UPPER LAKE ? Sophomore halfback Ward Beecher rushed for 132 yards on only eight carries and scored two touchdowns as the Upper Lake Cougars routed the Calistoga Wildcats 58-14 in a non-league junior varsity football game Saturday in Upper Lake.
It was the season opener for the Cougars, who rolled up 463 all-purpose yards. Beecher led the way, including three two-point conversion runs, and sophomore Joey Valdez added 120 yards on only three carries, including a 50-yard TD run. He also returned a kickoff 60 yards for a score.
Special teams also played a huge role in the Cougars win. Beecher uncorked a 56-yard punt to pin Calistoga back at its 5-yard line, Valdez returned a kickoff 60 yards for a touchdown, and freshman Alex Castillo returning a punt 46 yards for a TD on his first touch at the high school level.
Outside linebacker Chris Brown returned an interception for a touchdown to spark the defense. Inside linebacker Conner McVey had six unassisted tackles as did defensive end Valdez, who also had two sacks. Inside linebacker Castillo added four tackles.
Other Upper Lake stars were freshman quarterback Wesley Thaxton, who rushed for a touchdown and two two-point conversions.
“I would like to emphasize first-year sophomore QB and team captain Travis Coleman did a great job leading Upper Lake to its first win of 2010,” Upper Lake coach Frank Gudmundson said. “Coleman didn”t even have a true offensive positions as a freshman last year. He played defense only.”
While Calistoga was outmanned, Gudmundson said the Wildcats played hard all day.
“Like most small schools these days, Calistoga did not have a lot of numbers but their kids played all the way through and scored twice on us on the day,” Gudmundson said. “It was a day of good sportsmanship and they were all having fun.”
