All posts by Ed Homich

Announcement, Football, Varsity

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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Football, Varsity

Will C. Wood High School faces Napa in showdown of unbeaten football teams tonight

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Yes, all games count the same. But that doesn’t diminish the importance of tonight’s football showdown between Will C. Wood and Napa high schools.

Both the Wildcats and the Indians are 6-0 overall, and 1-0 in Monticello Empire League play.

Wood is ranked No. 9 in the Sac-Joaquin Section, according to this week’s Maxpreps.com poll. Napa is No. 10.

A possible victory tonight would give Wood at least a share of the lead in the MEL, and move the Wildcats one big step closer to their first-ever league crown in football.

A victory would also give the Wildcats their first-ever seven-game winning streak to start a season, and tie for the longest winning streak in school history.

Wood won seven straight games after losing its season opener in 2013. The 1997 Wildcats won six straight game to start the year before losing three in a row and missing the playoffs.

If all those possibilities weren’t enough, the Wildcats have another bit of incentive.

“We want revenge,” running back Damon Lewis said simply.

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Football, Varsity

Prep kickoff: Will C. Wood High School has plenty planned for MEL football opener

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It’s youth football night … and a pink out … any maybe one last warm-weather Friday.

Oh yes, and the Will C. Wood High School football team is looking for another big win in what it hopes will be a huge season.

The Wildcats certainly have a lot going on, not the least of which is tonight’s Monticello Empire League opener against Vintage.

Wood will recognize youth football night, with any youngster wearing a local youth football jersey admitted free if they are accompanied by an adult.

The school also will hold a “Pink Out,” with all fans encouraged to wear pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

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Football, Varsity

Will C. Wood High School football team doing amazing things by the numbers

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Carlos Meraz has said repeatedly that this Will C. Wood High School football team is “special.”

Halfway through the regular season, the numbers are saying, “very special.”

Meraz and the Wildcats cruised into their bye week with another big-time performance in last Friday’s 55-31 victory over Freedom of Oakley.

The win lifted Wood’s record to 5-0, only the third time in school history the Wildcats have begun the season with five straight victories.

Others have taken notice. Wood jumped to No. 7 in this week’s Maxpreps.com’s Sac-Joaquin Section top 25 rankings, the highest placement ever for the Wildcats.

Meraz is unfazed by the notoriety.

“What’s most important is improving every week,” he said. “We don’t want to get caught up in records. We want to get better as a team each time we play.”

The Wildcats don’t have a chance to play this week after competing a “zero week” game on Aug. 28.

No matter. The break may give their offensive standouts — and area scoreboard operators — a much-needed rest.

Wood is averaging almost exactly 55 points a game, with both the passing and rushing games playing crucial parts.

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Soccer, Varsity

Will C. Wood and Vacaville high schools battle to 1-1 boys soccer draw

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Will C. Wood High School’s boys soccer team broke a six-game losing streak against Vacaville dating back to October of 2012.

Vacaville ended a scoreless drought that lasted more than four-and-a-half games.

So why wasn’t anyone smiling after Wednesday’s crosstown showdown at Wood?

“That’s kind of the way it is with ties,” Vacaville head coach Nick Omand said after the Wildcats and Bulldogs fought to a 1-1 draw.

“We had plenty of opportunities. We just couldn’t put it in the back of the net,” Wood senior Omar Montano added. “They’re a good team. We just didn’t bring it today.”

Montano had several near-misses, and was credited … depending on who you ask … with the Wildcats’ only goal just 15 minutes into the contest.

Wood’s Keshav Clay took a corner kick from the right side, but the ball went untouched all the way through to the left side of the box. Montano stopped the ball and rifled a shot back through to the right side of the net. The ball appeared to deflect off at least one Vacaville defender and into the net for an own goal … or a Montano goal.

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Football, Varsity

Will C. Wood High School football team routs Freedom 55-31 on homecoming night

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Maybe batting 1.000 isn’t just a baseball statistic.

Will C. Wood High School’s football team wasn’t perfect on Friday night, but the Wildcats came pretty close, at least on offense.

Wood scored on all five of its offensive possessions in the first half and rolled to a 55-31 victory over visiting Freedom of Oakley at Tom Zunino Stadium.

“We’ve got great receivers, a good running game, and the offensive line is coming together. It’s a pretty special group,” Wood head coach Carlos Meraz said. “We’ve got a lot of speed, and a lot of experience.”

Quarterback Marcus Howard had another big night, throwing for 292 yards and four touchdowns. He threw just 17 passes, but completed 13.

Tayvian Cunningham caught six passes for 156 yards, including scoring plays of 44 and 75 yards. On the second TD, he took a swing pass from Howard in the left flat, made one defender miss and then outraced the rest of the Falcons’ secondary.

“I just juked him and took off … plain and simple,” Cunningham said. “Our offense just can’t be stopped right now.”

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Football, Varsity

Prep kickoff: Will C. Wood plays homecoming football game tonight

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Homecoming floats and league openers … the next few weeks will feature plenty of both.

The Sac-Joaquin Section’s current football playoff system put more weight on nonleague results than ever before, but most high school coaches still take matters a lot more seriously once league play begins.

Most coaches struggle to deal with the extra pressure of homecoming night as well. And this week, Dixon coach Wes Besseghini has to deal with both as the Rams host Mesa Verde of Sacramento on homecoming night, which also will double as their Golden Empire League opener.

Dixon carries a solid 3-1 mark into the game, including three straight wins.

Will C. Wood is 4-0, and the Wildcats will try to extend their unbeaten record while watching floats and queens and princesses. Freedom of Oakley is the opponent for Wood’s 26th homecoming game.

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