Last year: The Indians clinched their second straight MEL title with a wild 50-35 win over the visiting Bulldogs, quickly falling behind 14-0 but pulling away with 22 unanswered points down the stretch. Napa’s Logan Hess and Charles Boyett combined for 277 rushing yards and four TDs. Vacaville’s Jimmy Hines and Jeff Beasley teamed for 347 yards and three TDs.

Last week: Vacaville gave up a first-quarter TD pass but routed Vintage 56-7, while Napa fell to Fairfield 46-14.

The Indians’ defensive captain and leading tackler, junior middle linebacker Juan Martinez, was sidelined early in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.

Top offensive weapon Cody Jensen (850 yards and 10 TDs rushing, 342 yards and four TDs receiving) sat out most of the second half with leg cramps.

Napa head coach Troy Mott said Wednesday that Jensen is fine but that Martinez will be out this week and that “we still don’t have the specifics” on his injury.

Running like Greyhounds: The Bulldogs are averaging 422 rushing yards a game, led by Hines (1,096 yards, 11 TDs), Quincy Forte (713 yards, 11 TDs), Roman Hauser, Beasley and standout wrestler Hudson Buck.

Junior QB Tyler Irwin nets another 90 yards per game through the air.

“Vacaville has always had a punishing running game,” Mott said. “They hang their hat on being tough and physical on offense, and trying to apply a lot of pressure on defense.”

Not looking ahead: Though his coaching peers across the section must be wincing that yet another of his key players has been sidelined by injury, Mott practically scoffed when asked if he might consider keeping some of his starters out against powerful Vacaville and saving them for next week’s Big Game and a possible playoff appearance.

“Never! We will never look ahead and we will always only prepare for the game that is in front of us,” he said. “If we win the next two we can still tie for our league championship, so our focus is completely on Vacaville. First and foremost we have to believe in our abilities. We can’t worry about what we don’t have and need to focus on the good things that we do.

“We have to play strong defense and do all we can to stop their running game. On offense we have to hang on to the ball and put ourselves in manageable down and distances. In order to do this, we have to be disciplined as far as penalties and knowing our assignments. Our special teams must be solid.” — Andy Wilcox