KELSEYVILLE >> The Kelseyville Knights and St. Helena Saints played to a scoreless first quarter on Friday night, but it was all St. Helena the rest of the way.
St. Helena romped to a 44-7 victory, spoiling the Knights” homecoming and the debut of their new mascot. The Saints (1-0 league, 3-1 overall) took a 16-7 lead into halftime and dominated Kelseyville (0-1, 3-1) in the second half.
Devin Dugger accounted for Kelseyville”s lone score, a 55-yard touchdown pass from Noah Lyndall in the second quarter that cut St. Helena”s lead at the time to 9-7.
St. Helena scored the game”s first points on a safety and then took the free kick and scored again on a run to go up 9-0. After Kelseyville closed to 9-7, the Saints scored on their next possession to make it 16-7.
It was still a game at 23-7 after three quarters, but the Saints promptly put things out of reach in the fourth quarter, driving for three touchdowns.
“It was a physical game for both teams,” Kelseyville coach Mike McGuire said. “I know we”re better than we showed today. We just have to keep plugging away.”
Lyndall passed for 97 yards and has thrown a touchdown in each of Kelseyville”s four games.
“We were shooting for around 100 yards passing and that”s where we ended up,” McGuire said.
Dugger finished with two catches for 80 yards.
St. Helena”s defense limited Kelseyville running back Robert McLean, averaging better than 200 yards a game in the preseason, to just 57 yards on 16 carries. Meanwhile the Saints” offense didn”t commit a turnover.
Kelseyville returns to action next Friday in Cloverdale against the Eagles (1-0).
