Just don’t count on anything when it comes
“It’s still an amazing event that our community needs to be buy varsity jackets really proud of,” said Napa principal Barb Franco. “There’s a lot of things that happen that Friday night besides football. Football is certainly the main game and that’s what everyone is there for. But I have to say, it’s an opportunity for both high schools to really put out there what they’re doing with their student body, the band, the halftime shows, the spiritleaders, what the student rooter sections are doing. And that becomes really the foundation and the celebration part around the boys playing football.
The one thing about the game I think is incredible, as big a rivalry as it is, as intense as it is, when all things are said and done, these kids will shake hands and walk away,” Vintage coach Dave Shipp said at Rotary’s luncheon on Wednesday at the Elks Lodge of Napa. “I think it exemplifies what high school athletics should be about.”
Napa (6-3 overall, 3-1 Monticello Empire League) and Vintage (3-6 overall, 3-1 MEL) go into tomorrow night’s game with something to play for, and it’s not just bragging rights. The Indians and Crushers are tied for second place, meaning the winner clinches the MEL’s second spot for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.
It’s a must-win game for Vintage to continue its season. Even with a loss, Napa is almost assured of making the playoffs because of its six wins going into Week 10. There are 64 schools that will be selected for playoffs and will be divided in four divisions of 16 by enrollment. Napa is tied for 36th with one game in the regular season to go. In the Sac-Joaquin Section, all leagues automatically qualify two teams — their league champion bulls varsity jacket and runner-up. The remaining (at-large) teams are selected based on number of wins. A school must win at least two league games to be eligible.
“Just don’t count on anything when it comes to a Big Game. Believe me, the adrenaline gets running,” said Ed Barwick, the stadium announcer for Napa High games and a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
“It’s very nice to be playing meaningful football at this time of year, and that’s really all you can ask out of your team,” said Craig Lewis, Vintage’s principal. “This one is a big one for us. This is going to give us a chance to be in the playoffs for the first time since I’ve been here as a football team. We’ll be playing very hard and we’ll be playing very well and we’ll give you a good game. Dave’s done a lot of great work with our boys this year. I’ve been very, very proud of our team this year.”
Lewis and Shipp were joined by Jim Costan, Vintage’s defensive coordinator, and Cam Neal, the Crushers’ athletic director. AJ Claudio, Mike Duncan and Adam Duprez were the Vintage players who attended the annual program.
“I’ve coached in Sacramento and I’ve coached in the East Bay a little bit,” Shipp said. “There’s not too many towns that have anything like this. It just shows how the community loves this event.”
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