Cloverdale forfeits at halftime because of injuries
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MIDDLETOWN >> A team that knows all about injuries this season, the Middletown Mustangs certainly can sympathize with what the Cloverdale Eagles are going through in 2024.
With almost no bench to start the game, Cloverdale ended up forfeiting to Middletown after falling behind 27-0 by halftime in North Central League I varsity football action Friday night at Bill Foltmer Field.
Just as they were in a 20-8 forfeit loss to Lower Lake on Sept. 13, injuries were once again the culprit for Cloverdale. The Eagles made it until the third quarter in that one before informing the Trojans they couldn’t continue. On Friday against Middletown, the Eagles informed head coach Bill Foltmer they wouldn’t be coming out for a second half.
“They have nothing but my respect,” Foltmer said of the Eagles. “They’re trying to compete with only 13 or 14 kids … I think they had only three subs when the game started tonight, and they had a couple of injuries. A lot of teams wouldn’t have even bothered to play us. At least they showed up and tried to compete.”
Cloverdale, now 0-6 in league play and 1-7 overall, also forfeited a Sept. 20 game at Fort Bragg (the week after playing Lower Lake) because it didn’t have enough healthy players.
While the Eagles limped into Bill Foltmer Field to play a Mustangs squad that has been severely hamstrung by two major injuries of its own this season, Foltmer said Middletown went about its business in the first half.
“We scored on every drive and our kids played well,” Foltmer said. “Our drives weren’t sloppy at all.”
Coming off close losses to NCL I title contenders Willits (14-7) and St. Helena (9-7), Middletown scored 21 first-quarter points on a trio of rushing touchdowns – 7 yards by Tyler Galamay, 18 yards by Trenton Griffith, and 1-yard by quarterback Kolton Costlow, the first of his varsity career. Ryan Henning added a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Though the game only lasted one half, Griffith was on his way to another big night. He finished with 91 yards on only five carries while Galamay added 46 yards on five carries. Henning added 43 yards on six carries as the Mustangs rolled up 251 yards on the ground in just two quarters.
Cloverdale generated only 34 yards of offense. Kelby Shook had four solo stops and one assist for the Middletown defense, which didn’t spend very much time on the field.
Costlow, in addition to his rushing touchdown, completed three of four passes for 40 yards. Hayden Xavier had two catches for 25 yards.
Middletown hits the road each of the next two weeks before returning home Nov. 8 to face Upper Lake in the regular-season finale for both teams. The Mustangs travel to Fort Bragg next Friday and to Lower Lake on Nov. 1.
Junior varsity
Middletown’s undefeated junior varsity team improved to 5-0 in league play and 7-0 overall with a 40-12 victory over Cloverdale.
Esteban Muniz rushed for 227 yards on only nine carries with two touchdowns, including a 93-yard score, and backfield mate John Finney added 99 yards on 10 carries with three touchdowns.
Quarterback Jamisen Jackson completed all three of his passes for 17 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown to Finney.
Brody Costlow’s 14 total tackles, including a sack, led the Middletown defense. Cody Perez had seven total tackles while Finney recovered a fumble.
Game notes: The win was the 312th of Foltmer’s career. His next victory will move him into a tie for ninth place on the list of the state’s all-time winningest coaches. No other active California coach has more victories than Foltmer. The state leader, if you’re wondering, is De La Salle legend Bob Ladouceur with 399. Just ahead of Foltmer on the wins list is Randy Blankenship, who amassed 313 wins while coaching at seven different high schools in two different states during his career. Kevin Rooney of Sherman Oaks-Notre Dame is eighth all time with 316 wins.