MIDDLETOWN — Career win No. 299 couldn’t have been much sweeter for Middletown High School’s Bill Foltmer on Friday night as the Mustangs, who just missed winning the game in regulation, scored a two-point conversion following a touchdown in overtime to beat the Willits Wolverines 15-14 at Bill Foltmer Field.
Willits scored on its first possession of overtime and kicked the extra point for a 14-7 lead, that after Middletown won the coin toss but deferred. The Mustangs gained a first down to the Willits 2-yard line before running back Brandon Costlow scored on a second-goal-play to cut Willits’ lead to 14-13. Middletown called a timeout to discuss whether to go for one or two points on the conversion although it was probably unnecessary, according to Foltmer.
“To be quite honest, I had already made up my mind to go for two (and the win),” Foltmer said. “We’re like 50 percent on our PAT kicks and 50 percent on our two-point conversions this season, so I figured why not go for two and the win?”
Before the Mustangs could snap the ball, Willits called a timeout of its own.
“We changed the play from right to left during their timeout,” Foltmer said of Costlow’s conversion run. “He got outside and beat them (Wolverines players) into the end zone.”
Middletown’s second straight league win gives the Mustangs a 3-1 league mark and 3-4 overall record.
“These last two games have been memorable,” Foltmer said of the Willits overtime victory and a 27-22 win last week in Fort Bragg where the Mustangs outscored the Timberwolves 20-0 in the fourth quarter.
Foltmer has three more regular-season games this season to reach 300 wins for his career, a milestone only a handful of California coaches have attained. He has 280 wins at Middletown since taking over the program prior to the 1985 season.
While Costlow’s touchdown run and conversion run carried the Mustangs to a dramatic overtime victory, Middletown had two chances to snap a 7-7 tie in the fourth quarter.
The Mustangs had a first-and-goal from the Willits 5-yard line early in the fourth quarter when the Wolverines picked off a pass.
“‘The same play we used to beat Fort Bragg a week ago,” Foltmer said.
Middletown’s final chance in regulation was set up by Jacob Urbina’s punt block with only seconds remaining in the game as the Mustangs took over at the Willits 33 with 10.1 ticks left and no timeouts. On first down, quarterback Hunter Hartzog’s pass found wide receiver Troy Taber at the Willits 1. The Mustangs tried to spike the ball before time ran out but couldn’t do it, forcing overtime.
Middletown’s defense held Willits in check all game and was an unsung hero in the win, according to Foltmer. The Wolverines’ only points in regulation came on Finn Lessner’s 65-yard draw late in the second quarter. Christian Ramirez added the extra point to knot the score at 7-7.
“Other than that touchdown, I don’t think our defense let them inside the red zone even once,” Foltmer said. “Our defense really did a nice job shutting them down.”
Middletown scored first in the game, also in the second quarter, on a Costlow 4-yard run, Hartzog kicking the extra point.
Lessner’s 6-yard run in overtime briefly gave the Wolverines (2-2, 5-2) the lead, Ramirez again adding the extra point. Both of Willits’ losses this season have come in overtime. They fell 35-29 in double-overtime at Cloverdale two weeks ago.
Urbina finished with 89 yards on 17 carries while Costlow had 84 yards on 21 carries as well as two receptions for 20 yards.
Middletown forced three turnovers while turning the ball over twice. Taber and Elijah Diaz intercepted passes and Hartzog had a fumble recovery.
The Mustangs hit the road next Friday to play Cloverdale (3-1, 5-2), a 52-41 loser to Kelseyville on Friday night in Kelseyville. Middletown and Cloverdale are now tied for second place in the North Central League I standings, one game behind Clear Lake (4-0, 7-0), a 13-7 winner at home Friday against St. Helena.
Willits won the junior varsity game 6-0.
