LAKE COUNTY — One running back with 100 or more rushing yards is an achievement. Two backs above the century mark is pretty special. Three players in triple digits? It must be the St. Helena Saints.
St. Helena unleashed the full fury of its running game on the Kelseyville Knights on Friday night, amassing 478 yards and six touchdowns in a 48-27 victory in the North Central League I opener for both teams. The Knights, undefeated a year ago in league play, played an ultra-competitive first half but the combination of the Saints’ powerful running game and dominance at the line of scrimmage added with Kelseyville missing two of its top players to injury in the second half, running back/linebacker Robert Chavez and running back/defensive back Brandon Garcia, was too much for the Knights to overcome.
In other league openers Friday, Middletown beat Lower Lake 42-19, Willits topped Clear Lake 20-6, and Cloverdale defeated Fort Bragg 28-12. In eight-man football action Saturday, the Upper Lake Cougars dug themselves a 16-0 hole early but battled back in a 48-34 loss to Stuart Hall at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.
Following are some of the highlights and lowlights of Week 5:
Statistics
Rushing — Middletown’s Nico Barrio posted his second 200-yard-plus game of the season with 259 yards and two touchdowns while teammate Dillon Tingle had 111 yards and four TDs against Lower Lake. Upper Lake’s Cody Banks finished with 95 yards and three TDs against Stuart Hall. As for the aforementioned St. Helena Saints, quarterback Daniel Martinez had 180 yards and two TDs, running back Cody DiTomaso added 136 yards and a TD, and running back Ivan Robledo had 133 yards and three TDs.
Passing — Lower Lake’s Vann Wilkins went 15-for-24 for 196 yards and a TD against Middletown. Upper Lake’s Cody Banks was 10-for-23 for 163 yards and a TD.
Receiving — Upper Lake’s Benat Love had nine catches for 158 yards and a TD. Lower Lake’s Semaj Clark caught three passes for 77 yards and a TD.
Special teams
Onside success — Upper Lake recovered back-to-back onside kicks in the fourth quarter against Stuart Hall, both of the recoveries made by kicker Benat Love.
Defense
Pick-six — Clear Lake’s Travis Howe scored his team’s only points against Willits on a 25-yard interception return, one of his two interceptions in the game.
Shut down — Middletown’s defense blanked Lower Lake’s offense in the second half, which is no small feat.
Miscellaneous
Milestone — Four games into the 2019 season, Lower Lake quarterback Vann Wilkins has 1,072 passing yards.
Free pizza — Stuart Hall treated Upper Lake to free pizza following their game Saturday night at Kezar Stadium, the former home of the San Francisco 49ers.
Class — St. Helena was poised at the Kelseyville 1-yard line in the final seconds of Friday’s game at Kelseyville and elected to kneel on the ball twice to run out the clock.
Week 6 headliner — Middletown (1-0) at Kelseyville (0-1) in what amounts to a must-win for the Knights if they want to stay in this year’s league race.
283 — Middletown’s Bill Foltmer is 17 wins away from 300 for his career.
Streaks — Middletown now owns a 12-game winning streak over Lower Lake.
Just for the heck of it — Bruce Bochy, 2,001 career wins.
