KELSEYVILLE — The Northshore Warriors scored on their first possession of the game but never found the end zone again against the Kelseyville defense in a Mendo-Lake Empire Junior Football League varsity-level game Saturday at Kelseyville High School.
Behind rushing touchdowns from Jared Neil, Case Pivniska and Bryce Keener, the Chiefs posted a 22-7 victory that puts them at 2-0 in league play. Northshore (0-1) was making its season debut.
Kelseyville won despite running only 14 plays on offense, but the Knights’ productive running attack still amassed 165 yards, 103 of those by Keener, who needed only six carries to top the century mark.
The Chiefs didn’t attempt a single pass.
“Upper Lake did an incredible job getting pressure on the quarterback, even on running plays,” Kelseyville head coach Mike Lyndall said. “Their coaches had a good scheme.”
So did Kelseyville’s. Taking advantage of Northshore’s pressure up front, the Chiefs’ running backs were able to find gaps in the defensive line.
“We made some adjustments, but my hat’s off to the Upper Lake coaches, they did a great job,” Lyndall said.
Kelseyville’s 3-5 defense bent a few times but did a nice job stopping Northshore at key points during the game.
“The kids are getting it and it gives us a lot of opportunities,” Lyndall said of the team’s defensive alignment. “It gave us some huge plays at crucial times.”
Kelseyville pushed in front to stay at 8-7 late in the first quarter on a Neil touchdown run and Jair Carrillo’s two-point conversion kick. The Chiefs added to their lead on a Pivniska scoring run early in the third quarter. A few minutes later Keener broke loose on a 66-yard TD run with Carrillo again adding the conversion kick for a 22-7 lead.
Neil and Keener again anchored the Chiefs’ defense – Neil with nine tackles and two assists, and Keener with six tackles and one assist. Another standout was defensive lineman Benjamin Lara with three tackles, three assists and one sack.
“He was all over their quarterback all day,” Lyndall said. “He did a really great job.”
Northshore statistics were not reported.
In other action Saturday involving Kelseyville and Northshore teams, Northshore won the pee wee game 26-0 and the junior varsity game 6-0.
All of the league’s teams have the Labor Day weekend off. Kelseyville returns to action Sept. 10 at home against Middletown while Northshore hosts Fort Bragg.
The Kelseyville-Middletown varsity game on Sept. 10 matches two of the top teams in the league.
“We’re just hoping to give them a game,” Lyndall said of the Colts, last year’s varsity league champions.
