Skip to content
In this case a picture is worth a thousand words. Upper Lake’s offense hit on all cylinders during a season-opening 68-40 win over Los Molinos on Friday night in Los Molinos.   - Courtesy photo
In this case a picture is worth a thousand words. Upper Lake’s offense hit on all cylinders during a season-opening 68-40 win over Los Molinos on Friday night in Los Molinos. – Courtesy photo
Author
UPDATED:

LAKE COUNTY >> Upper Lake lit it up on offense against Los Molinos, Kelseyville’s defense shut down Stellar Prep at all the right times, Lower Lake came up with timely offense and defense against De Anza while Clear Lake nearly pulled out an incredible comeback against Colusa during week one of the high school football season.

It was a solid start for Lake County’s varsity squads as the 2017 high school football season burst onto the scene like a thunderclap. Middletown joins the fray in week two after sitting out opening weekend. The Mustangs host Hercules (1-0) on Friday night at Bill Foltmer Field, one of two home games in the county on week two – Esparto (0-1) at Lower Lake is the other. Hitting the road are Kelseyville at Berean Christian (0-1) in Walnut Creek, and on Saturday it’s Clear Lake at Harbor High (1-0) in Santa Cruz.

Following are some of the highlights and lowlights from opening weekend:

Statistics

Rushing — Upper Lake fullback Jacob Kalawaia ran over the Los Molinos defense for 176 yards and four touchdowns, part of the Cougars’ 68-point attack. Lower Lake quarterback Hokulani Wickard led the Trojans with 67 yards on 12 carries against De Anza.

Passing — Speaking of Wickard, he had a great first week, completing 14 of 19 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions against De Anza. Making his first varsity start, Upper Lake junior Ray Moran went 11 of 16 for 167 yards, three TDs and one interception against Los Molinos. Alex Adams of Clear Lake went 17-for-32 for 248 yards and two touchdowns in the setback to Colusa. He just missed a third.

Receiving — Nathan Sneed and Eddie Crandell of Upper Lake were Ray Moran’s go-to guys against Los Molinos. Sneed caught six passes for 62 yards and a TD and while Crandell had three receptions for 68 yards and two TDs. Eight different Lower Lake players had at least one catch against De Anza as Wickard really spread around the football. The longest gainer was a 81-yard touchdown to Ray Mayo, his only catch of the night. Adrian Villalobos had three catches for 22 yards in his Kelseyville varsity debut.

Special teams

Ouch times three — Upper Lake was burned for three kickoff returns for touchdowns against Los Molinos.

Defense

Bend but don’t break — Was the theme of the Kelseyville defense against Stellar Prep. While the Thunder threatened a couple of times, the Knights parlayed two nice stands and three forced turnovers into a big goose egg on the scoreboard for Stellar Prep.

Sophomore shines — Cole Doud shined in his varsity debut for Lower Lake with two fumble recoveries, a key sack, and a pass reception for 24 yards in the Trojans’ win over De Anza.

Two sacks — Upper Lake’s Jacob Kalawaia and Lower Lake’s Virgil Ellis, both among Lake County’s sacks leaders a year ago, each had two on Friday night.

Deuces are wild — Upper Lake’s Eddie Crandell picked off the Los Molinos quarterback twice.

Goal-line stand — Lower Lake preserved its 19-14 win over De Anza with a last-second goal-line stand that ended with a combined sack by Virgil Ellis and Cole Doud.

Here and there

Yellow fever — Stellar Prep and Kelseyville combined for 165 yards in penalties, most of that by Stellar Prep, on Friday night in Kelseyville. On a second-quarter anti-drive, the Thunder went backward 41 yards on penalties before being called for intentional grounding in the end zone, which resulted in a safety and a 2-0 Kelseyville lead, the only points of the first half by either team. The closest person to the grounding call that led to a safety was a sports reporter on the sideline … and it would have been a tough play for him, too. The Thunder’s quarterback was called for intentional grounding twice.

Thank you very much — About to score a touchdown against Kelseyville, Stellar Prep fumbled the ball into and out of the end zone for a touchback on its first possession of the game. That’s just the kind of night it was a big and physical Stellar Prep team, but also an undisciplined Thunder squad.

That kid is fast — Kelseyville’s Adrian Villalobos.

Clear Lake’s next opponent — Clear Lake travels to Harbor High of Santa Cruz on Saturday and will be facing a Pirates squad that snapped a 22-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon with a 26-20 win over Yerba Buena. Until Saturday, Harbor’s last win came late in the 2014 season.

Battling back — Speaking of Clear Lake, the Cardinals spotted a good Colusa team a 28-6 lead before battling back to tie the game. The RedHawks scored with about five minutes remaining to win 34-28. “They wouldn’t quit, they wouldn’t go away,” Clear Lake coach Mark Cory said of the Cardinals’ first effort of the 2017 season.

Candlelight vigil — A candlelight vigil for Clear Lake High School assistant football coach and defensive coordinator Rob Rumfelt takes place Tuesday night at Lakeport’s Library Park beginning at 8 p.m. It would be nice to see players from all the county’s football teams there sporting their colors. Rumfelt, a Deputy Sheriff, was killed in the line of duty Aug. 22 while returning from a domestic violence call. Rumfelt was active in the Lakeport community and a great friend to many. He will be missed — especially his “quiet” voice on the sidelines during games. There won’t be candles available at the vigil, so you need to bring your own. Small flashlights and cell phone lights work too.

Week two bye — The Upper Lake Cougars are off, but they return to action Sept. 9 at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco against Stuart Hall.

Originally Published:

RevContent Feed

Page was generated in 0.066125154495239