BOONVILLE >> Injuries to key players certainly didn’t help their cause on Friday night as the Upper Lake Cougars fell 64-38 to the Anderson Valley Panthers in North Central League III football action at Boonville.
Before it was over, Upper Lake lost fullback Jacob Kalawaia (ankle), running back Alex Sanchez (back) and running back/wide receiver Chris Fecht (ankle) had to take a seat on the bench. The injuries to all three players were being evaluated Monday, according to head coach Mike Smith, although all three have plenty of time recover since the Cougars (2-3 league, 2-4 overall) don’t play again until Oct. 22 when they host Los Molinos in a non-league game.
With the Cougars’ biggest rushing weapon (Kalawaia) sidelined, the Cougars went up top and quarterback Derek Pritchard completed 17 of 29 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. His two favorite targets were Nathan Sneed with seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, and Dre Santos with 10 receptions for 93 yards and a TD. Santos also finished with 54 rushing yards and a score.
Anderson Valley is now 3-2 in the NCL III standings and 4-2 overall.
While Upper Lake’s varsity squad is off this weekend, the junior varsity team does have a game Friday night in Covelo against Round Valley High School. Kickoff is 6 p.m. Round Valley is not fielding a varsity team this season.
Los Molinos replaces Point Arena as Upper Lake’s opponent on Oct. 22. Point Arena, a member of the NCL III, folded its football program last week. The Cougars will receive credit for a forfeit in the league standings..
Los Molinos is 3-3 overall this season and 2-1 in the California South League.
