PETALUMA >> It turned out to be a costly 41-0 victory for the Middletown Mustangs on Saturday afternoon against the St. Vincent Mustangs in Petaluma.
While the outcome of the game was never in doubt – Middletown easily improved to 3-0 in the North Central League I varsity football standings and 4-1 overall – the win against St. Vincent (0-4, 1-5) cost coach Bill Foltmer’s squad two of its starting running backs. Drake Harbison was lost to a high ankle sprain in the first half and ended up with just one carry for 11 yards. Isaiah Moore joined him on the bench in the second half, also with a high ankle sprain. Moore finished with 60 yards on four carries and a touchdown that was part of Middletown’s 20-point second quarter.
“Both kids were able to walk their own cars (after the Mustangs returned home), so that was something,” Middletown coach Bill Foltmer said. “We’ll take it easy on them this week and see how it goes.”
Middletown, which is now tied with Clear Lake atop the NCL I standings, is on the road Friday against Cloverdale (1-3). Foltmer said he might rest one or both players although he doesn’t have much depth on his roster to call upon. He’s also weighing the option of bringing up a running back from the junior varsity squad as an insurance policy.
Middletown didn’t waste any time building a lead against a St. Vincent program that has hit hard times of last and is switching from 11-man to eight-man football next season when it leaves the NCL I for the NCL III.
“Their enrollment is down and they are way in over their heads in the NCL I,” Foltmer said. “At one time they could compete and were one of the top teams in the league.”
St. Vincent has yet to score in its four league games this season, all blowout losses.
Middletown sandwiched Moore’s 3-yard run between Luke Holt touchdown passes of 71 and 10 yards to wide receiver Trey O’Neill for a 20-0 lead after one quarter.
The Mustangs’ defense got into the act in the second quarter as Victor Guzman scored on a 28-yard interception return.
With Middletown’s reserves playing the entire second half under a running clock, Dillon Tingle scored on a 5-yard run and Jacob Kelly added a 8-yard run in the fourth quarter for the game’s final points. Kelly, a lineman, was Middletown’s leading rusher with 63 yards on 13 carries. Tingle added 46 on eight carries. Holt completed seven of eight passes for 137 yards and the two touchdowns. O’Neill caught five passes for 104 yards and the two TDs.
Middletown’s defense forced four turnovers, three of them interceptions.
After playing on the road this Friday in Cloverdale, the Mustangs return home Oct. 13 for their homecoming game against Clear Lake.
