LAKE COUNTY — Clear Lake High School senior quarterback Jack Daskam lost his junior season to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he wasn’t alone. He answered with a record-breaking 2021 campaign, passing for a school-record 2,243 yards as the Cardinals advanced to the semifinal round of the North Coast Section Division 7 playoffs where they just missed scoring a huge upset.
For his hard work and successful year, Daskam has been named the most valuable player on offense on the All-Lake County football team as selected by the Lake County Record-Bee with considerable input from the county’s coaches. He joins many of his teammates on the 2021 All-County squad, including defensive most valuable player Ty Harmon, the Cardinals’ nose tackle as well as two-way selections Ethan Maize (running back/linebacker) and Tyler Haskell (wide receiver/defensive back).
Clear Lake, Middletown and Upper Lake, the North Central League II eight-man champion, dominated the selections on this year’s squad as all three teams enjoyed success in 2021 while reaching the semifinals in their respective North Coast Section playoff divisions.
Clear Lake went 4-2 in NCL I play and 7-4 overall. The Cardinals’ season ended with a 25-20 loss to eventual section champion St. Vincent, a game Clear Lake led much of the second half. Middletown finished 5-2 in the NCL I and 7-5 overall, including a season-ending 42-21 loss to eventual Division 6 section champion Salesian, which went on to win a state championship. Upper Lake won the NCL II with a 3-0 record and was 7-3 overall. The Cougars won their first playoff game before falling 12-0 to Stuart Hall of San Francisco in the eight-man semifinals at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.
Offense
Along with MVP Daskam, the All-County offense features running backs Maize, Middletown junior Elijah Diaz and Upper Lake seniors Bradley Sneathen and Cody Banks. Diaz replaced the injured Cole Ketchum early on in the Mustangs’ league schedule and provided them with several 100-yard-plus rushing performances.
Along with MVP Daskam, the other All-County quarterback is Middletown senior Luke Hoogendoorn, a solid game manager for coach Bill Foltmer’s Mustangs throughout the season.
The All-County line features Middletown’s two mainstays, seniors Jacob Perry and Nathan Corsetti, Clear Lake’s top two blockers, juniors Diego Brewster-Ramirez and Axel Alvarez, Upper Lake junior Joey Franklin, and Kelseyville junior Steven Frace.
Senior tight end Brody Breeden, a blocker and pass-catcher, performed well in both areas for the Mustangs.
The All-County wide receivers are Clear Lake’s talented tandem of Haskell and Zane Robinson, and Upper Lake senior Elijah Alvarez.
Upper Lake senior Kyle Grandi, who led the Cougars in touchdowns scored despite moving all around the Upper Lake offense, is the All-County all-purpose player.
Defense
Joining MVP Harmon on the All-County defense are Middletown interior linemen Corsetti and Perry and Kelseyville’s Frace. The defensive ends are Upper Lake’s Franklin, the team and NCL II leader in sacks, and Clear Lake junior Tony Gersalia.
The All-County linebackers are Upper Lake’s Sneathen, who was named the MVP on defense in the NCL II, Middletown’s Breeden and junior Jesse Young, Clear Lake’s Maize, Kelseyville junior Sam Vanoven, and Lower Lake’s Baia-Ku RedHawk, a senior.
Earning All-County honors in the secondary are Clear Lake’s Haskell, Upper Lake’s Grandi and Alvarez, Lower Lake senior Dominick Perez and Middletown senior Caleb Sternberg.
