A classic performance turned into a gutting defeat in a matter of seconds for Vacaville High School’s football team on Friday night. The Bulldogs played their best game of the season, and had unbeaten Napa on the ropes … until the unthinkable happened. The visiting Indians scored 15 points in the final 2:02, and edged the Bulldogs 28-21 at Tom ZuninoStadium.

MVP

Cal Bard

Napa

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Micahel McCauley

Vacaville

Michael is a two year varsity starter and was an all Monticello Empire League Tackle as a junior. He is also a 2-time MEL Champion in wrestling and a 2-time state qualifier. He is a 3-time Cadet All American in wrestling as well. Mike currently carries a 3.86 GPA and plans to attend college while majoring in criminal justice.

Colin Forster

Napa

Colton Forster is a 4 year player in the football program and a 3 year starter on varsity as a linebacker and as a tight end. As a standout All-MEL player on the field, Colton also boasts the highest GPA on the team with a 4.5. Colton will play his second year of varsity basketball in the winter (4th overall in the program) and is widely considered as a leader on campus both academically and athletically. He hopes to continue his football career at the collegiate level next year.

HALL OF FAME

Peter Buck

Vacaville

Peter played in the rivalry game as a junior and senior. He was selected as captain his senior year. Peter led his team to a 36-21 victory against Napa. The 2006 team went to win the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 Championship and a 13-1 record. He was named to the all Sac-Joaquin Section Team as a Defensive Back. Peter went on to star at Sacramento State where he was a 4-year starter, a 2 time all Big Sky Safety and an Academic All American. He was named team captain as a senior and is 5th on the Sacramento States all time tackle list. Peter went on to play in the Arena Football League and was named Defensive Rookie of the year as well as runner up for defensive MVP award his second year. Peter spent the last two years teaching and coaching at Whitney High School, he now works with PG&E.

Thomas Sims

Napa

Thomas played in the 2003 game against Vacaville where for that one game he played nose tackle and was unstoppable. A French-Canadian by birth, Sims returned to Napa after an outstanding collegiate career at 4 different universities. Always close with his family, to this day Sims lives at home with his mom, dad and expecting wife.

GAME SUMMARY

Vacaville drove the ball 89 yards in 14 plays after a Nate Villalobos interception. But the Indians came right back behind quarterback Cal Bard, who eventually won the game’s most valuable player award. Bard drove Napa 53 yards in eight plays, with Nathan Tomarambling the final nine yards for the score. Bard added a 2-point conversion pass to Sherman Forbes to tie the game 21-21 with 2:02 left. Vacaville got a big run from Daniel Wright on its next play from scrimmage, but Wright’s run was wiped out by a penalty that immediately put the Bulldogs in a hole. Two more runs and an incomplete pass forced Vacaville to punt, and Napa got the ball back at their own 47-yard line with 1:23 left. Bard completed three straight passes for all 53 yards, including the final lob pass to Alex Perez de Leon from 18 yards out for the win with 57 seconds remaining. Vacaville managed just 15 yards on its final series, and Caravanteswas sacked by a pair of Napa players to end the game, with a final score of 28-21 Napa.