LOWER LAKE — Ben Pike”s 24-yard touchdown pass to Victor Montanez in the fourth quarter provided the winning margin as the Middletown High School junior varsity football team beat Lower Lake 21-18 in a North Central League I North battle for first place on Friday night at Gordon Sadler Field in Lower Lake.
Middletown im-proved to 3-0 in the North standings to secure no worse than a co-championship. It also was the Mustangs” seventh straight victory since starting the season 0-2 (losses to Salesian and Upper Lake). A win this Friday at home against Willits will wrap up the undisputed title.
“We just have to play our game and we”ll be OK,” Middletown coach Tony Hart said.
Pike”s scoring pass to Montanez put Middletown up 21-12. Lower Lake closed to 21-18 with a 44-yard touchdown pass with four minutes remaining. Both teams had one more chance on offense but didn”t score.
Pike also rushed for a 30-yard touchdown to open the scoring for Middletown in the first quarter. The Mustangs added another TD in the second quarter on Danny Hulme”s 6-yard run. Tyler Drew converted all three of his extra-point tries.
Hulme led the Mustangs with 75 yards rushing. Pike finished with 59 yards.
Anchoring the Middletown defense were Brad Beckwith with six solo tackles and 14 assists, Logan Smith with three tackles and 14 assists, and Nate Snodgrass with two tackles, including a sack, and 10 assists.
