Week 14 games
North Coast Section Division IV playoffs
Championship
Saturday
Salesian 28, Middletown 21 (OT)
Statistics
Rushing — Middletown”s David Pike carried the ball 11 times for 75 yards in the Mustangs” 28-21 overtime loss to Salesian. Jake Davis added 48 yards and all three Middletown touchdowns on 13 carries. Jereomy Hoefer had the only other three carries for the Mustangs for 33 yards.
Passing — Kyle Brown wrapped up a solid junior season by completing 7 of 13 passes for 57 yards and an interception.
Receiving — Connor Chick had four catches for 29 yards and John-Wesley Davis had three receptions for 28 yards.
Highlights
Special teams — Jereomy Hoefer”s 62-yard kickoff return early in the second quarter set up the first of Jake Davis” three touchdown runs. As always, Middletown”s sure-footed placekicker, Danny Cardenas, was on target, making all three of his extra points. Middletown was approaching field goal range late in the fourth quarter with a 21-14 lead when a penalty knocked the Mustangs out of range.
Defense — Considering what the Mustangs were up against while facing such an explosive Salesian offense, limiting the Pride to seven points for three-plus quarters was nothing short of fantastic. Both teams committed a single turnover and John-Wesley Davis had a 45-yard interception return for Middletown.
Sack attack — Salesian sacked Middletown”s Kyle Brown three times for 18 yards in losses. Middletown didn”t register a sack against the highly mobile Ikaika Woolsey.
Penalties — The Mustangs hurt themselves with a pair of 15-yard penalties in the fourth quarter and a five-yard offsides call while they were lining up for their first place in the overtime. So instead of having the ball first-and-goal at 10 to start the overtime, it was first-and-15. David Pike was eventually stopped on a fourth-and-goal run from the 4 to end the game. “So we went the 10 yards we needed to, but that penalty hurt,” Foltmer said.
On all those penalties — “The penalties were penalties,” Foltmer said, they just came at a bad time for us. We had excellent refereeing, a fantastic crew. I gave them high marks.”
Some final numbers — David Pike finishes his senior year as Middletown”s most-productive single-season rusher with 1,810 yards, 33 rushing touchdowns and 36 touchdowns overall. Middletown”s 12 wins tied a school record set in 2001 when the Mustangs went 12-0.
No whine zone — The Middletown Mustangs and Salesian Pride were the only two relevant factors in Saturday”s championship game. Not the site of the game, not the officials, not the private vs. public school debate. Both coaches agree, so no moaning and groaning please because it shows zero class and disrespects both sides. Sometimes you play well and lose and that”s just the way it is.
Someday when there is a Lake County Sports Hall of Fame — Coach Bill Foltmer will be among the first inductees.
Couldn”t have done it without you — That was coach Bill Foltmer”s take on the incredible community support the Mustangs receiving during the season, especially in the playoffs. “We couldn”t have done it without the community support. Thanks to the parents, fans ? the entire community. The team dinners were great. Before we left for Martinez on the bus they (fans) lined the street. Our fan support has been fantastic. They fired us up, especially in the playoffs, and it”s one of the reasons we played so well. Our fans packed one of the end zones (at Alhambra High School). I didn”t think we would have that many people at the game, but we packed the place. Thank you all again.”
