Editor’s note: This is the second in a five-part series profiling Lake County’s varsity football teams as they prepare for the 2019 season.
MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown institution that is Bill Foltmer has thoroughly enjoyed the Mustangs’ most recent run of success and is looking forward to more of the same in 2019 as a new season dawns for the Redwood Empire’s winningest football coach.
This is season No. 35 at Middletown and season No. 40 overall for Foltmer. He’s won multiple league championships at Middletown, made seven appearances in North Coast Section title games and won four section titles. His teams have compiled 10 or more victories in a single season no fewer than 11 times, including each of the last two years, and Foltmer’s career victory total of 281 pretty much says it all.
“The last couple of years I couldn’t have asked for better kids,” Foltmer said of last season’s 11-3 team that upset favored Salesian in the Division 5 finals, and a 10-2 team in 2017 that lost to St. Patrick-St. Vincent in the Division 5 title game. “It’s been fun these first few weeks (of 2019), so who knows? Maybe I’ll keep coaching as long as I’m having fun.”
While Foltmer will retire from his physical education teaching job at Middletown Middle School at the conclusion of the 2019-20 school year, his coaching timeline is not set in stone.
“Probably a couple of more years,” said Foltmer, who would like to reach the 300-victory milestone before he’s done walking the sidelines at Bill Foltmer Field, the Mustangs’ homefield named in his honor back in 2010, or about 100 wins ago.
Middletown’s recent run of great success, capped by a brilliant 4-0 postseason a year ago, may not be over just yet. Time will tell as the 2019 season unfolds.
“We did play our best football there at the end last year and we were a little lucky, especially with avoiding injuries to key people,” Foltmer said.
There will be no shortage of teams looking to derail Middletown’s bid to reach a sectional final for the third straight year, among them league opponents Kelseyville and Fort Bragg, and non-league opponent Moreau Catholic of Hayward. All three teams join Middletown in the newly realigned Division 6 sectional playoffs this season.
Moreau Catholic handed Middletown one of its three losses a year ago and is even better this season, according to Foltmer. The Mustangs won’t have long to see how they match up with the Mariners as the two teams square off Sept. 13 in Hayward – Middletown’s third game of the season and final tuneup before the start of league play.
Offense
Middletown’s 2019 team looks much like last year’s 11-3 club on offense with the return of veteran linemen Jared Pyzer and James Hernandez, both three-year varsity starters, senior Blake Schuster, and junior Greyson Rockwell, who moves to tight end this season. They’ll be joined by Lucas Auzenee, another returning senior. Hernandez earned All-League first-team honors as a junior.
“Good size, aggressive and a college level player (in Pyzer),” Foltmer said of his line. “It’s a good group that’s been through it all before, a good group that should do well again this season.”
Nico Elder, a junior up from the junior varsity squad, is another promising player, according to Foltmer.
The offensive backfield features two very familiar faces in running back Nico Barrio, an All-Leaguer as a junior, and fullback Dillon Tingle. Both are three-year varsity starters.
“Barrio is an all-around threat, our big-play guy,” Foltmer said. “He won’t run over people like (Drake) Harbison did last year, but he’s quick through the hole and a playmaker.”
Tingle, the team’s fullback, is a “big, strong kid and tough,” according to Foltmer.
The new starting quarterback is senior Isaac Perez, who served as the backup to RH Hess in 2018.
“So far he’s looking good,” Foltmer said. “He’s smart and a good leader. He doesn’t have the arm that RH had, but he runs the offense well.”
Tanner Pachie, who is up from Middletown’s league-champion JV squad, will back up Perez.
Another key component of the Middletown backfield is junior Victor Martinez, who Foltmer calls his “utility guy” because he can fill in at any number of positions.
“He’ll be the first guy to go in if one of the starters comes out,” Foltmer said.
Middletown’s backups include Justin Hollingsworth at tailback, Cheyden Tom at wing, and David Cline at running back.
“They’re good kids, all working hard,” Foltmer said.
Tyler Crudo, up from the JV squad, is Middletown’s top wide receiver at this point.
“He’s looking really, really strong,” Foltmer said. “He runs good routes and is a good blocker.”
Hollingsworth should also see playing time there.
Joining Rockwell at tight end is Justin Urbina, who is faster and a little more athletic than Rockwell, who is the better blocker.
“As of right now it’s very solid,” Foltmer said of the Middletown offense. “The kids are proven players. The biggest question is quarterback and he (Perez) has been great so far.”
Defense
The defense returns a number of solid players, including All-Leaguer Jared Pyzer at defensive end and All-Leaguer Tingle at middle linebacker. Two harder workers you won’t find, according to Foltmer, who said Pyzer has added some size this season.
Barrio and Tom also return at linebacker where they join Urbina and Cline. Returning up front are Hernandez, Rockwell and Tyler Breiner.
The secondary is new with Pachie at safety and Hollingsworth and Martinez at cornerback. Crudo and Perez are other backfield possibilities.
While there are plenty of recognizable faces, there are some question marks, according to Foltmer.
“Our defense is a little bit more of a harder read,” Foltmer said when asked about the unit as a whole. “We have a new secondary. I might need a little more time to figure it all out.”
League race
Foltmer said he expects the top four teams, in no particular order, to be St. Helena, Kelseyville, Fort Bragg and his Mustangs.
“St. Helena would be the frontrunner among the coaches,” Foltmer said. “I think we’ll be right there to contend for a title.”
The key for Middletown, this season and most seasons, is health.
“When I go up against St. Helelna, Kelseyville and Fort Bragg, I need to be healthy,” Foltmer said. “One injury to a key kid can change your season in the blink of an eye.”
Playoffs
A Division 5 team in past years, the Mustangs move down to Division 6 in the latest North Coast Section postseason format. The other 12 teams in Division 6 are Arcata, Elsie Allen (which has already folded its football program), Fort Bragg, Justin-Siena, Kelseyville, Kennedy-Richmond, Lower Lake, Moreau Catholic, Pinole Valley, St. Mary’s, St. Patrick-St. Vincent and Ygnacio Valley.
The other four NCL I teams (Clear Lake, Cloverdale, St. Helena and Willits) are in Division 7 along with such teams as Healdsburg, Berean Christian, St. Vincent and Salesian.
One playoff trend that Foltmer wouldn’t be surprised to see continue is a fourth straight postseason meeting with Kelseyville (Middletown leads the series 2-1).
“We’ve been in so many big games, we know what’s coming and they know what’s coming,” Foltmer said. “Coaches are creatures of habit.”
