LAKE COUNTY — Lake County teams went 2-2 in Week 4 of the high school football season, which marks the final week of preseason play for North Central League I schools Clear Lake, Kelseyville, Lower Lake and Middletown.
Week 4 was notable on a couple of counts. Middletown (1-2) picked up its first win of the season at home against St. Patrick-St. Vincent (1-3) of Vallejo while Clear Lake (2-1) capped a solid preseason with a 21-13 victory at home against Winters (2-2). Upper Lake (2-1) also played its first 11-man game since the 2014 season and while the Cougars absorbed their first loss of the season, 19-6, against Maxwell (1-2), the Northshore outlook for a full-time return to 11-man play in the near future appears promising as its Northshore Youth Club teams (varsity, junior varsity and pee wee) provide the high school with a feeder program that is has so desperately lacked for years.
A member of the eight-man-football NCL II, Upper Lake plays one more 11-man game on Oct. 2 when it hosts Williams during homecoming week. The Cougars open league play the following week against Potter Valley.
When NCL I play begins this coming Friday, it will open with plenty of local flavor as Kelseyville hosts Clear Lake while Middletown entertains Lower Lake. Upper Lake is on the road at Calistoga in non-league action.
Following is a look back at some of the highlights and lowlights of Week 4:
Statistics
Rushing — Cole Ketchum (13 carries for 107 yards, TD) and Jacob Urbina (7 for 91, 2 TDs) sparked Middletown’s ground attack against St. Patrick-St. Vincent. Upper Lake’s Kyle Grandi had 45 yards on eight carries against Maxwell. Clear Lake quarterback Jack Daskam gained 42 yards on nine carries with a TD against Winters.
Passing — Clear Lake’s Jack Daskam completed 20 of 27 pass for 291 yards and two TDs in the win over Winters. Upper Lake’s Cody Banks went 7-for-8 for 106 yards against Maxwell. Middletown’s Luke Hoogendoorn attempted only two passes and completed both for touchdowns against St. Patrick-St. Vincent. Kelseyville’s Luke Watkins went 7-for-16 for 83 yards and two TDs against Del Norte.
Receiving — Upper Lake’s Elijah Alvarez caught five passes for 77 yards. Clear Lake’s Tyler Haskell had two catches for 71 yards and a TD while teammate Jake Soderquist caught five passes for 71 yards and a TD. Kelseyville’s Joey Gentle had two catches for 44 yards and a TD.
Special teams
KOd them — Middletown’s Cole Ketchum returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown in the second half against St. Patrick-St. Vincent.
Defense
The stand — Clear Lake’s defense kept Winters out of the end zone after the Warriors had a first-and-goal from the Cardinals’ 6-yard line in the third quarter. Clear Lake was leading 14-7 at the time.
Matching set — Clear Lake’s Hank Ollenberger picked off a pass and recovered a fumble against Winters.
Sack attack — Clear Lake’s Ty Harmon dropped the Winters quarterback twice.
Double digits — Kelseyville’s Jake Keithly and Sam Vanoven each had 10 unassisted tackles against Del Norte.
44 watch — Maxwell’s defense had its sights set on Upper Lake fullback Bradley Sneathen, No. 44, during Friday’s action in Upper Lake. Sneathen carried the ball five times for three yards.
Miscellaneous
Kudos — While Middletown head coach Bill Foltmer is closing in on 300 career wins — he needs 10 more — the coach of the Northside Lions in Conroe, Texas, celebrated his 200th career win on Friday night. That coach is former Lower Lake great Mike Helmer, who started at quarterback and middle linebacker for the Trojans and played on their section championship team in 1988. Helmer reached the coaching milestone with a 54-46 victory over BVCHEA.
Snap woes — St. Patrick-St. Vincent had plenty of trouble with its snapping game Friday against Middletown. The Bruins bobbled or fumbled the center snap at least eight times, according to Middletown head coach Bill Foltmer.
Run of points — Middletown scored the game’s first 39 points against St. Patrick-St. Vincent. Del Norte scored 48 unanswered points against Kelseyville after the Knights closed to 7-6 in the first quarter.
Nice streak — Clear Lake receiver Tyler Haskell has caught at least one touchdown pass in each of the Cardinals’ first three games.
NCL I openers — Besides Clear Lake at Kelseyville (Bass Bowl XI) and Lower Lake at Middletown this Friday, Willits plays at St. Helena while Cloverdale visits Fort Bragg.
