Calistoga races to blowout victory

By MARTY JAMES
Executive Sports Editor

Talk about turning things around.

A week after getting blown out by Vacaville Christian, Calistoga High School turned in its best quarter of football for the year Friday night, scoring five touchdowns in the second period on the way to shutting out Rincon Valley Christian-Santa Rosa, 55-0, in a non-league game at the Napa County Fairgrounds.

It was a terrific bounce-back game for the Wildcats (1-0 North Central League II South, 2-2 overall), who ran their veer offense out of the shotgun formation very consistently and productively and got a tremendous effort from their defense

Jesus Cachu scored five touchdowns, including four in the second quarter to lead the Calistoga offense, which generated 409 total yards in what may be its most complete overall outing of the year.

“Tonight was a great night,” said first-year Calistoga coach Mike Ervin, whose team also broke a two-game losing streak. “The best part was we got to play a lot of kids. I think that’s really important.”

Cachu carried seven times for 106 yards and scored on runs of 25, 6, 7 and 34 yards, respectively, and also caught a 24-yard TD pass from Ziggy Gutierrez.

Gutierrez did a fine job of running the offense. The Wildcats were in front 35-0 at the half.

“The key that we have to realize is that we started a whole new season tonight,” said Ervin. “What happened last week kind of woke us up to say the least. We had to redeem ourselves.”

Calistoga lost its non-league game to Vacaville Christian 50-7 last week on the road. Earlier this week, the Wildcats earned an NCL II South win by forfeit from Point Arena when the Pirates elected to cancel their season. Rincon Valley Christian (0-4), which is playing a limited schedule, was added as a replacement for Point Arena.

Bryant Rubio ran for 97 yards on just five five carries and had touchdown runs of 30 and 41 yards, respectively, as Calistoga got its run-oriented offense back in gear.

Ricky Mendoza also scored from three yards out.

 “The key is our offensive line,” said Ervin. “If they block and do what they’re supposed to do, we’re fine. Tonight, they did a great job.”

Everyone had a hand in this one for Calistoga, but at the top of that list is Gutierrez, who looks like a magician with his hands on the football.

Whether he keeps it, hands it off or pitches it after gaining yardage himself has to drive a defense nuts.

Gutierrez ran for 39 yard on six attempts before giving way to Raymond Fechter, who went most of the way in the second half.

Gutierrez also completed 4-of-5 passes for 54 yards, threw a two-point conversion pass to Jasper Eisenberg and kicked five PATs in an all-around solid game.

“I think he’s done a tremendous job and he’ll get nothing but better, I hope,” Ervin said of Gutierrez.

Calistoga’s offense moved the ball up and down the field. It went 71 yards in five plays for the opening touchdown, Cachu’s 25-yard run. It drove 53 yards in three plays with Rubio scoring his first TD. The ’Cats marched 56 yards in three plays with Cachu darting 34 yards for a TD.

Seven different players carried the ball for Calistoga, which turned the ball over only twice on fumbles.

The Wildcats’ defense was exceptional, as Alex Cederquist intercepted two passes, Jasper Eisenberg and Fechter each had picks, and Gutierrez recovered a fumble. Cederquist also recovered an onside kick.

Calistoga limited Rincon Valley Christian — which is only playing a six-game schedule as an independent team — to just 34 yards in the first half. The Eagles had minus-16 rushing yards at halftime and were forced to punt the ball away four times.

Ervin warned that Calistoga has a tough road ahead, starting with next week’s NCL II South game at Mendocino.

“We just have to do a better job of executing everything — that’s offense, defense and special teams,” he said.

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