LAKE COUNTY >> It was the weekend of the quarterback — and Andreas Santos — as Week 6 of the high school football season unfolded throughout Lake County.
All five county teams hosted games and the two winners, Clear Lake on Friday night against Willits and Upper Lake on Saturday afternoon against undefeated Anderson Valley, put another notch in the win column.
For Clear Lake, celebrating its homecoming, sophomore quarterback Alex Adams made his varsity debut and led the Cardinals to a 32-20 win over the Wolverines, snapping Clear Lake’s North Central League I losing streak, nearly two calendar years long, at 13 games.
For Upper Lake’s eight-man squad, now a winner of three straight, the victim was an undefeated Anderson Valley team, the reigning North Central League III champion. Two juniors — quarterback Derek Pritchard and running back/safety Santos — distinguished themselves on several occasions as the Cougars improved to a Lake County-best 4-1 on the season.
Following are some of the highlights and lowlights from Week 6:
Statistics
Rushing — Middletown’s Coleman Drew led the way with 153 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns in a NCL I loss to undefeated Fort Bragg. Santos was the workhorse for the Cougars with 21 carries for 74 yards. Kelseyville’s Manny Sanchez had 64 yards on 13 carries with a TD in a loss to Cloverdale.
Passing — Clear Lake’s Adams lit up the Willits secondary time and time again while completing 18 of 34 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Upper Lake’s Pritchard was 20 of 28 for 277 yards and three TDs (touchdowns Nos. 13, 14 and 15 for the season) against Anderson Valley.
Receiving — Clear Lake’s John Vertrees caught six passes for 101 yards and teammate Jake Jackson had five grabs for 72 yards and a TD. Upper Lake’s Santos had nine catches for 79 yards while teammate Ray Gutierrez logged eight receptions for 78 yards and a TD. A third Upper Lake receiver, Eddie Crandell, caught three passes for 70 yards and two TDs. Lower Lake’s Kono Geary pulled in five passes for 87 yards in a league loss to St. Helena.
Special teams
If at first you don’t succeed — Three of Upper Lake’s kickoffs against Anderson Valley went out of bounds, two of them back-to-back in the second half. On a more positive note for the Cougars, a punt in the first quarter pinned the Panthers deep in their own territory at the 3-yard line.
Highlights
Maximum effort — With two running backs out injured and a third leaving the game with a minor injury in the second half, the Upper Lake Cougars had exactly one true running back with varsity experience left — Andreas Santos — against Anderson Valley. And all he did was rush for 74 yards, catch 79 yards worth of passes, return a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give Upper Lake a two-score lead, and intercept a pass that sealed the victory a few minutes after his fumble recovery. Otherwise it was a pretty quiet day for the diminutive 5-foot-2 junior.
Doubling his pleasure — Upper Lake’s Chase Goetjen recovered a pair of Anderson Valley fumbles, both resulting in Cougars touchdowns.
Tough times — Lower Lake’s offense, a machine in the preseason, has scored one touchdown and one field goal in three league games, two of them shutout losses.
Dandy debut — Clear Lake sophomore quarterback Alex Adams not only passed for 281 yards and two TDs, but he rushed for 47 yards and two more scores.
Unselfish — Veteran Clear Lake quarterback Tyler Dore voluntarily moved to tight end, freeing up the QB spot for Adams. “Dore agreed to go to tight end, which gives him (Adams) another receiver to throw to,” Clear Lake coach Darin Brodnansky said. Dore had two catches for 48 yards.
All about the fourth quarter — Locked in a 7-7 battle through three quarters, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves outscored the Middletown Mustangs 21-7 in the final period to keep their season record perfect at 6-0.
JV kudos — Kelseyville quarterback Alex Garcia passed for two touchdowns and ran for a score in a 20-14 junior varsity win over Cloverdale. Teammate J.D. Prescott anchored the Knights’ defense with 13 solo tackles, four assists and a sack.
Another big one for M’town — The Mustangs host undefeated St. Helena on Friday night at Bill Foltmer Field, the third straight week they’re facing an undefeated team.
Comparisons — What does the 2015 Upper Lake varsity football roster have in common with the 2014 roster? Nothing at all. This year’s team has more talent, more speed, more heart, more everything … except excuses … according to head coach Frank Gudmundson.
Big game for both teams — Lower Lake (0-3, 3-3) travels to Lakeport on Friday night to play Clear Lake (1-2, 2-4). It will be a battle of sophomore quarterbacks — Clear Lake’s Adams vs. Lower Lake’s Hokulani Wickard.
Unavailable — Kelseyville played Logan Barrick at quarterback on Friday night against Cloverdale because starter Noah Lyndall was serving a one-game disciplinary suspension.
Racking up the tackles — Kelseyville’s Adrian Arroyo was in on 14 tackles against Cloverdale.
Failing grade — On Lower Lake’s offense scoring a total of nine points in its first three league games: “That is unacceptable,” Lower Lake coach Justin Gaddy said.
Packed grandstands — Middletown head coach Bill Foltmer, now in his 31st season at the school, said the crowd Friday night against Fort Bragg was the biggest he’s ever seen for a Middletown home game. It was the Mustangs’ first game at Bill Foltmer Field since the Valley Fire broke out Sept. 12 and it was probably the best documented Middletown game in Lake County history as media from throughout the state attended.
Streaks — Upper Lake has won three straight. Lower Lake and Kelseyville have dropped three in a row.
Leader of the pack (volleyball edition) — Kelseyville, 6-0 in the NCL I standings.
Leader of the pack (girls’ soccer edition) — Middletown, 6-0 in the NCL I standings.
Leader of the pack (cross country edition) — Kelseyville freshman Andre Williams, five races, five wins.
A big thank you — Thanks to Middletown football and girls’ basketball for sending “Middletown Strong” T-shirts my way. And thanks to all of those county sports teams who mailed or dropped off cards and contributions for my daughter’s memorial scholarship fund following her death last month. It means a lot to the Sumpter family. Special props to Clear Lake’s volleyball players for the “Play for Stump” hair ribbons they’re wearing this season and the sign they posted in their gym, which also was part of the Cardinals’ homecoming parade Friday. Sarah would have loved it.
