Ten Will C. Wood High School football players earn first-team honors on all-MEL squad

To the runner-up goes the spoils.

Monticello Empire League football coaches had a hard time ignoring Will C. Wood High School’s success this season. That became evident when they voted for the all-MEL teams on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats landed a league-high 10 players on the first team, one more than MEL champion Napa’s nine.

Included in the haul were two of the league’s top honors. Wood quarterback Marcus Howard shared the MEL’s player of the year award with Napa QB-defensive back Cal Bard. Wildcat running back Damon Lewis was named the league’s back of the year.

“We had a really good season. Obviously, we’re very happy that the other coaches ended up recognizing that,” Wood head coach Carlos Meraz said. “Marcus did a great job, and Damon is absolutely the heart of the team. We’re a passing team, but for him to still get back of the year says quite a bit.”

Third-place Vacaville had four first-team picks, and seven second-team choices. All four first-teamers are juniors … running back Daniel Wright, defensive lineman Zach Myers, linebacker Jacob Abramowicz, and defensive back Tyler Cordell.

“You always hope you can get a couple more, but the future looks very bright,” Vacaville head coach Mike Papadopoulos said. “A lot of kids got some very significant playing time, and that should pay off in the future.”

The future is now for the Wildcats.

More at TheReporter.com >>>

Comments

comments

Will C. Wood High School football team wants to make historic playoff run

The firsts … and seconds … just keep on coming.

One more win, and you can throw the Will C. Wood High School football record book out the window.

The Wildcats wouldn’t mind printing a new one anyway at this point.

The resurgence of Wood’s program reached new heights last weekend. The Wildcats beat rival Vacaville for the first time in 18 years, and were rewarded with their first home playoff game in 19 years, and the second in the history of the program.

Wood hosts American Canyon in the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs on Friday night at Tom Zunino Stadium. Wood is seeded No. 4, while American Canyon is No. 13.

More at TheReporter.com >>>

Comments

comments

Will C. Wood High School football team seeded fourth for Section playoffs

The Saturday announcement reflected the Friday late-night results.

Will C. Wood High School’s football team, which jumped for joy after rolling past Vacaville 49-25 in Friday night’s Black & Blue Bowl, had even more reason to party on Saturday night. The Wildcats earned the No. 4 seed in Division II in the upcoming Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

The Bulldogs, who had hoped to advance to the postseason on the basis of a 5-5 record against a stacked schedule, were left out in the cold.

The announcement mark the first time in a decade the Bulldogs haven’t qualified for the playoffs.

Also advancing were Vanden, in Division III, and Dixon, in Division IV.

If seedings hold true, the Wildcats will play two home games in the playoffs for the first time in school history. Wood opens the postseason on Nov. 13 at Tom Zunino Stadium against No. 13 American Canyon. The Wildcats trounced the Wolves 70-33 on Sept. 18 in American Canyon.

More at TheReporter.com >>>

Comments

comments

Will C. Wood High School Photo Site