here bringing more fire to it than last year.”
Napa will begin the season Aug. 23 at Middletown.
PETALUMA (6-5, 3-3)
The Trojans have enjoyed a five-year run of success in which they have gone 36-19. They’ve relied mostly on their offensive line and dominance in running their triple option offense. Things won’t be much different as head coach Rick Krist will be relying on that triple option offense to wear teams down and take time off the clock.
Krist mentioned that while they are a younger team than they’ve had for a while, they still have some experience coming back. Jack Santos, Matt Salyers, and Logan Wagers will be anchoring the offensive line, and Wagers and Salyers will be doing the same for the defensive line, while Santos will be the leader of the defense at inside linebacker.
Jack Hartman, a junior quarterback will be the maestro of the Trojan offense. Hartman, just a junior, started the Egg Bowl last year vs Casa Grande and had 50 yards of total offense in just two offensive drives.
“He’s been having a great summer and fall. He’s very athletic, and has been throwing the ball well. He’s got experience and has been a leader for us,” Krist said.
Hartman will be a two-way player, getting a lot of time on defense as a safety.
“He was an anchor for us defensively last year and will continue to do the same this year.”
Krist also mentioned a good receiving corps with newcomers Luke Reavis and Tanner Starrett, along with returning Tony Moeckel. Transfer Randall Braziel will be able to play after sitting out last season, helping out at running back, receiver and safety. Another transfer, Austin Miller, who came over to Petaluma from Casa Grande last year, will be able to play.
“We have a young team, but they’re learning quick. It’s going to be an exciting time leading up to our first game,” Krist said.
He is also excited about another crack in the Egg Bowl, after last year’s epic game resulted in a Casa Grande win.
“Our team will be dialed in by then. We’ll have mastered our craft and it’ll be a great game,” Krist said.
He pointed out that even though Napa was 0-10 last year, they have a chance to be very dangerous.
“They have a great quarterback in Isaiah Newton and tight end in Brock Bowers. They’re gonna have a very good team this year.”
Petaluma opens the season at home vs Tamalpais-Mill Valley on Aug. 23.
SONOMA VALLEY (4-7, 3-4)
The Dragons open camp with a new head coach in Hervy Williams, who replaces longtime coach Bob Midgley. Jake Baker returns at quarterback, who completed 5 percent of his throws last season in limited playing time. Lawson Lee was brought up as a sophomore and could be a key contributor to the Dragons this season.
Sonoma Valley opens up the season vs Douglas-Nevada on Aug. 23.
VINTAGE (10-3, 6-0)
The defending league champion Crushers are very youthful this season. But the junior class is coming off of a JV year where they went 9-0-1.
So, Vintage coach Dylan Leach isn’t too concerned about the team being young.
“No, it’s high school,” he said. “Every year it’s high school you’re going to have turnover. So obviously you want to be you want to be experienced in the right spots.”
The returning starters aren't too concerned, either.
“I wouldn’t say that we’re young,” Vintage junior quarterback/safety Jacob Aaron said. “We’ve got a great senior class. Yeah, obviously we’ve got a lot more juniors playing this year, but we’re fine.”
“Yeah, I think we have a lot of geniuses here,” Vintage senior Mauricio Castro added. “But, it definitely helps us skill-wise and lineman-wise. You know, we have a lot of players, so it doesn't really bug me at all.”
“I mean, I think we're just going to be ready for the battle,” Vintage senior center Jack Odell explained. “We have coaches here that get us mentally and physically ready to get into a battle and do what we need to do at the end of the night.”
Vintage returns Jacob Aaron, Mauricio Castro, Jack Odell, Kyle Dandini, Dominic Smith, Dylan Cook and Pedja Zivkovic. Other senior returners are Logan Bartlett, Harrison Barrett, Billy Birdsall, Bryce Eade, Jose Alfaro, Konrad Fiske, Ernie Avina and Avery Hall. Jeremy Bradley also returns to the program after a year away.
Vintage opens the season Aug. 23 at Napa Memorial Stadium against Wood-Vacaville.
