The Napa High football team’s Big Game XXXV win was sweet for a couple of reasons. It avenged last season’s loss to cross-town rival Vintage and it also guaranteed the Indians a spot in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.

The Indians (8-2 overall, 4-1 Monticello Empire League) beat the Crushers (4-6 overall, 2-3 MEL) 45-20 at Napa Memorial Stadium on Thursday night.

Napa holds the all-time edge over Vintage in the Big Game at 18-15-2.

Napa will host the loser of Saturday afternoon’s game between host Jesuit and Sheldon next Friday night at Napa Memorial Stadium.

“It’s big momentum,” Napa head coach Troy Mott said about the win.

“This game was a playoff game atmosphere. It helps prepare the kids emotionally for the next four weeks. This is good for our kids to win a big game like this in this intense, electric environment.”

Indians linebacker Jeremiah Luke added, “I’m excited. I think we’re going to take it all. I don’t see a team that can beat us. If we play like this, we’re unbeatable.”

Napa’s starting defense, the “Black Shirts” led the charge Thursday night, sacking Vintage quarterback Travis Steen eight times for minus-48 yards.

“I think most of them (sacks) were off the edge, it’s not just the offensive line,” Vintage head coach Les Franco said. “It was probably more with some of the backs missing blocks than the offensive line. We haven’t had that many sacks all year. We didn’t respond very well to it. They made the right calls and they got it done and we didn’t.”

Napa cornerback Ted LeMasters also collected two interceptions while outside linebacker Jason Westerberg recovered Vintage fullback Josh Metoxen’s fumble on the first snap of the night.

“It started to show a little bit last week,” Mott said about his starting defense. “The light went on and they got it. It was nice to see them make plays. They did a great job in run situations and got on their quarterback. When we lined up correctly we played pretty tough.”

One snap later, Napa’s Jake Croxdale ran the football into the end zone for an 8-yard score. John Boyett’s 2-point run was good to give Napa an 8-0 lead.

Vintage had to punt on its first possession. LeMasters’ 35-yard pass to Ryan Kostecka put Napa at first-and-goal on the 4-yard line.

After LeMasters ran a keeper for a yard, Boyett ran it in for a 3-yard rushing touchdown. Stephen Oja’s PAT was good and Napa was ahead 15-0 with 7:53 left in the first quarter.

Boyett led the Indians with 125 yards on 17 carries, while LeMasters added 97 yards on 10 keepers. Croxdale added 15 rushes for 93 yards.

Mott and LeMasters complimented the improvement of their offensive-line, saying they’ve really stepped up their game over the past two weeks.

“Our offensive line is gelling,” Mott said. “It’s showing. We were able to push people around. It opens up everything for us. I trust those guys and the guys we’re handling the ball to, like No. 12 (Boyett) and No. 11 (Croxdale). I have confidence in the O-line. I’m not afraid to do it because I trust them.”

LeMasters added, “As long as our offensive line stays strong, our whole team will stay strong. We’ve got more work to do. We’ll never be satisfied.”

Four minutes later, Vintage got on the board once Steen connected with Derek Long for a 35-yard pass. Steen ran in for the conversion to put the score at 15-8.

Luke sacked Steen for minus-14 yards, then strong safety Boyett notched Napa’s second takedown for minus-4 yards to turn the ball over on downs just before the end of the first quarter.

Steady running led to another Boyett score — a 6-yard rush to go up 21-8 after Oja missed his PAT.

Luke then recovered Steen’s fumble, which led to Croxdale scoring on a 13-yard run.

Napa’s conversion failed but the Indians held a 27-8 lead with 7:54 left in the half.

Steen attempted his fourth pass of the night but the ball fell into the hands of LeMasters on Vintage’s 11-yard line. Boyett nabbed his third score of the night on an 8-yard rush to go up 33-8.

Westerberg tallied a sack a minute later and Luke and Scott Johnson combined for Napa’s fourth sack just before Johnson assisted middle linebacker Tommy Wilcoxson on the Indians’ fifth takedown.

“It was just the heat of the moment,” Luke said about the energy of his defensive performance.

“That’s just our defense, reading our keys, that’s just how we do our job. I just wanted to win. I knew I’d do what I had to do. I just put it all out there.”

Sack No. 6 came from Johnson, but it didn’t stop Vintage from adding another six points when Metoxen scurried into the end zone for a 5-yard run. Stuart Chester blocked Brian Kendrick’s PAT to keep the score at 33-14.

Metoxen led the Crushers with 153 yards on 18 carries. Thomas Williams was second with six runs for 62 yards.

Middle linebacker Croxdale sacked Steen for another 7-yard loss, then on the next play LeMasters snagged his second interception.

“I had it all along, I think,” LeMasters said, who recently starting playing with the Black Shirts. “I was just glad to get in there and show them what I can do. This meant playoffs for us. We wanted to keep playing.”

That pick led to Croxdale’s third trip to the end zone — a 15-yard run to put Napa up 39-14. Still pumped from his third touchdown, Croxdale nailed another sack that forced Vintage to punt on the next play. After a 7-yard rush from Boyett, LeMasters scored his lone touchdown of the night — a 52-yard keeper — to put the Indians ahead 45-14 after another Oja PAT missed.

Metoxen tried to get a Crusher rally going with his 46-yard rushing touchdown with 4:03 on the clock, but his team didn’t follow.

Mott said that this win, along with his first against Del Campo in September, will always be remembered.

“To do it with this group of kids — I enjoy them so much,” the first-year head coach said. “It’s been so much fun. I really enjoy it.”

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