LAKE COUNTY >> Call it a sneak preview for the upcoming high school football season when the summer passing league opens its three-week run next Monday at 6 p.m. at Bill Foltmer Field on the Middletown High School campus.
Junior varsity and varsity football players from Clear Lake, Kelseyville, Lower Lake and Middletown are participating this season during the all-passing, round-robin workouts where blocking and hitting isn’t allowed. The emphasis is on conditioning, skill development and teamwork while also shaking off some of the rust that has built up since the 2021 season concluded way back in November.
Varsity teams such as Clear Lake and Middletown are also auditioning for new quarterbacks because of graduation losses. It’s also a new start as teams mix and match returning varsity players with a slew of varsity newcomers.
“We keep it low key,” said Middletown head coach Bill Foltmer, who is about to embark on his 38th season at the school (counting the canceled 2020 season because of COVID-19). “All the coaches, we’re all good friends. It’ll be nice to see them again.”
After losing the 2020 season to COVID-19, county schools resumed play last season but it was greatly impacted by the ongoing pandemic. Numerous games were rescheduled or canceled because of sick players or those who had been exposed to others with the disease. Various COVID-19 protocols at area high schools also played havoc with practice schedules as teams, including Lower Lake among Lake County schools, struggled mightily just to field enough healthy players.
Kelseyville rejoins the summer passing league lineup after sitting it out in 2021. Upper Lake, which plays eight-man football, is not participating again this year.
“They’re more than welcome,” Foltmer said of the Cougars. “They can reach out to me if they’re interested.”
While passing league participants don’t always throw the ball a lot during their season — a run-dominated Middletown offense being a perfect example of that — Foltmer said it’s still a valuable lesson for his players, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
“We’ll be facing teams during the season that run spread offenses,” he said.
While Middletown is hosting the passing league opener Monday, the final two installments of the league take play July 18 at Kelseyville High School and July 25 at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport, with 6 p.m .starts at both locations. Fans are welcome to attend and there is no admission fee. Teams rotate between 10 minutes of offense and defense while facing every other county school.
The 2022 high school football season officially opens with the first day of practice Aug. 8. Game play can begin as early as Aug. 24. The regular season runs through Nov. 5 with sectional and state playoffs to follow.
