NAPA, CA. -- Napa snapped Vacaville's 28-game Monticello Empire League winning streak Friday night, defeating the Bulldgos 26-14.
Napa led the all-time series 21-20-2 entering the game, but Vacaville has won the last five MEL titles, going 25-0 during that time. Before Friday night the last time Napa defeated Vacaville was 2008 (50-38). It also topped the Bulldogs 55-28 in 2007.
Vacaville took a 7-0 lead after one quarter on an eight-yard TD run by Mykal Walker. The score was set up by an eight-yard rush on fourth down by Chad Hekking to the Napa 27.
But Napa rebounded with three second-quarter touchdowns to make it 19-7. Mac Neilson had a nine-yard scoring run, Kiel Brown broke off a 40-yard TD run on a fourth-and-two to make it 13-7, and -- with one second left in the half -- Brown scored from the 1.
Both teams managed a TD in the second half as Napa held on.
Vacaville'd TD came on a 27-yard run by Kane Cunningham to cap a 79-yard drive. Napa tallied on a Neilson 8-yard run.
Vacaville got the ball back again but Napa's Colton Forster intercepted to end Vacaville's chances.
Vacaville (6-2, 2-1) plays Vintage next week.
Said Vacaville coach Mike Papadopoulos: "(I) felt like we had a pretty good game plan. Defensively the first couple of series we were playing pretty well; got to hand it to Napa though they came out with a good plan themselves, they played almost flawless tonight ... we started turning the ball over, and you just can’t do that against a great team like that.”
Napa (6-2, 3-0) is at Rodriguez-Fairfield next week.
Said Mott: "We're getting ready for Rodriguez, plain and simple. We (have) work to do still. We're going to put all our efforts into our next game, but we’re going to enjoy this one. It's a little extra special (but) it doesn’t mean anything if you lose the next week.”
Vacaville’s leading rushers were Walker with seven carries for 80 yards and a TD, Hekking with five rushes for 66 yards and Damonte Moore with 11 carries for 59 yards. Hekking also completed eight of 13 passes for 119 yards and two scores.
