Editor’s note: This is the second in a five-part series previewing Lake County’s varsity football teams. The Upper Lake Cougars will be featured on Saturday.
MIDDLETOWN >> There’s no depth to the 2017 Middletown High School varsity football team, but there is quality if not quantity.
“The 11 I put out on the field is a good group,” head coach Bill Foltmer said of the 18-strong Middletown roster. “It’s not that football is dying in Middletown, but the junior class is not a very strong class (in football numbers). The numbers for the JVs are very good, around 30.”
Many of Middletown’s starting 11 may have to play both ways depending on the development of younger players, which is one reason why Foltmer is stressing physical conditioning more than ever.
“If I lose a game in the fourth quarter because the kids aren’t in shape, that’s on me, not on them,” he said. “Our big boys have got to be able to play four quarters, maybe on both sides of the ball.”
Line strength
The “big boys” Foltmer is referring to are All-League linemen Colton Hall, Cameron Ketchum and Devin Ross, all seniors. Hall earned first-team honors on both sides of the football last season while Ketchum was honored on offense and Ross on defense. They form the backbone of Middletown’s offensive and defensive lines this season.
“All three are very good, tough kids,” Foltmer said. “All three showed up in shape. I expect a lot out of those three guys right off the bat.”
They are joined up front by returning starting center Zack Robinson and returning lineman Mark Breiner, both seniors.
Three players who will be competing for starting jobs and playing somewhere for the Mustangs are sophomores James Hernandez, who could start at guard; Jared Pyzer, who could end up on the offensive and defensive lines; and Dillon Tingle, who will start at middle linebacker.
“If I’m bringing up sophomores they’re playing,” Foltmer said of Hernandez, Pyzer and Tingle. “I have very high hopes with those three.”
The line play on both sides of the football should be solid, according to Foltmer just as long as his returning players continue to perform at the high level they operated at a year ago and as long as they can stay healthy.
“We can’t afford injuries to our key people,” Foltmer said. “We could quickly go from an All-Leaguer out there to someone who hasn’t played much.”
Versatility is another key, especially given Middletown’s low numbers this season.
“Everybody’s got to play a couple of positions,” Foltmer said. “We may have that need.”
Graduation cost Middletown both of its leading rushers from last season, Ty Chorjel and John Kelley, but Foltmer said their replacements, both up from the junior varsity squad, are solid. Running back Drake Harbison and fullback Nash Field, both juniors, are legitimate ballcarriers, according to Foltmer. They’ll be receiving their handoffs from veteran quarterback Luke Holt, who played well as a junior in his first varsity season.
“I think he was a little bit underrated,” Foltmer said. “Now he’s got to prove everyone they were wrong about him.”
Holt’s downfield targets include wide receiver Trey O’Neill, a senior, wing Isaiah Moore, also a senior, wing/wide receiver Victor Guzman, a junior, and tight end Ross.
“O’Neill has good hands and speed,” Foltmer said.
Rounding out the Middletown roster are Jordan Hernandez at linebacker/tight end, Jake Kelly at offensive/defensive line, Casey Chicoine at offensive/defensive line and kicker, and Kelseyville transfer RH Hess, who will likely start at safety.
League race
Middletown is entering its 33rd straight season with Foltmer as varsity head coach and the Mustangs have won league titles or at least contended for them in all but a handful of those years. In fact, the last time the Mustangs were a non-factor in the North Central League I race was 1998, which is also the last time they didn’t finish league play or the season with a winning record.
Foltmer doesn’t expect that streak to end this season.
“I think we’ll be in it at the end,” he said of what appears to be a wide-open NCL I race in 2017.
“I think Fort Bragg (the three-time defending champion) will be a little down but still be in the race because they have a great program and are well coached. St. Helena is a little down, but they also have a good program and you’re stupid if you look past those guys. Kelseyville is the up-and-coming team and the only question is this their year or is it next year? Clear Lake looked really good in the passing league and so did Lower Lake. I really liked what I’ve seen from both of those teams.
“I think the league is wide open just because of the unknown. There isn’t that dominant team to start the season,” Foltmer added.
“If we can stay healthy I like our chances,” Foltmer said.
Foltmer also likes where Lake County’s other NCL I teams – Clear Lake, Kelseyville and Lower Lake – stand going into the league race.
“I’m pretty impressed with Lake County’s coaches. All of them are doing a really good job.”
Milestones
With 242 wins at Middletown and 261 for his career entering the season, Foltmer said he doesn’t have a timeline for how long he’ll continue to coach.
“I’m having a fun time. These guys are my best friends,” Foltmer said of a coaching staff that includes longtime varsity assistants such as Tom Knowles, Moke Simon and Jim Garrett. “We’ve had basically the same staff for the last 12-15 years. It’s a good group and I enjoy coaching with them.”
While Foltmer might retire as a teacher in the next couple of years, he said he has no plans to give up coaching at Middletown in the near future.
“Of course, plans could change but right now, no,” Foltmer said.
Middletown does have a new JV coach this season in former Upper Lake varsity head coach and current Middletown vice principal and athletic director Airic Guerrero.
Schedule
The Mustangs won’t open the season with their traditional first-week opponent Salesian of Richmond. Instead they’ll kick things off Sept. 1 at home against Hercules High School. In fact, the Mustangs play each of their first two games at Bill Foltmer Field as they host Berean Christian of Walnut Creek on Sept. 8.
“Hercules is not bad,” Foltmer said. “They had a good record last year (9-2) but graduated some of their top kids. They’ve very athletic.”
Berean Christian also suffered some significant graduation losses after an 8-4 campaign in 2016.
“But they still have that one lineman back and I dare anyone to run his way,” Foltmer said of senior guard/defensive end Isaac Hodgins, who stands 6-feet-1 and 285 pounds. “He’s definitely going to be a Division I player (in college).”
