LAKE COUNTY >> The North Central League I varsity football race is at the midway point and you couldn’t ask for a better race, one that could become even tighter this weekend.
Middletown is the lone remaining undefeated team at 4-0 following its 34-22 victory over Cloverdale on Friday night, but three other teams — Clear Lake, Kelseyville and Lower Lake — are just a game back at 3-1. That sets the stage for an all-Lake County weekend in Week 8. Middletown celebrates its homecoming against Clear Lake while Lower Lake hosts Kelseyville, which also happens to be the Trojans’ homecoming.
If Clear Lake can somehow find a way to beat Middletown, those two teams will be tied with the Kelseyville-Lower Lake winner for first place. If Middletown beats Clear Lake, the Mustangs will continue to own a one-game lead over the Kelseyville-Lower Lake winner and will move two games in front of both Clear Lake and the Kelseyville-Lower Lake loser.
Meanwhile the Fort Bragg Timberwolves, who lost their first two league games, have crept back up the standings with three straight wins and are nearly guaranteed a fourth consecutive victory since they host winless St. Vincent this Friday.
While the NCL I race is plenty tight, the NCL III North and South divisions are also producing great races. In the North, Upper Lake (3-0) hosts South Fork (3-0) in a first-place showdown on Friday night. In the South, Rincon Valley Christian and Branson are both 2-0. The top two teams in each division qualify for the NCL III playoffs, culminating in the Redwood Bowl championship game the weekend of Nov. 3-4.
Following are some of the highlights/lowlights from Week 7:
Statistics
Rushing — He didn’t rush for the most yards in Week 7, but Middletown’s Nash Field did carry the ball 21 times for 104 yards with four touchdowns in the Mustangs’ win over Cloverdale. Field was originally credited with all five Middletown TDs, but the team’s statistics accidentally credited a Luke Holt quarterback sneak for a touchdown to Field. Kelseyville’s Jordi Lopez powered the Knights to a 42-21 Bass Bowl win over Clear Lake with 134 yards and two scores. Teammate Adrian Villalobos added 84 yards and two TDs. Nico Barrio of Middletown, called up from the junior varsity team, rushed for 97 yards in his varsity debut.
Passing — Upper Lake’s Ray Moran completed 6 of 10 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns in a 50-8 rout over Anderson Valley. Clear Lake’s Alex Adams went 12-for-23 for 212 yards and two TDs against Kelseyville. For the Knights, Alex Garcia was 9 of 12 for 108 yards. Middletown’s Luke Holt completed 6 of 11 passes for 122 yards.
Receiving — There were no shortage of big receiving performances in Week 7. Upper Lake’s Eddie Crandell had four catches for 125 yards and two TDs against Anderson Valley, Clear Lake’s Austin Davis caught four passes for 114 yards and a TD against Kelseyville, Kelseyville’s Zack Watkins had six receptions for 107 yards against Clear Lake, and Middletown’s Trey O’Neill had four catches for 93 yards.
Defense
Pick-six — Kelseyville’s Adrian Villalobos returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter against Clear Lake, which gave the Knights a commanding 35-14 lead.
Sack attack — Upper Lake sacked Anderson Valley’s quarterback eight times, led by Dante Bassignani and Kahlil Geore with three apiece.
This and that
Whatever it takes — Kelseyville running back/receiver Adrian Villalobos came up big in all facets of the game in the Knights’ 42-21 Bass Bowl win over Clear Lake. He rushed for two touchdowns, returned an interception for another score, and completed a 36-yard pass to teammate Zack Watkins that set up a touchdown late in the second quarter to put Kelseyville ahead to stay.
Streaks — Middletown has won five straight since losing to Hercules it its season opener. Kelseyville has won each of the last five Bass Bowl games against Clear Lake and now owns a 6-2 lead in the series, which began in 2010. Upper Lake has won four straight.
