LAKE COUNTY — All eyes turn to Clear Lake at Cloverdale this coming Friday as the wild, wild North Central League I football race concludes.
Going into Week 11, the final week of regular-season play, Clear Lake (5-1) has clinched a share of the league title although four other teams — Cloverdale, Kelseyville, Middletown and Willits — are 4-2 and can also earn a share of the league title provided they all win Friday night. If Cloverdale defeats Clear Lake, Kelseyville beats Lower Lake, Middletown upends St. Helena and Willits knocks off Fort Bragg, the league will end in a five-way tie for the first time ever. In the event of a five-way tie for the championship, Middletown gets the league’s automatic bid into the playoffs based on a number-draw tiebreaker held before the start of the season. The other four teams will have to apply for at-large berths … and should get them easily.
Clear Lake-Cloverdale holds the key to any and all scenarios as Week 11 approaches. If Clear Lake wins at Cloverdale, the Cardinals are the undisputed champions. If not, buckle your seatbelts.
Following is a look back at some of the Week 10 highlights and lowlights.
Statistics
Rushing — Kelseyville fullback Sam Vanoven carried the ball 24 times for 157 yards and a touchdown in a 14-6 win at Middletown. Teammate Kyle Watkins added 99 yards on 11 carries and a TD. For Middletown, Jacob Urbina finished with 124 yards on 20 carries. Upper Lake’s Delaney Allison had 132 yards on only eight carries and scored twice in a 42-6 league win over Cornertstone Christian. Clear Lake’s Hank Ollenberger had 79 yards on 17 carries with a TD in a 15-14 overtime loss to Willits.
Passing — Clear Lake’s Jake Soderquist passed for 248 yards and a touchdown but was picked off three times against Willits.
Receiving — Clear Lake’s Jesse Hayes had four catches for 108 yards wile brother Cody Hayes caught four passes for 63 yards and a TD against Willits. Middletown’s Troy Taber had four receptions for 30 yards against Kelseyville.
Special teams
Blocked — Clear Lake blocked a punt against Willits to set up its only touchdown in regulation against the Wolverines.
Won’t see that often — Upper Lake kicked off to start both halves against Cornerstone Christian. The Cougars were supposed to receive the second-half kickoff but owing to the lopsided nature of the game — they were up 42-0 at halftime — they kicked off instead.
Defense
Takeaway time — The Upper Lake Cougars recovered five fumbles and had an interception against Cornerstone Christian, most of those turnovers leading to lightning-quick scores (one or two plays) against the Antioch team. Upper Lake also sacked the quarterback three times, once for a safety.
Racking ’em up — Sammy Vanoven not only led Kelseyville’s rushing attack against Middletown, but he also led the Knights with 10 unassisted tackles as well as two assisted tackles.
Miscellaneous
Say what? — Final score from Fremont, South Fork 80, California School for the Deaf 60, in NCL II eight-man action. Glad I wasn’t keeping stats for that one.
OT warriors — Willits’ 15-14 overtime win over Clear Lake at Willits on Friday night was the third overtime game the Wolverines have been involved in in league play this season. It also was their first win following 36-29 and 15-14 losses to Cloverdale and Middletown, respectively.
Streaks — Kelseyville has won three in a row and four of five since starting the season 0-4. Middletown had a three-game winning streak snapped with its loss to the Knights. Clear Lake’s eight-game winning streak ended in overtime at Willits. Lower Lake’s league losing streak stands at 12 in a row.
Costly win — Kelseyville’s junior varsity team won its eighth straight game, 35-14, Friday night in Middletown while improving to 6-0 in the league standings, but the Knights lost wide receiver Tyler Bryant to an ankle injury that sent him to the hospital. Bryant left the game with four catches for 80 yards.
Volleyball kudos — Clear Lake won its 30th match of the season while advancing to the North Coast Section Division 5 semifinals Saturday with a four-set victory over Drew. And it only gets harder from here. The Cardinals are home Wednesday at 7 p.m. to play The Bay School. Clear Lake is trying to reach the sectional championship game for the first time since 2001.
Soccer kudos — The Upper Lake, Middletown and Clear Lake girls and Upper Lake, Middletown and Lower Lake boys all reached the North Coast Section playoffs in their respective divisions. Upper Lake’s girls are the No. 1 seed in Division 3. They are trying to complete an undefeated season as they enter postseason play.
Down on the farm — All three Middletown youth football teams are once again advancing to the championship round of the Mendo-Lake Empire Junior Football League. Pee wee, junior varsity and varsity finals take place Saturday at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport. The matchups are Middletown vs. Westshore in the pee wee championship game at 3:30 p.m., Willits vs. Middletown in the JV championship game at 5:30 p.m., and Middletown vs. Kelseyville in the varsity championship game at 7:30 p.m.
The Hayes report (sponsored by Wednesday and Pugsley Addams and Thing) — Freshman Jesse Hayes rushed for 31 yards and caught another 108 yards in passes during Clear Lake’s overtime loss to Willits. Junior Cody Hayes had four receptions for 63 yards, including a four-yard TD catch in overtime to give the Cardinals a 13-7 lead. Jesse then kick the extra point to make it 14-7. Willits countered with a touchdown, coming on a fourth-and-goal play, then won it with a two-point conversion run.
Efficient — Of the six touchdowns Upper Lake scored in the first half Friday night against Cornerstone Christian, four were on one-play possessions and another was on a two-play drive.
The 1,100 club — Kelseyville has amassed more than 1,100 rushing yards in its last three games, all wins.
Division 7 football playoffs — Contenders include St. Vincent (9-0) of Petaluma, St. Patrick-St. Vincent (8-0) of Vallejo, Clear Lake (8-1), Willits (7-2), Cloverdale (6-3) and Kelseyville (4-5) and St. Helena (4-5).
Salute to 1997 — Middletown will honor its 1997 section championship team — the school’s first in football — Friday night when the Mustangs host St. Helena in the league and regular-season finale for both teams. Also honored will be head coach Bill Foltmer for reaching 300 career wins.
At-large, seeding meeting — For all football divisions takes place Sunday. Going into the final week of the regular season four of the county’s five teams appear headed for the postseason.
Trick-o-treat — The winter sports of basketball, wrestling and now soccer (Kelseyville teams) began Monday with the first official day of practice.
Retirement Tuesday — My wife Shawn’s last day at the City of Healdsburg where she have more time invested than I do at the Record-Bee. She beat me to the punch, again.
