KELSEYVILLE >> Round two of the summer passing league took place under a hot summer sun Monday evening at Kelseyville High School where the intensity level definitely had picked up from a week earlier, complete with some pointed smack talk.
The final round of the passing league is next Monday at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport beginning at 5:30 p.m. Usually four weeks in length, the league has only three dates this year because of the early start to the practice season, which is July 30 instead of the usual first week of August. In fact, the Kelseyville Knights will have a game under their belts by this time next month as they open the season on zero week with an away game Aug. 17 against Stellar Prep of Oakland. Kelseyville edged Stellar Prep 8-0 in last year’s season opener at Kelseyville.
Lower Lake’s varsity squad, run by assistant coach Ed Fuchs on Monday with head coach Justin Gaddy out of town on official business, looked pretty sharp in its early sets with quarterback Elijah Hernandez leading the way. Hernandez was the full-time backup for Hokulani Wickard last season and appeared in 10 games but threw only seven passes, competing four for 13 yards. He also appeared in two games in a backup capacity during his sophomore season in 2016, going 1-for-4 for 4 yards. Wickard’s understudy is set to get all of the snaps this season as the Trojans look to reach the Division IV playoffs for a third year in a row and the fourth time in the past five seasons.
While the Upper Lake Cougars are Lake County’s lone eight-man team, the Cougars held their own in the controlled scrimmage as quarterback Ray Moran, despite an injury to his non-throwing left arm earlier this summer, looked sharp at times and had Upper Lake’s offense on the move in the majority of their sets. Upper Lake will play a full 10-game regular-season schedule this season, the first time since 2014 (it’s final year as an 11-man team). The Cougars are one of two Lake County teams scheduled to open their season against a Nevada opponent the weekend of Aug. 24-25. Lower Lake hosts Carson City on Aug. 24 while Upper Lake travels to the Silver State on Aug. 25 to play Virginia City.
Other Aug. 24 season openers have Middletown on the road against Hercules and Clear Lake at home against Colusa.
North Central League I teams Clear Lake, Kelseyville, Lower Lake and Middletown play one less league game this year because of St. Vincent’s departure and will begin the season with three straight non-league games before opening NCL I play.
The Record-Bee will profile each of the county’s varsity teams prior to the start of the season.
