NCFL Championship Bowl pits league’s top-rated offense in the
Central Coast Barnstormers against the league’s top-rated defense
in the Northbay Rattlers
HOLLISTER
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 also 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 an 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 eyes 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 after this season.
“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.
“They have a really good defense and special teams,” Barnstormers head coach Greg Garcia said.
It was the Rattlers’ defense and special teams, in fact, that set up each and every one of Northbay’s 23 points last week in the AFC championship against River City. In that game, the Rattlers fell on a loose ball in the end zone following an errant shotgun snap; recovered yet another bad snap at the 9-yard line on a punt formation; blocked a punt that the Northbay offense converted for a 19-yard field goal; and picked off a River City pass and returned it to the 3-yard line.
“They’re very aggressive and they’re the Number 1 defense in the league for a reason,” Rodriguez said.
The Barnstormers’ win over Pacifica, which owned the No. 2 defense and offense, should provide somewhat of a blueprint for Saturday’s championship. 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 defense is geared to stop the run,” Rodriguez said. “They can play the pass too, but they’re mainly geared toward the run-stop from what I’ve seen.”
And Garcia confirmed as much, saying Northbay’s linebackers are all run-oriented, while the defensive backs could show a Cover 3, a Cover 2, or even a little bit of man-to-man.
“For us,” said Garcia, whose Barnstormers operate a potent spread attack, “it’s good.”
Usually looking to the air first, Central Coast has the league’s top-rated offense. Signal-caller Smith has thrown for more than 2,000 yards this season, with 27 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. His favorite target, receiver Greg Walton, hauled in a league-high 48 passes for 856 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Few teams consistently run a spread offense in the NCFL, making the Barnstormers’ attack that much more difficult to prepare for.
“We are unique at what we do,” Garcia said.
In comparison, Northbay quarterback Albert Higgs, whose status is unknown heading into Saturday’s game after backup Ryan Thompson received all of the snaps against River City, threw for a little more than 500 yards this season.
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, as well as its leading kick returner and punt returner.
“He’s a good athlete,” Garcia said. “(They don’t run anything) super spectacular, they just execute what they do. They’re all-around a pretty good team.
“The last two games (for us) have had good running backs. Our defense just has to be prepared for what they do. But each game is its own. We’ve been watching a lot of film and watching what they do.
“We’re not taking anything lightly.”
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.
