UPPER LAKE — Fullback Joey Valdez missed the game with an injury and running back Bradley Brackett was limited by a sore hamstring, but the Upper Lake Cougars still had more than enough firepower to hand the Calistoga Wildcats a 44-0 shellacking in North Central League II varsity football action on Saturday afternoon in Upper Lake.
Valdez was held out of the homecoming game as a precaution after sustaining a severe stinger in Upper Lake”s 46-40 win the previous week at St. Vincent. He is expected to return Friday as the Cougars (2-0-1 league, 5-1-1 overall) play at Tomales. Brackett carried the ball eight times for 126 yards against Calistoga but gave way to Travis Floyd, who had a big day against the Wildcats.
“We just wanted to be careful,” Upper Lake offensive coordinator Tom Cox said of Brackett”s reduced use. “We didn”t want to push it.”
Floyd, who has been in Upper Lake”s plans since the season began, got his first chance to showcase his talents and he made the most of it with eight carries for 108 yards, including touchdown runs of 2, 36 and 9 yards. He also had a 60-yard TD run called back on a holding penalty.
“He gives us another weapon,” Cox said. “He”s a quick little back.”
Ward Beecher also had three touchdowns for the Cougars ? on passes of 37 and 22 yards from quarterback Travis Coleman and on a 14-yard run that opened the scoring in the first quarter. Beecher finished with 162 yards on 18 carries on the ground and had the two TD catches for 59 yards.
“I was real impressed with the offensive line, it played real well, especially center Ian Seevers,” Cox said.
Upper Lake”s defense did its job as well, holding Calistoga to one first down (that in the first half) and 25 yards of offense.
Calistoga”s best and only scoring chance was set up by a lost Upper Lake fumble, but Floyd broke up what appeared to be a sure touchdown pass in the first half.
“It was by far our best defensive game,” Cox said.
Among the defensive standouts, according to Cox, was end Alex Kranich.
“He did outstanding,” Cox said.
Upper Lake built a 24-0 halftime lead on the strength of Beecher”s 14-yard run in the first quarter, a 37-yard pass from Coleman to Beecher in the second quarter, and a Floyd 2-yard run later in the same period. The Cougars made the two-point conversion after each of those scores.
In the second half, Coleman”s 22-yard pass to Beecher made it 30-0, Floyd”s 36-yard run boosted Upper Lake”s lead to 36-0, and Floyd”s 9-yard run in the fourth quarter along with Nick Mai”s conversion run accounted for the final margin of victory.
Upper Lake begins the second half of its NCL II schedule Friday in Tomales. Both teams are 2-0-1 in league, the result of an 8-8 tie in their first meeting Oct. 8.
