NCL I: Middletown blanks Lower Lake for third consecutive victory

Middletown has rebounded from an early season 13-7 loss to Hercules to win three in a row, the latest a sound beating of Lower Lake 28-0 on Friday night.

Lower Lake entered Friday's game 4-0. Middletown nearly matched its total point score of the previous three games (33 points) in one night.

Coach Bill Foltmer said Lower Lake is a good team which usually plays well, citing their victories against Fort Bragg and Willits as an expectation of a closer game than Friday's final outcome.

Drake Harbison led Middletown (3-1 overall, 2-0 NCL I) with 248 rush yards and three rushing touchdowns, dashing off scoring runs of 60, 50 and 22 yards.

'We had some good time controlling drives,' Foltmer said.

Foltmer pointed out an 8-minute, 80-yard drive in the second quarter that left Lower Lake (4-1, 2-1) with little time to react as Middletown went into the locker with a 21-0 lead at halftime.

'We controlled the ground game and pretty much kept their offense of the field,' Foltmer said.

The Mustangs rushing attack finished with 348 yards rushing on 40 attempts. Middletown's passing attack only attempted four passes, none of which were completed, but Foltmer said a 70-yard touchdown pass was called back at some point in the game.

Despite the final score, Lower Lake quarterback Hokulani Wickard completed 24 of 38 passes for 217 yards and one interception.

Isaiah Moore added an eight-touchdown run for the Mustangs.

ST. HELENA 41, ST. VINCENT 0

At St. Helena, the Saints spread the ball around, seeing six different players score touchdowns including two fumble returns for touchdowns and took a 41-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The St. Helena (2-2, 2-2) defense forced five turnovers and didn't allow a first down.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Saints finished with 195 rushing yards split amongst six different rushers.

Casey Walker led St. Helena with 61 yards and one touchdown run. Saints quarterback Christian Cia threw two touchdown passes and also rushed for 43 yards and one touchdown.

FORT BRAGG 14, CLOVERDALE 7

At Fort Bragg, the Timberwolves won what was billed by coach Roy Perkins as defensive battle against the Eagles.

Cloverdale (2-3, 1-2) started the scoring early in the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by James Wirt before Fort Bragg responded with a John Rexrode 6-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion before the half to give the Timberwolves a 8-7 lead going into the locker room at halftime.

Fort Bragg's Cody Morgan scored a 3-yard touchdown to put the Timberwolves up for good.

'We're really young,' Perkins said. 'It's been a struggle to get protection we need for the passing game so we decided and more effective to keep the ball on the ground this year.'

Cloverdale coach Chad Talley said his team was on the worse end of the mental mistakes.

'Guys are going the wrong way, didn't know who to block,' said Talley.

'We gave them the ball game, really.'