When Ricky Mendoza broke up North Hills Christian (Vallejo) quarterback Darrin Farias’ last-gasp pass, the Calistoga High football team could at last savor its hard-fought 24-16 win over the Golden Eagles Friday night and christen the Mike Ervin head coaching era with a win.

The Wildcats, who visit Berean Christian (Walnut Creek) Saturday, produced 343 yards on the ground behind the offensive line of Efrain Robledo, Armando Robledo, Andrew Watkins, Russ Rider, Danny Traffenstedt and tight end B.J. Schlieder.

Calistoga’s ground game mixture was Jesus Cachu (18 carries, 168 yards, one touchdown), Sandro Villasenor (17-91-1) and Ziggy Gutierrez (13-79). Guttierez also had an efficient passing game in completing 7-of-12 throws for 68 yards, including a 16-yard scoring strike to Cachu on the game’s opening series.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of this game to Ervin was that Calistoga faced adversity and kept its poise in the process, which has been a problem in recent years.

“I think it can be positive because we held on,” Ervin said. “We did what we were supposed to do. We went down and scored when our backs were against the wall.”

The Wildcats’ defense also came up with timely plays as Rider recorded three sacks while Schlieder added two. Alex Cedarquist recovered two fumbles while Jose Luis Alfaro recorded a tackle for lost yardage.

Leading 17-8, the Wildcats appeared to salt the game away midway through the fourth quarter but Gutierrez’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Cedarquist was nullified because of an ineligible man downfield.

Calistoga later turned the ball over on downs but North Hills struck quickly as Farias scored on a 1-yard sneak with 3:53 left in the game and hit Dallas Hamilton for the two-point conversion, making it 17-16.

Cachu then capped the scoring with a 19-yard run with 56 seconds left in the contest and the Wildcat defense held.

Calistoga took a 7-0 lead on Gutierrez’s aforementioned scoring pass to Cachu.

North Hills later took an 8-7 lead when Gregory Ortega (69 yards rushing, 206 yards receiving) scored on a 4-yard run.

Farias connected with Hamilton for the two-point conversion, giving the Eagles an 8-7 lead after one quarter.

Gutierrez booted a 22-yard field goal early in the second period and the Wildcats clinged to a 10-8 lead at halftime.

The Wildcats’ lead later swelled to 17-8 when Villasenor scored on a 24-yard run off right tackle with 8:20 left in the third period.

“I thought we should have scored at least two more touchdowns,” Ervin said.

“We had one called back. I thought it was bad call but the officials thought they made a good call. You can’t argue with them. We showed heart. We came back and got it in again.”

Vince D’Adamo can be reached at sports@weekly

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