LAKE COUNTY — The North Central League I varsity football race can go any number of ways as the final weekend of the regular season approaches. That’s not the case in the NCL II where Upper Lake visits South Fork for a winner-take-all finale.
In the COVID-stricken NCL I 2021 season, Middletown (5-1) plays at St. Helena (5-0) on Friday night while Clear Lake (4-1) hosts Cloverdale (2-3). If St. Helena wins, the Saints are the undisputed NCL I champions. If Middletown upsets St. Helena and Clear Lake holds serve at home against Cloverdale, the race ends in a three-way tie as Middletown, St. Helena and Clear Lake all would have one league loss. A two-way tie would be the result if Middletown beats St. Helena and Clear Lake loses to Cloverdale. In that scenario, Middletown and St. Helena would be co-champs with one loss apiece.
Middletown and Kelseyville (1-5) are the only teams in the league that haven’t lost at least one league game off their schedules because of COVID-19 protocols/quarantines. Kelseyville did forfeit 2-0 to St. Helena two weeks ago but that wasn’t because the Knights didn’t have enough players due to COVID-19 protocols, but rather because of normal football injuries and team disciplinary action.
In the NCL II, figuring a league champion comes down to Friday’s game in Miranda where the visiting Cougars and host Cubs put their 3-0 league marks on the line.
There were only two games played involving Lake County teams in Week 10 of the 11-week-long 2021 regular season.
Here’s a look back at the highlights and lowlights from Week 10:
Statistics
Rushing — Pretty much all the Week 10 rushing belonged to the St. Helena Saints in their 40-14 victory over previously undefeated Clear Lake. The Saints’ backfield of Harrison Ronayne and Ivan Robledo combined for 283 yards and three touchdowns (all three scores by Robledo). Overall the Saints rushed for 349 yards. Ethan Maize of Clear Lake had 71 yards on 12 carries. Caleb Sternberg’s 85 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown led Middletown in a 42-7 win over Kelseyville. Sammy Vanoven had 57 yards on 13 carries for the Knights.
Passing — Clear Lake’s Jack Daskam went 7-for-16 for 145 yards and a TD against St. Helena. Middletown’s Luke Hoogendoorn went 4-for-5 for 77 yards and a TD against Kelseyville.
Receiving — Clear Lake’s Zane Robinson caught three passes for 91 yards and a TD. Middletown’s Noah Williams had two catches for 47 yards and a TD.
Special teams
6-for-6 — Middletown’s Brody Breeden converted all six of his extra-point kicks against Kelseyville. The thing about extra points is you never pay much attention to them until you miss one or two and lose by a point.
Costly mistakes — Clear Lake mishandled a pair of punt snaps that led to two St. Helena touchdowns.
Defense
Takeaways — Clear Lake’s Hank Ollenberger recovered a fumble against St. Helena while Middletown’s Jacob Perry and Kelseyville’s JoseCarmen Calvillo had fumble recoveries for their respective teams. Hunter Hartzog intercepted a pass for Middletown.
Tackle leaders — Kelseyville’s Lander Hocket made nine unassisted tackles and also had an assist against Middletown. Teammate Sammy Vanoven added eight solo stops.
Miscellaneous
Catch No. 1 — Freshman Tyler Bryant of Kelseyville caught the first varsity pass of his high school career against Middletown.
Goal No. 100 — Upper Lake senior forward Karlee Zimmerschied will lead the top-seeded Upper Lake Cougars into the North Coast Section Division 3 playoffs with 100 career goals. She picked up Nos. 98-99-100 in the first half of an 11-0 win over Roseland Collegiate Prep on Friday night in Upper Lake. The Lady Cougars need two playoff wins to capture the Division 3 title.
Win No. 295 — That’s T-minus five wins and counting as Middletown head coach Bill Foltmer closes in on his 300th career win as a high school coach.
Story No. 6,392,483 — Just a guesstimate on how many I’ve written at the Record-Bee since Ronald Reagan’s first team as President.
Big thanks — To Napa Register/St. Helena Star photographer Dave Mosher for his photos from the St. Helena-Clear Lake football game on Friday in St. Helena. Mosher’s been doing his thing in the Napa Valley longer than I’ve been doing mine in Lake County.
No more seconds — Upper Lake’s boys and girls soccer teams and varsity volleyball squad all finished second in the NCL II standings this season. The football team has a chance to end that varsity runner-up string Friday against South Fork.
All-League — All-League teams in volleyball and soccer have been selected by the coaches and will be released by the section office as soon as the playoffs end.
All-County — The annual All-County volleyball/football teams return this season after taking 2020 off because of … what else, COVID-19.
CMC cross country – The conference championships take place Nov. 10 at Spring Lake in Santa Rosa where the runners will by vying for NCL I and II team titles and All-Conference honors.
Third in conference — Former Kelseyville High School volleyball standout Allison Bryant, a sophomore at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, ranks third in the South Atlantic Conference at 3.44 kills per set.
Kudos — To the Clear Lake varsity volleyball team on a solid season (20-7) even if they don’t reach the NorCals as an at-large team. However, with that overall record, they should.
Senior night — Participating in it isn’t a right, it’s a privilege.
