MIDDLETOWN >> The Lower Lake Trojans and Middletown Mustangs certainly have one thing in common going into the annual Lake County Football Scrimmage on Friday evening … they both know what it’s like to be directly in the path of a devastating wildland fire.
Nearly one year after the Valley Fire ripped through Middletown and destroyed a large number of homes and other structures, the Clayton Fire, which is still burning east of Lower Lake but is expected to come under full containment by the weekend, destroyed part of downtown Lower Lake on Sunday, with at least 175 structures burned to the ground, including many homes. The fire burned right up to the boundaries of the high school before being turned back by firefighters, scorching trees and doing minor damage to the high school.
Severe damage done in the immediate area of Lower Lake High School prompted the decision on Tuesday to move the annual scrimmage from Gordon Sadler Field on the Lower Lake High campus to Bill Foltmer Field on the Middletown High campus. Foltmer Field also survived a near miss 11 months ago during the Valley Fire.
Clear Lake and Kelseyville are also taking part in the annual scrimmage, which uses a round-robin format. Each county school will face every other county school, getting 10 minutes on offense and 10 minutes on defense during the head-to-head matchups.
Action gets underway at 5:30 for the JV teams and 6:50 p.m .for the varsity teams. Both the east and west ends of Bill Foltmer Field will be in use, each end accommodating two county schools at a time.
While the scrimmage isn’t necessarily a preview of the upcoming season it does afford coaches the opportunity to see where their players stand after the first two weeks of practice. It’s also a chance for players to hit someone other than their own teammates.
Only players who have 10 practices under their belts will be allowed to participate in the scrimmage.
Admission will be charged at the gate. While Middletown is hosting the event, all proceeds benefit Lower Lake High School football, according to Middletown coach Bill Foltmer.
“We threw the offer out there if they needed to move it,” said Foltmer, who was in Lower Lake over the weekend and watched the fire’s rapid approach. “I want to make sure we do whatever we can to help out Lower Lake. I’m grateful for all the support we received from the county last year (during the Valley Fire).
“It’s basically Lower Lake’s deal on our field,” Foltmer said of the scrimmage. “All proceeds are going to them.”
Barring a schedule change because of the Clayton Fire, Lower Lake is set to face De Anza of Cupertino on Aug. 26 at Gordon Sadler Field, the official season opener for both teams. The remainder of the county teams make their 2016 debuts the following weekend. On Sept. 2, Clear Lake hosts South Fork, Kelseyville is home against Healdsburg, and Middletown entertains Salesian. Lower Lake is also in action that weekend as it travels to Esparto.
While the 11-man teams from the county’s four North Central League I schools are mixing it up in Middletown, the eight-man Upper Lake Cougars are holding their own dress rehearsal of sorts on Friday with a Red & White Scrimmage at the school football field from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.. Half of the Upper Lake roster will suit up in red and the other half in white. Gate and concession proceeds support the football program. Admission prices are $4 for adults and $2 for students.
Upper Lake’s season opener is Sept. 3 at home against Rincon Valley Christian.
