LAKE COUNTY — St. Helena High School sophomore running back Ivan Robledo certainly has enjoyed his time in Lake County the last two weeks. Who knows? Maybe he’ll decide to move here.
“I would trade some guys for him,” Clear Lake head coach Mark Cory joked after Robledo rushed for 284 yards and six touchdowns in the undefeated Saints’ 47-14 North Central League I win over the Cardinals on Friday night in Lakeport.
A week earlier, Robledo rushed for 133 yards on only eight carries, three of them going for touchdowns, in a 48-27 league-opening win at Kelseyville.
Robledo isn’t only fast, he’s “really fast,” according to Cory, who said his fastest players couldn’t catch him from behind.
St. Helena improved to 2-0 in league play and 5-0 overall with its latest victory. The Saints return home this coming Friday to host the also-2-0 Willits Wolverines, who are the surprise of the NCL I so far this season. Long the league’s doormat, the Wolverines are off to one of their better starts in years at 4-1.
In fact, the NCL I race should really come into focus the next two weeks. After playing Willits at home, the Saints host the Middletown (2-0, 3-2) on Oct. 11.
Following is a look back on the highlights and lowlights from Week 6 of the high school football season:
Statistics
Rushing — Lower Lake quarterbacks Cole Doud and Vann Wilkins each rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown in a 29-21 victory over Fort Bragg. Clear Lake’s Treppa Marcks finished with 76 yards on 14 carries against St. Helena. Middletown’s Dillon Tingle had 71 yards on only seven carries with two TDs against Kelseyville. Kelseyville’s Dylan McAdon gained 71 yards on 19 carries.
Passing — Clear Lake’s Darius Ford completed 9 of 19 passes for 207 yards and two TDs.
Receiving — Clear Lake’s Treppa Marcks had two receptions for 111 yards and a TD. Lower Lake’s Semaj Clark caught three passes for 53 yards and a TD.
Special teams
Kicking — Middletown’s Jorge Fonseca went 5-for-5 on his extra-point kicks against Kelseyville.
Defense
Drive killer — Lower Lake’s Gavin Watson intercepted a pass at the goal line to thwart Fort Bragg’s last-second bid to catch the Trojans on Friday night at Gordon Sadler Field.
Tied record — Middletown’s Nico Barrio intercepted three passes to tie Paul Silva’s single-game record in the Mustangs’ 35-0 win over Kelseyville. All three picks set up Mustangs scores.
Solid effort — Middletown limited Kelseyville, which was without two of its top weapons (Robert Chavez and Brandon Garcia) because of injury, to 90 yards of total offense.
Miscellaneous
Streaks — Lower Lake snapped a nine-game league losing streak dating back to late October of 2017 with its win over Fort Bragg.
Two homecomings down — Clear Lake and Kelseyville held theirs on Friday. Upper Lake joins the party this coming Saturday when it hosts South Fork.
Comprehensive effort — Middletown’s Nico Barrio, who got the second half off along with most of the other Mustangs’ starters against Kelseyville, rushed for 32 yards and a touchdown, caught a 20-yard touchdown pass, and had the three interceptions.
Field position — Middletown started four of its seven first-half possessions against Kelseyville inside Knights territory — at (in order) the Kelseyville 16, 42, 18, and 7, scoring all four times. Their other three possessions began at the Middletown 28 (turnover), Middletown 37 (punt) and Middletown 48 (touchdown).
One closer to 300 — Middletown head coach Bill Foltmer with career win No. 284.
High-fives — Middletown’s Sophie Kucer has scored five goals in each of her last two games as the Mustangs (6-0) take aim on a possible 12th straight league championship.
Catch him if you can — Middletown cross country runner Isaac Rascon.
Volleyball showdown — Kelseyville (6-0) at Cloverdale (6-0) on Tuesday to close out the first half of NCL I play.
Won’t be the same — The Giants without Bruce Bochy.
