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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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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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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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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