UPPER LAKE >> The Upper Lake Cougars have made quite the remarkable turnaround this season, their first as a member of the eight-man North Central League III football league.
After back-to-back winless seasons during their former 11-man football days in 2013 and 2014, the Cougars find themselves at 5-1 in the league standings and in a dogfight for the NCL III championship and a possible berth in the Redwood Bowl next month.
In fact, half the NCL III is currently in the thick of the league race coming down the homestretch.
Anderson Valley (6-1) upset previously undefeated Calistoga (5-1) on Friday night in Boonville, prevailing 44-24, to knock the league standings into chaos. Also on Friday, dark horse Point Arena improved to 4-1 with a win over Rincon Valley Christian. On Saturday, Upper Lake joined the party with a 38-14 victory over Mendocino, its fifth win in six league games.
Upper Lake travels to Point Arena this Saturday in what is certainly the NCL III game of the week. Point Arena also has a game remaining with Calistoga, so things are far from settled.
“They got drilled in their first game by Anderson Valley but have dropped 60 (points) on everyone else,” Upper Lake assistant head coach Mike Smith said of Point Arena.
Point Arena scored 60 or more points in three straight games following a 66-8 season-opening loss to Anderson Valley, that streak snapped against Rincon Valley Christian on Friday as the Pirates had to settle for a mere 44-28 victory.
Both Point Arena and Upper Lake have won four straight, so something will give this weekend.
The top two teams in the NCL III qualify for the Redwood Bowl next month.
Following are some of the highlights and lowlights from games involving Lake County schools during Week 7:
Statistics
Rushing — No Lake County running back hit the century mark for the first time this season. Manny Sanchez of Kelseyville came the closest with 93 yards on 17 carries and a TD in the Knights’ 57-24 loss to Fort Bragg. Nick Sani finished with 81 yards on 11 carries and a TD in Lower Lake’s 32-23 league victory over Clear Lake while Sam Long had 79 yards on five carries with a TD in a losing cause for the Cardinals.
Passing — Lower Lake’s Hokulani Wickard completed 12 of 21 passes for 256 yards, a touchdown and an interception against Clear Lake. Kelseyville’s Logan Barrick went 13-for-21 for 190 yards with a TD and an interception against Fort Bragg. In the eight-man ranks, Upper Lake’s Derek Pritchard completed his first nine passes and finished 11-for-14 for 172 yards and two TDs against Mendocino.
Receiving — Plenty of solid individual performances in the receiving ranks during Week 7. Kono Geary had seven catches for 125 yards and a TD while teammate Ethan Watson caught three passes for 107 yards in Lower Lake’s win. Asa Peters led Kelseyville with six catches for 82 yards and teammate Gideon Turner had five catches for 62 yards and a TD against Fort Bragg.
Special teams
Locked on — Kelseyville placekicker Elias Alvarez booted a 41-yard field goal and converted all three of his extra-point tries against Fort Bragg.
Highlights
Spreading around the wealth — Upper Lake quarterback Derek Pritchard completed passes to seven different receivers against Mendocino. The Cougars also had nine different players carry the football as they emptied their bench after building a 30-0 lead in the second quarter.
Dual threats — Quarterbacks Hokulani Wickard of Lower Lake and Derek Pritchard of Upper Lake not only threw a pair of touchdown passes this past weekend, but they also ran for a score.
Undefeated NCL I heavyweights — Last year’s league co-champions are at it again. Both St. Helena and Fort Bragg are 4-0 in league and 7-0 overall. They meet on Oct. 30 in St. Helena.
Not happy campers — The NCL I game between Lower Lake and Clear Lake was delayed in the second half on Friday night for a skirmish that led to one ejection. Benches cleared during the fracas.
Sack attack — Upper Lake’s Jacob Kalawaia, playing in his first game since sustaining a concussion earlier this season, returned to action Saturday against Mendocino and made his presence known by sacking the Cardinals’ quarterback four times. He also carried the football twice and scored both times. Franicsco Flores had two sacks for Upper Lake while Nick Sani had two sacks for Lower Lake.
More defense — Lower Lake’s Kono Geary intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble against Clear Lake.
Taking it all the way back — Clear Lake’s Isaac Lewis returned a fumble 85 yards for a touchdown against Lower Lake.
Telling it like it is — Middletown coaching veteran Bill Foltmer doesn’t mince words. Following a 28-0 loss to the St. Helena Saints on Friday night at Bill Foltmer Field, he said, “They just physically manhandled us.”
Streaks — Upper Lake has won four in a row and Kelseyville has dropped four straight.
From the JV files — Middletown and Kelseyville both won on Friday night to set up a showdown this Friday at Kelseyville where the Mustangs bring a 4-0 league mark and 5-1 overall record to town to face the Knights (3-1, 5-2). Kelseyville’s only league loss was a forfeit to Willits because of an ineligible player. The Knights won big only to have the victory taken away.
Big quarter — Kelseyville trailed undefeated Fort Bragg only 14-10 after one quarter, but the Timberwolves took all the suspense away with a 34-point second period.
Looking ahead — It won’t mean a thing as far as the NCL I race is concerned, but Kelseyville visits Clear Lake on Oct. 30. That matchup is never boring.
8-0 league leaders — Kelseyville varsity volleyball and Middletown girls’ soccer.
Not undefeated but still in first — Kelseyville boys’ soccer at 7-1.
Keep on spending — L.A. Dodgers.
Runs like the wind blows — Kelseyville freshman Andre Williams.
Street football meets the NFL — The fourth-down play called by the Indianapolis Colts against the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football. Maybe don’t use that one again Chuck Pagano, but thanks for the laughs.
MLB hero is born — Daniel Murphy of the N.Y. Mets doing his Babe Ruth impersonation in the playoffs. Go figure.
Week 8 preview — Kelseyville hosts Middletown, Lower Lake is home against Cloverdale, and Clear Lake visits St. Helena.
MC Hammer — The official mascot of Upper Lake’s Dre Santos.
Speaking of Santos — Minor knee injury aside last week, he did play Saturday against Mendocino, albeit sparingly, and had two catches — both for touchdowns — in the Cougars’ win. He carried the ball only twice.
