Title game will pit top-rated offense against top-rated
defense
Retirement has been looming for many of the veteran players on
the Central Coast Barnstormers this season, and Saturday’s Northern
California Football League championship against the Northbay
Rattlers could be their very last game.
But following last week’s improbable overtime upset of the
Pacifica Islanders, which were previously undefeated and ranked No.
1 in the nation by Minor League Football News, the Barnstormers are
in an enviable position to not only end the season as champions of
the NCFL, but for those players retiring, end their careers on top
as well.
Title game will pit top-rated offense against top-rated defense
Retirement has been looming for many of the veteran players on the Central Coast Barnstormers this season, and Saturday’s Northern California Football League championship against the Northbay Rattlers could be their very last game.
But following last week’s improbable overtime upset of the Pacifica Islanders, which were previously undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation by Minor League Football News, the Barnstormers are in an enviable position to not only end the season as champions of the NCFL, but for those players retiring, end their careers on top as well.
“It’s my last game so I am gonna give everything I’ve got and leave it all on the field,” said 10-year center Jose Rodriguez, who’s also the owner of the team. “I’m gonna try and go out on top. But saying it is one thing; doing it is another.”
Rodriguez is just one of a handful of players who have their eye on the exit at the conclusion of this season. Among others, quarterback Bryan Smith, running back Derrick Morrison, offensive lineman Joffre Longoria, strong safety Lance Goularte, offensive lineman David Crandall and defensive tackle Isaac Hernandez are all expected to hang it up later this year.
“Win or lose, if I left it all out there, that’s all I can do,” Rodriguez added. “It’d be nice to win, though.”
Accomplishing that task would likely mean the Barnstormers (11-1) were able to solve Northbay’s top-ranked defense. The Rattlers (11-1) allowed just 62 points during the 10-game regular season, while the team’s two playoff games have resulted in victories of 33-0 and 23-21. The latter contest came against the River City Gators, though, which boasted the league’s highest scoring offense this season.
Any qualms surrounding the NCFL’s top defense, however, should be taken lightly. The Barnstormers’ win over Pacifica, a team that represented the lone loss on both Central Coast’s and Northbay’s record this season, should provide somewhat of a blueprint of beating top teams – the Islanders owned the No. 2 offense and the No. 2 defense.
In fact, after watching game film of the Rattlers, Rodriguez said Northbay and Pacifica have similar squads, from their size to their schemes, “almost to a T.”
“They’re very aggressive and they’re the No. 1 defense in the league for a reason,” Rodriguez said. “They’re defense is geared to stop the run. They can play the pass too, but they’re mainly geared toward the run stop from what I’ve seen.”
And Central Coast will look to exploit that with its potent air attack. Signal-caller Bryan Smith threw for more than 2,000 yards this season, with 27 touchdowns to just nine interceptions, while receiver Greg Walton hauled in a league-high 48 passes for 856 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Northbay quarterback Albert Higgs, in comparison, threw for just more than 500 yards.
The Rattlers are led offensively by running back Karl Mikolon, however, whose 654 yards on 125 carries was third best in the NCFL this season. Mikolon, with 23 catches for 166 yards, was also the team’s leading receiver.
Make no mistake about it, though, the Rattlers are built around defense; the Barnstormers are built around offense.
“It’s the Number 1 defense versus the Number 1 offense,” Rodriguez said. “We’ll see who comes out on top.”
The NCFL Championship Bowl will take place Saturday, June 13, at Corbus Field on the Vallejo High School campus. Gate admission is $10. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
