LAKE COUNTY >> The Clear Lake Cardinals arrive at their bye week in great shape at 4-1 overall and atop the North Central League I standings at 3-0, a half-game in front of the Middletown Mustangs (2-0) and a full game up on the Lower Lake Trojans (2-1) and St. Helena Saints (2-1).
Before this week is out, Middletown should be tied with Clear Lake — the Mustangs play at St. Vincent (0-3) on Saturday. Depending on how Lower Lake fares Friday night in St. Helena and how Kelseyville (1-1) does Friday at home against Cloverdale (1-2), Lake County’s four NCL I entries could hold the top four spots in the league standings. If that’s the case, get ready for a couple of big-time head-to-head county battles that will go a long way in determining this year’s league champion.
That’s because Kelseyville is home Oct. 6 against Clear Lake. The following weekend (Oct. 13) it’s a double dose of county rivalries as Middletown hosts Clear Lake while Kelseyville visits Lower Lake.
Better buckle your seatbelt.
Following are some of the highlights and lowlights from Week 5 of the 2017 high school season:
Statistics
Rushing — Drake Harbison of Middletown ran up and down the field against Lower Lake, gaining 231 yards on 20 carries and scoring three touchdowns in a 28-0 win. Patrick Mick of Kelseyville finished with 107 hard-earned yards and a TD in a 50-29 non-league loss to undefeated St. Patrick/St. Vincent of Vallejo. Upper Lake’s Dante Bassignani gained 89 yards on only eight carries and scored twice in a 50-0 NCL III North victory over Round Valley.
Passing — Clear Lake’s Alex Adams is piling up the touchdowns this season. The senior threw five more in a 48-8 homecoming victory over Willits while completing 13 of 18 passes for 286 yards. Lower Lake’s Hokulani Wickard put the ball in the air 49 times and completed 29 for 225 yards against Middletown. Kelseyville’s Alex Garcia went 5-for-10 for 204 yards and three TDs against St. Patrick/St. Vincent. Upper Lake’s Ray Moran was 15-for-23 for 142 yards and three TDs against Covelo.
Receiving — Rodrgio Lupercio of Clear Lake had a big Friday night with five catches for 107 yards and three TDs. Teammate Nolan Williams added three catches for 88 yards. Izzac Carver of Lower Lake caught nine passes for 72 yards. Upper Lake’s Eddie Crandell had seven catches for 66 yards and a TD and teammate Hank Nevarez pulled in five passes for 42 yards and two TDs.
Special teams
Four more PATs — Clear Lake placekicker Erik Valadez is a getting a real workout this season. He kicked four more extra points against Willits.
Kick ‘em deep — Upper Lake kicker Jovany Martinez booted several kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks against Round Valley. In eight-man football that’s a big advantage as the team starts at the 15-yard line on the 80-yard-long field.
Defense
Deuces are wild — Lower Lake’s Charles Powell picked off two Middletown passes while Upper Lake’s Jared Thornberry, Clear Lake’s Nolan Williams and Dominic Mendez, and Kelseyville’s Kyle Moore and Bryan Carillo all had two sacks.
Strong effort — Middletown had a 13-0 lead before Lower Lake registered its initial first down against the Middletown defense, which limited Lower Lake to 42 rushing yards.
Tackle time — Kelseyville middle linebacker JD Prescott finished with nine solo tackles and five assists against St. Patrick/St. Vincent.
Dominated — Clear Lake’s defense recovered three fumbles, intercepted a pass and had five sacks against Willits. Defensive back Austin Davis nearly had his third pick-six in two weeks but his long return for a touchdown was negated by a penalty.
This and that
Four touchdowns — Clear Lake’s Rodrigo Lupercio caught three touchdown passes and rushed for a fourth score against Willits.
Run, run, run — Middletown had 347 yards of total offense against Lower Lake, all on the ground.
Pass, pass, pass — Twenty-three of the 24 plays run by the Lower Lake offense in the fourth quarter against Middletown were Hokulani Wickard passes. He completed 13 of them.
If at first you don’t succeed — After having his touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty early in the second quarter against Lower Lake, Middletown’s Drake Harbison scored on the next play, going in from 22 yards out to give the Mustangs a 21-0 lead following Nash Field’s conversion run.
Once upon a time in America — Someone stood up, someone sat down, someone kneeled and no one gave a damn.
NFL — I never knew those three little letters stood for so many different things.
Picking his spots — Middletown defensive back RH Hess seems to come up with a big interception every game. His pick late in the first quarter against Lower Lake led to a Middletown touchdown three plays later and a 13-0 Mustangs lead.
Streaks — Clear Lake (4-1) has won four in a row and Middletown (3-1) has won three in a row.
Rumble in the jungle — Clear Lake visits Kelseyville on Thursday in a big NCL I varsity volleyball match. If both teams win on Tuesday they’ll be 5-0 going into that match.
Reaching the sports editor — The direct line to the Record-Bee sports desk is 900-2018. Yes, it’s a 900 number but don’t expect anything extra.
