Week eight games
Friday
Lower Lake 38, Kelseyville 22
Middletown 21, Fort Bragg 0
Saturday
Clear Lake 14, St. Vincent 7
Willits 28, Upper Lake 3
Statistical leaders
Rushing — Lower Lake”s Jake Sanders cracked the 200-yard plateau, rushing for 207 yards on 19 carries in the Trojans” win over Kelseyville. Right behind Sanders was Kelseyville”s Josh Huston with 194 yards on 32 carries and a touchdown. Other noteworthy performances went to Middletown”s Eric Tomko with 19 carries for 135 yards in a win over Fort Bragg, and the Clear Lake tandem of Collin Coddington, who had 21 carries for 118 yards and a TD, and Mike Zimmerman, who had 87 yards on 11 carries, including a 49-yard TD run in the Cardinals” 14-7 victory over St. Helena. Just missing 100 yards was Middletown”s Tyler Owen with 97 yards on 17 carries and a TD.
Passing — Middletown”s Matt Outen made good on 9 of 12 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Lower Lake”s A.J. Harris completed only two passes against Kelseyville, but both went for touchdowns as he finished with 82 yards.
Receiving — Middletown”s Dylan Galusha added to his Lake County-leading totals with six more catches for 101 yards. Lower Lake”s Michael Bell had a 57-yard TD reception and teammate Richard Richardson had a 25-yard TD catch.
Highlights
Special teams — Luis Santana kicked a field goal for Upper Lake”s only points in a loss to Willits. Middletown”s Travis Taylor went 3-for-3 in the PAT department against Fort Bragg.
Defense — Clear Lake”s defense forced a six-pack of turnovers in knocking off St. Vincent on the Mustangs” home field. Although St. Vincent”s talented sophomore running back, Kris Farinha, did finish with 100 yards, the Cardinals allowed only 35 rushing yards in the second half. Clear Lake defensive back Jameson Holder intercepted two passes and also recovered a fumble.
And more defense — After starting the season 1-3, the Middletown Mustangs have won four straight ? all by shutouts.
And still more defense — Lower Lake linebacker Mike Deakins recorded two sacks and it was his 38-yard interception return that opened the scoring in the Trojans” big win over the Kelseyville Knights.
A deal is a deal — If Kelseyville changes its name in the near future, the new name must be Weiperville.
They just grow ”em big down on the farm ? While the Clear Lake varsity was waiting to take the field Saturday at Kiely Field in Petaluma, a woman walked up to a handful of players and wanted to know, “Where are all the little ones (players)?” Shortly after that, a mother of a St. Vincent player told the waiting Cardinals, “Please don”t hurt my son.”
Always courteous at St. Vincent — It”s a real treat going to an out-of-county destination and not being hassled at the gate. While I carry a Record-Bee press pass and a North Coast Section media credential, some away sites eye me over like I”m trying to get one over on them. Not at St. Vincent. Working the gate during the Mustangs” homecoming game Saturday against Clear Lake were two delightful ladies, both with sons playing football at the school, Janice DeMartini and Maureen Godfrey. They asked me to tell everyone how pleasant the St. Vincent fans were and so here”s my testimony. It”s true.
Yeah, now that stupid horse wins — Curlin, who was supposed to win the Kentucky Derby last May, according to the Record-Bee”s fearless prognosticator, The Dawg, did win on Saturday during the Classic Race at the Breeder”s Cup. Paid 4-1. Damn horse.
Back-to-back homecoming games — Friday night at Lower Lake, Saturday in Petaluma. I”m done.
Streaks — Middletown has won four in a row, Upper Lake has dropped in a row, K”ville has lost four straight.
Did anyone feel that speed bump in Boston? — Real nice effort there Rockies. Still want the patent on “Rocktober”?
Not even worth the space or the time — San Francisco 49ers. Question: Do 2-14 teams qualify for the playoffs in the NFC?
Placekicker smack — After 49ers” kicker Joe Nedney kicked the ball out of bounds against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Monster Park in San Francisco, he flipped his middle finger to heckling 49ers fans. Nice.
Soccer kudos — To the Clear Lake Cardinals and Middletown Mustangs for qualifying for the North Coast Section Class A girls” soccer playoffs. Both teams are in action Wednesday.
Playing with a heavy heart — Clear Lake running back and linebacker Colby Butcher rushed for 45 yards and had half a sack in the Cardinals” win over St. Vincent. Earlier in the week he lost his uncle, Bob Butcher, an ardent Clear Lake fan.
It”s all in the county — On Friday night, Kelseyville hosts Middletown and Lower Lake entertains Willits in NCL I North action, while Clear Lake hosts Upper Lake in NCL I South play.
Speaking of the NCL I South — Clear Lake can clinch a tie for the South title and wrap up the league”s automatic berth in the upcoming Class A playoffs with a victory over Upper Lake on Friday and a St. Vincent win over St. Helena on Saturday in Petaluma.
And in the NCL I North — If Middletown and Lower Lake both win on Friday, the NCL I North title will come down to a Nov. 9 game between Lower Lake and Middletown at Middletown.
Down and distance — The Lower Lake Trojans were facing a 1st-and-40 midway through the second quarter against Kelseyville on Friday night at Gordon Sadler Field.
Jury duty update — I spent the last week serving on a jury trial in Sonoma County, which finally ended Monday. It made for some long mornings and afternoons in Santa Rosa followed by some rushed evenings in Lake County, which forced me to push some things to the backburner. I”ll start playing catch-up this week.
Milo Meyer update — Gary Pickle who?
