MIDDLETOWN — If the North Coast Section hadn’t pushed back the start of the football playoffs by a week, which is what the organization did Wednesday morning, the Middletown Mustangs would have entered the postseason not having played a game in 21 days.
And while most coaches will tell you that the defending Division 5 champions are a well-oiled machine as they pursue an undefeated North Central League I championship this year, the guy that runs the Mustangs, head coach Bill Foltmer, said that kind of break is not desirable at any level.
“I don’t care how good you practice as a team,” Foltmer said. “Three weeks off is going to affect you going into your next game.”
Middletown (5-0 league, 6-2 overall) lost its Oct. 25 home game with Fort Bragg because of poor air quality from the nearby Kincade Fire and the PG&E power shut-offs that affected the entire North State. The game was rescheduled for Oct. 28 but finally canceled because the logistics involved in getting Fort Bragg to Middletown were considerable given the Burress Fire burning in Potter Valley and its threat to the Highway 20 corridor, and the sketchy air quality in the Middletown region.
In fact, Foltmer said that while the junior varsity game might have gone off, by the time the varsity game was supposed to take place the air quality was unhealthy.
“And you don’t want to bring Fort Bragg all the way over here if there’s not going to be a game,” Foltmer said.
Cloverdale, the Mustangs’ final league opponent, then canceled its home game with Middletown set for this Friday because of the PG&E power shut-offs, poor air quality in Cloverdale, and the fact that school had been canceled for the entire week. With the start of the playoffs looming the weekend of Nov. 8-9, the North Coast Section intervened early Wednesday morning, pushing the first week of the playoffs back to Nov. 15-16 and allowing North State teams impacted by the Kincade Fire and the PG&E power shut-offs the flexibility of rescheduling games.
And Middletown and Cloverdale are taking advantage. They’ll play Nov. 8 at Cloverdale with junior varsity action kicking off at the normal time of 5:30 p.m. It’s the league and regular-season finale for both teams.
“You never want to lose your routine,” Foltmer said. “Cloverdale (1-5, 2-7) wanted to play and seemed excited about it. We are too.”
Foltmer said one last tuneup before the start of the playoffs offers the Mustangs the opportunity to shake off any rust they’ve acquired during their unwanted break. They’ve already clinched a tie for the NCL I title and can wrap up the undisputed championship by beating the Eagles or with a Lower Lake (5-1, 7-2) loss to St. Helena (4-2, 7-2) this Friday at Lower Lake.
During their off-time, the Mustangs have practiced when the air quality in Middletown allowed it. They were back on the practice field Wednesday in near-perfect conditions.
“It was a beautiful day, nice and warm with no smoke,” Foltmer said.
“Any time you have the opportunity to get a practice in you better do it because things can change quickly,” Foltmer said. “After the Valley Fire (2015) and last year, we know how it can go.”
Having a veteran squad helps, according to Foltmer. His four captains – Nico Barrio, Dillon Tingle, Jared Pyzer and James Hernandez – are all third-year varsity starters.
“These kids were league champs as sophomores, section champions last year and they’re at least co-league champions this year,” Foltmer said. “These kids all understand the situation and have been tolerating it real well. They know what it takes.”
