Archbishop Riordan wins high scoring contest over Napa

By Kyle Foster, photo courtesy of Don Lex (LuckyDuckImages.com)

kfost91197@gmail.com

Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews

There was a lot offensive fireworks Saturday night at Napa Memorial Stadium as Archbishop Riordan beat Napa 40-31 to earn their first win of the season.

“It’s great,” Riordan coach Jay’Sen Morris explained of getting the first victory of the year. “This was a must-win for us leading into our bye week we definitely wanted to come in with a W, so it’s a huge win you know? Huge win on the season, huge win for the night, so we’ll try to build on this and move forward into league.”

On the other hand, this game stung for Napa (0-4) because it was a game they thought they had a strong chance to win. However, turning the ball over three times didn’t help their cause.

“It’s one of those things where we’re shooting ourselves in the foot here or there,” Napa first-year coach Tom Petithomme said of the game. “You know balls on the ground we need to fix those little simple fundamental things you know? We’ve got a good team here; we’ve got some weapons on offense you know?”     

The Crusaders (1-2) scored the first touchdown of the game when Adham Abdelghani found Marcus Williams for a 21-yard touchdown pass. The two also connected two more times for touchdowns from 25 and 62 yards out respectively.

Abdelghani finished the night 13-for-23 passing with 302 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed 13 times for 73 yards.

“He’s a key to our offense,” Morris said of Abdelghani’s importance. “He’s been playing on varsity since his freshman year, and I think things are finally clicking for him. He has good chemistry with our receivers, so tonight was a big night and you know when he’s throwing the ball like that we can really move the ball and it opens up our play book, so it was huge that he had the night he had tonight.”   

Williams ended the night with five receptions for 109 yards. Another receiver who had a big night for Riordan was Chris Whiley. He caught three passes for 82 yards with two touchdowns. This game could’ve been a coming out performance for both according to Morris.

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The Grizzlies were also led by their quarterback on the night as senior Gunner Schoeps had a breakout game rushing the ball, but he also aired the ball out pretty well too. He carried the ball 18 times for 105 yards and four touchdowns to go along with completing 16 of his 29 pass attempts for 264 yards and two interceptions. His longest connection on the night came when he connected with fellow senior Diego Olvera for a 47-yard gain.

For Schoeps it’s important because it shows he’s now a dual threat signal caller.

“I just showed that I can open up and I can run if I have to and I can throw if I have to,” he said of his breakout evening. “Either way I’m an all around balanced player.”  

Napa went into the half up 17-12 thanks to Julia Alonzo’s 21-yard field goal with 17.4 left.

Both teams will both begin league play in the coming weeks. Napa will host Sonoma Valley in their homecoming game and Vine Valley Athletic League opener next Friday night while Riordan will begin West Catholic Athletic League play on Friday, September 21st when they visit Bellarmine College Prep of San Jose, who played Vintage on Friday night.

Napa JV 27 Archbishop Riordan 13

The Napa JV finished the preseason schedule with a 2-2 record following their win over Riordan.  

Napa having won back-to-back games now will begin league play next Friday night.