Vintage extends league, Big Game winning streaks behind huge second half to beat Napa, claims third consecutive league title
By Kyle Foster, photo courtesy of Don Lex (LuckyDuckImages.com)
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
In Big Game, weird things do happen. Though there may never be anything weirder than the 49th edition taking place in April, which is the only time it has ever happened to date.
Yet, there is one constant in this season that was delayed and truncated due to the COVID-19 pandemic – the Vintage football team winning the Vine Valley Athletic League title.
They were able to do that after winning their fourth consecutive Big Game against rival Napa by a score of 35-7. They also tightened the overall Big Game series to 29-18-2, which is in Napa’s favor still. The win for the Crushers also extends their VVAL winning streak to an astounding 18 games without being beaten. It’s also their third straight VVAL title.
“I’m really proud right now. I’m really proud of this team,” Vintage head coach Dylan Leach said afterward. “We knew going in that Napa was a tougher team than their record showed. We knew their defense was good. I’m just really proud of these guys, the way they faced some adversity that we haven’t faced.”
“It’s amazing. We worked for it,” Vintage junior running back Dylan Smith explained. “Everything happened the way it should.”
The adversity that the Crushers (6-0 overall, 6-0 Vine Valley Athletic League) had to face was trailing for the first time all season. Napa (2-3, 2-3 VVAL) scored their only score of the game, which was also their first score when sophomore quarterback Anthony Tubridy connected with Isidro Rios for a 54-yard touchdown at the 6:40 mark of the first quarter.
“We came out and played well,” Napa High head coach Askari Adams said. “(There) were a couple of mistakes here or there, but they played their butts off.”
After that score by the Grizzlies, Smith took over. Smith ended the night with 18 rushes for 190 yards and three scores.
“Our O-line was what was going right for me,” Smith explained. “It’s all to them. They open it up for me. All I do is run.”
“We know who he is and what he’s capable of. Luckily, we gave him an opportunity to get the rock,” Leach emphasized. “Dylan’s a man amongst boys out there. He runs so hard and he’s so tough and I can’t wait for another year with that guy.”
Smith’s first score of the contest was the equalizer that also changed the game’s momentum. It was a 10-yard rush at the 4:35 mark of the first quarter. He also found the end zone twice in the third quarter. At the 8:14 mark, he scored from 39 yards out and then from 37 yards at the 2:17 mark.
Vintage also got a touchdown from Mo Schaumkel from 53 yards away with 3:22 left in the first half. Then with 8:32 left in the game, Bill Chaidez had a 16-yard touchdown scamper that made it 35-7.
Normally, after Big Game teams would await their playoff fates. Instead, they will turn right around and start preparing for the upcoming fall season. Spring football practices normally kick off in May, but they may need to take some time off with such a quick turnaround before starting the new season.
In other league games Friday night, American Canyon beat Justin-Siena 50-42 and Petaluma beat Casa Grande in the Egg Bowl 20-14.
