NCL I football roundup: Middletown closes in on league title

The Middletown High football team clinched a partial tie for the NCL I league title in a dominating 35-7 victory against St. Helena on Friday night, thanks in due part to a great night from a sophomore running back.

Mustangs coach Bill Foltmer said he thought it will be his 19th league title at Middletown (6-0 NCL I, 7-1), which can clinch it outright with a victory next week at home against Willits.

“It feels good. This group has been a really good group to work with,” Foltmer said. “I've enjoyed working with this group.”

Foltmer said the Saints (2-4, 3-4) started the game with a good drive that eventually stalled, and the Mustangs took the game over from there.

Middletown led by 21 at halftime and 28 after three to pull away for good.

The Mustangs carried the ball 43 times for 236 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore Niko Barrio, filling in for regular starting running back Niko Barrio, who has a sprained ankle, sparked to life in his third varsity game with 25 carries for 191 yards and three touchdowns.

Quarterback Luke Holt was 7-for-9 and threw for 86 passing yards.

Lower Lake 57, St. Vincent 0

At Lower Lake, the Trojans pulled away to a 34-point lead after the first quarter and ran away with the game for their fifth league victory of the year.

Hokulani Wickard led Lower Lake (5-1 NCL I, 7-1) with 252 passing yards and four touchdown passes, all four scores coming in the first quarter, including a 35-yard TD pass to Mathew Classen. Wickard also completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Ray Mayo, a 13-yard score to Carlos Berry and a 5-yard pass to Taylor Scott.

“We had a ton of people touch the ball tonight, so that was awesome,” Lower Lake coach Justin Gaddy said.

Aries Brooke returned a 32-yard interception for a touchdown during the Trojans' big first quarter. Charles Powell added a 3-yard touchdown run later in the game. Cole Doud recovered a St. Vincent fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Freshman kicker Lorenzo Zuniga kicked a 30-yard field goal.

Michael Jamison, whose father played for Lower Lake's 1988 Class A championship as a running back, scored a touchdown from 5 yards out after recovering a fumble.

Powell led all rushers with six carries for 37 yards and caught three passes for 35 yards.

Virgil Ellis led the Trojans' defense with eight tackles and two sacks, Keshaun Bridges had four tackles and one sack and Powell added four tackles.

Clear Lake 34, Cloverdale 13

At Cloverdale, the Cardinals cruised to an easy victory and secured a spot in the playoffs with the guarantee of a .500 record after Friday's win.

Alex Adams led Clear Lake (4-2 NCL I, 5-3) with 216 passing yards and one touchdown pass and also rushed for 79 yards on 11 carries. Adams connected on a 58-yard touchdown pass to Austin Davis for his lone score.

In addition to Adams' big night, Erik Valadez recorded two 3-yard touchdown runs, Rodrigo Lupercio had a 33-yard touchdown run and Chris White returned a kickoff 68 yards for a score. Davis caught six passes for 146 yards.

The Cardinals led at halftime 14-0 and 21-7 after three quarters.

John Wesele had a 12-yard touchdown run for the Eagles (2-4, 2-5) and Brandon “BJ” Grady recorded 15-yard touchdown run.

Clear Lake hosts St. Helena next Friday at 7:30 p.m. on senior night.