Two long passes in second quarter propel league-leading Wolverines to win
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WILLITS >> Two long passes were the difference in the game Friday night as the Willits Wolverines held off the Middletown Mustangs 14-7 in a physical battle between these two North Central League I varsity football teams at Willits.
The first of those two passes, an 85-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Corey Rockey to split back Kolbe Bufardeci, wiped out a 7-0 Middletown lead with 7:51 left in the second quarter. The second Rockey-to-Bufardeci connection, a 66-yard pass, set up a touchdown run by Porter Garman on the next play, snapping a 7-all tie with 3:55 to play before halftime. Those were Bufardeci’s only two receptions of the game, but they were huge ones, according to Middletown head coach Bill Foltmer.
“He was their leading receiver coming into the game, we knew that,” Foltmer said. “But he’s an athletic kid and he made a couple of nice catches.”
Added Foltmer, “They ran a wheel route for their first touchdown and our corner bit on the post. On the second long pass, he was lined up in the slot and ran right up the field by our safety.”
Rockey went 4-for-10 throwing the football for 181 yards, almost all of those coming on the two plays to Bufardeci. They were enough to lift Willits to a league-best 4-0 record and 5-1 overall mark.
Middletown (1-2, 2-3) took a 7-0 lead with 1:02 left in the first quarter on a Trenton Griffith 5-yard run, Hayden Xavier kicking the extra point. The Mustangs had a couple of other scoring opportunities later in the game, but both drives died on downs deep in Willits territory.
The Mustangs attempted four passes after not throwing the ball a single time a week earlier in a 34-28 win over Clear Lake. Quarterback Colton Karp went 0-for-3 with one interception and running back Xavier was intercepted on a halfback option pass.
Karp, a freshman pressed into service because of injuries to starting quarterback Blake Costlow (broken foot in Week 2) and Jon Hawkins (wrist injury in Week 5), played a second straight solid game for the Mustangs, according to Foltmer.
“The kid is doing a great job of managing the offense,” Foltmer said. “We haven’t had a fumble with him in there. He’s doing what he’s basically capable of doing. He’s doing good enough to keep up in ballgames.”
Middletown hadn’t lost to Willits since a 12-7 defeat at Willits in 2011, but the recent head-to-head series between the two teams has featured nothing but close games.
“Willits has some athletes and they’re tough,” Foltmer said. “They’re also physical. We match up pretty well with them and that’s why our games are so competitive.”
Along with praising his freshman quarterback’s effort against the Wolverines, Foltmer said he was impressed with the performance of his entire team.
“I’m pretty proud of the kids. We’re basically playing with one hand tied behind our backs right now (after injuries to his two top players). Your goal is always to win, but the other is to play hard and compete the whole game, and we did.”
Foltmer said the play of linemen Jay J Gerst and Nick Guerrero on both offense and defense gave the Mustangs a big lift.
“I thought all of my senior linemen did a great job,” Foltmer added.
As expected, Willits loaded the box to slow down Middletown’s running game and that Middletown running backs Griffith (24 carries for 81 yards) and Tyler Galamay (17 carries for 81 yards) had to work hard for every yard they gained.
“I’m sure both of them are pretty sore today (Saturday),” Foltmer said.
Middletown’s junior varsity team remains undefeated (3-0 league, 5-0 overall) after beating Willits 14-6.
John Finney led the Mustangs with 98 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown while Jay Jensen finished with 30 yards on eight carries and the other Middletown touchdown. Jensen also caught two passes for 22 yards.
The Mustangs held a 7-6 halftime lead. Finney’s 3-yard score in the fourth quarter provided some insurance.
On defense, Jensen, Jamisen Jackson, Brody Costlow and Cody Perez led the team with four tackles apiece. Costlow also recovered a fumble while Ryder Roudabush intercepted a pass. Jack Harper and Wyatt Harris had sacks.
