KELSEYVILLE >> The Kelseyville Knights are the North Central League I champions for a second year in a row and they don’t have to worry about sharing the title this season after knocking off Fort Bragg 16-0 in the junior varsity football finale for both teams on Friday night in Kelseyville.
In a battle of 7-0 teams entering play, the Knights completed a perfect run through the NCL I while finishing 9-1 overall.
“It was a great team,” Kelseyville coach Jeremy Linnell said. “Our defense was so dominant and our offense averaged about 35 points a game.”
Adrian Villalobos scored the only points the Knights would need when he caught a pass from R.H. Hess on Kelseyville’s opening drive and turned it into a 25-yard touchdown. They added two more points on Fort Bragg’s first possession when Joey Mendonca sacked the Timberwolf quarterback in the end zone for a safety.
The Knights held that 8-0 lead until the fourth quarter when Jordi Lopez scored on a 50-yard run on a fourth-and-one play. Hess caught the two-point conversion pass thrown by Alex Garcia to make it 16-0.
Kelseyville’s defense intercepted three passes – one each by Villalobos, Shaun Beverlin and Zack Watkins – and also recovered a fumble. Lukaz Molinero had the fumble recovery while also leading the Knights with six solo tackles and two assists. Robert Chavez added six tackles and one assist.
On offense, Lopez rushed for 128 yards on 11 carries while Villalobos had 11 carries for 57 yards and four catches for 41 yards.
Nearly every starting player is moving up to the varsity next season, according to Linnell, who said he has his work cut out if the Kelseyville JVs are going to win a third consecutive league title in 2017.
“The pressure’s on Erick (Larsen, the varsity coach) next year,” Linnell joked.
Kelseyville’s JVs are 17-3 overall the last seasons, including a forfeit loss because of an ineligible player.
