This time the Calistoga High guys are on his side.

For the second time in as many seasons, Richard Eaton will lead the West All-Stars into Memorial Stadium in Napa on July 19.

Eaton has made numerous coaching stops in his career, including a one-year stint in 1995 at Calistoga High.  

Eaton was the head man at North Hills Christian for the last six seasons after stops at Solano Community College and St. Helena.

Eaton has since left North Hills and is now an assistant at Armijo High in Fairfield.

Four Wildcats are on the West roster: B.J. Schlieder, Bryant Rubio, Jesus Cachu and Efrain Robledo.

That is significant because Shane Kohler was the last Wildcat to represent the West in 2005, and the aforementioned Calistoga foursome played a role in defeating Eaton’s North Hills Christian squad the last two seasons in the opening game.

“I think as an opposing coach, what I liked about watching the Calistoga kids was how disciplined they run their offense and how they did everything with a purpose,” Eaton said. “Against us, they were just well-coached and disciplined and that’s what you want to have.”

When asked what keeps him coming back to coaching, Eaton said: “As a coach, you enjoy the game and you enjoy being around the players and seeing them develop. That’s always been my biggest reward. It’s a reward system to see the kids develop as young men and be successful off the field as well. Coaching gets in your blood and you continue as long as you can.”

Last summer, Eaton’s West squad defeated the East 14-0 with St. Helena representatives Tony Montelli, Alex Seyve, David Fanucci, John Hudson and Jake Holguin making contributions. Since Eaton has coached at a small school, he’s fully aware that such players can surprise some folks.

“Absolutely,” Eaton said.

“It gives them the chance to get out against the big boys. They have a desire in them. The Calistoga guys were asking me and they were kind of standing in the back and I said, ‘Hey, you guys need to be up here.’ My quote is, ‘That’s why you’re here.’ This is your opportunity. I want you guys to get out there and show what you can do.”

Practices for the West team have been taking place at Kimberly Park in American Canyon. The 36th annual All-Star game features the top players from Napa, Solano and Yolo counties and benefits local charities in the area.

Graduates of Napa, Vintage, Justin-Siena, St. Helena, Calistoga, Vallejo, Bethel, Hogan, North Hills Christian, John Swett, Benicia and St. Patrick-St. Vincent are on the West team.

Players from Davis, Woodland, Pioneer-Woodland, Wood, Armijo, Dixon, Vacaville, Rodriguez, Winters, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Esparto and Vanden are eligible to be named to the East, which will practice at Rodriguez.

In one respect, coaching an All-Star team is a situation every coach covets. After all, there are several talented players from a variety of schools. However, the challenge becomes developing chemistry sufficiently enough in a short period of time.

“You try to mesh as much as you can,” Eaton said. “You have kids that come from every type of system. Certainly, with different numbering schemes and different philosophies, you try to simplify as much as you can so that they can run whatever offense you’re trying to run. My philosophy going into this is to try to highlight some of the offenses that the coaches in the area run.”

In June 2006, Calistoga High 1962 graduate Mike Ervin was hired as the head coach and has since established a sense of direction and respect that had been lacking in the program in prior years.

The Wildcats reached the NCS Class B playoffs in 2006 and were in contention until the final week of the 2007 campaign.

Schlieder, Cachu, Rubio and Robledo have played significant roles in that revival.

Cachu is headed for San Diego State University, where he plans on majoring in business marketing.

The two-way standout posted 573 rushing yards and 238 receiving yards. He also recorded a team-leading 90 tackles this fall. Cachu ran for seven TDs and caught four more for a team-best 11 total scores.  

“The last two years have been great,” Cachu said. “We definitely picked up the program. It seems like we’re on the right track now especially with Coach Ervin there. I think we got them on the right track. After not being in the playoffs for eight years, we’re starting on a winning streak as far as being over .500.”   

Schlieder is on his way to UC Davis but is undecided on whether he will continue with his football career. Schlieder was a top player on both sides of the ball, posting eight catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. He added 86 tackles in just seven games played, good for 12.3 stops per game.

“It was great to end that way because the beginning of our careers was not good,” Schlieder said. “Our sophomore year it was tough to have the season canceled but by the time our senior year rolled around it was up and going. We started a legacy. I’m really hoping that Calistoga schools keep doing well in sports.”   

Robledo and Rubio are each headed for Santa Rosa Junior College. Robledo is undecided on playing football while Rubio plans on playing.

Robledo played tackle at 170 pounds but still helped open up many holes for Rubio and Cachu.

“It was a good experience,” Robledo said. “They hadn’t gone to the playoffs in a lot of years. To finally do it made it worth every minute of every practice. I hope we did a good job of paving the way for the other kids to go to practice and give it their best.”

Rubio led the club in rushing with 632 yards, adding 136 more through the air. Defensively, Rubio posted 46 tackles, along with four interceptions for 43 yards. He also recovered a fumble.

“Coach Ervin did a good job bringing back what it was like back in the old days,” Rubio said.

“We worked hard every day at practice. Hopefully, the younger kids can look up to us and keep it going. They can keep winning if they go to practice and work hard.”