MIDDLETOWN >> The Kelseyville Knights are suddenly quick learners. After going 16 years between postseason wins, a streak that ended with a 51-6 victory over Arcata in the opening round of the North Coast Section Division V playoffs on Nov.12, head coach Erick Larsen’s club needed only a week to register the school’s next playoff win.
Kelseyville accomplished that feat on Saturday with a 14-12 upset of No. 3 seed Middletown in the quarterfinals at Bill Foltmer Field. The Knights face another team they lost to during league play, North Central League I champion Fort Bragg (10-1), on Friday night in the semifinals.
If Kelseyville can pull off its second upset in a row, the next stop is the sectional championship game the weekend of Dec. 2-3 against either No. 1 seed Berean Christian or No. 5 St. Patrick/St. Vincent.
The Knights’ postseason run in football is part of a fabulous fall sports season at Kelseyville High School where the junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams, boys soccer squad and JV football team all won undisputed league championships. The girls soccer squad and the boys and girls cross country teams also posted winning records, and sophomore Andre Williams III is traveling to Fresno on Saturday to compete in the CIF State Championships, the youngest Lake County runner ever to qualify for state.
Following is a look back at the highlights/lowlights and everything in between that made up Week of 12 of the high school football season:
Statistics
Rushing — Lake County rushing leader Dwayne Yiggins led the way with a big 207-yard effort on 34 carries against Middletown. He also scored a touchdown. Teammate Patrick Mick added 65 yards on 10 carries. Middletown’s Ty Chorjel had 82 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns.
Passing — Middletown’s Luke Holt went 8-for-20 for 125 yards while Kelseyville’s Logan Barrick finished 3-for-7 for 25 yards and a touchdown. All three of Barrick’s completions came on the Knights’ scoring drive late in the second quarter.
Receiving — Middletown’s Devin Ross caught three passes for 42 yards while teammate Gabe Guzman had two catches for 42 yards. The biggest catch of Week 12 belonged to Gideon Turner, who caught an 11-yard touchdown for Kelseyville’s first points against Middletown.
Special teams
Good as gold — Kicking two extra points might not seem like a big deal, but Bryan Carillo’s kicks, each right down the middle, were the difference for the Knights on the scoreboard against Middletown.
Defense
Turnovers matter — When Middletown beat Kelseyville 40-8 during the regular season, the Mustangs won the turnover battle three to one. When those same two teams met against Saturday night in the playoffs, Kelseyville won the turnover battle three to one.
Linebacker love — While Kelseyville’s defensive line certainly did a job against Middletown, especially during the final three quarters, Knights head coach Erick Larsen also praised the play of his linebacking corps, led by J.D. Prescott.
This and that
High-rent district — Kelseyville running back Dwayne Yiggins has 1,321 rushing yards this season and 15 touchdowns, both tops in the county. He also leads the county in total touchdowns (19). If he has a big game against Fort Bragg, he’ll be among some of the the county’s all-time single-season rushing leaders. Of course, if the Knights advance past Fort Bragg in the semifinals, there is no telling how high he could reach.
1-1 — Kelseyville and Middletown are now 1-1 against each other in postseason competition. Both won on the other team’s field.
Almost the opposite — When Middletown beat Kelseyville 40-8 in league play, the Mustangs outgained the Knights 364-213. On Saturday night it was Kelseyville outgaining Middletown 308-212.
That’s a tough night — Middletown’s John Kelley, one of the top running backs in Lake County this season, gained just 12 yards on 13 carries against Kelseyville. He was held to no gain or minus yards five times.
Piling up the wins — Kelseyville’s 9-3 record is the school’s best since the 2000 team finished 9-3. The last Kelseyville team to crack double digits was the 1999 squad (10-2).
Something to shoot for — Fort Bragg has won each of the last 10 meetings with Kelseyville. The Knights last beat the Timberwolves 53-34 at Fort Bragg in 2006. Stan Weiper was the head coach.
