Feature image by Sumner Fowler
Article by Petaluma High School Class of 2022 Alum & Cal Poly student Ryan Giacomini
High School Football is right around the corner and the Vine Valley Athletic League is more competitive than ever.
Last season the Casa Grande Gauchos topped the Vine Valley Athletic League going 5-1 in league play, defeating Vintage in a 46-44 classic.
The Crushers will look for someone to step up big time this season as the Crushers leading receiver and rusher from last season has now graduated.
For the Gauchos, they will have a very young team this season and Coach John Antonio will look to develop these young players into superstars. They’ll look to Wyatt Abramson to replace one of the most prolific passers in Casa Grande and Redwood Empire history, Jacob Porteous. He threw for 3,700 yards and 46 touchdowns last season.
The Sonoma Valley Dragons will also have a very young team this year. The Dragons, who finished last in league play last season, will hope to have more success this season.
The Petaluma Trojans will look to have a strong season this season as they went 3-3 in league play last season, but had a very young team. Their starting quarterback this season will be Henry Ellis who was also last season’s starter. Ellis threw for 1,426 yards and 21 touchdowns and also ran for a team leading 11 touchdowns. Silas Pologeorgis returns who rushed for 447 yards and also caught for 377 yards with 10 total touchdowns last season.
The Justin Siena Braves also went even last season winning three and losing three. Roman Williams and Emrys Davies will be a two-headed monster for the Braves coming into this season as they both rushed for 200 or more yards last season.
The Napa Grizzlies, last season, went 1-5 in league play. They’ll have 13 returning players who will look to lead the Grizzlies this upcoming season.
League play will begin in late September.