Wolverines will be scoreboard watching next week as St. Helena plays Kelseyville
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WILLITS >> The Upper Lake Cougars were knocking on the door late in the first quarter with a fourth-and-inches play at the Willits 3-yard line only to turn the ball over on downs Friday night in a 23-0 loss to the Wolverines in North Central League I varsity football action in Willits.
Rainy conditions made playing conditions tough for both sides, but the Wolverines were able to do enough on offense to win the game and close out their regular season at 7-1 in the league standings and 8-2 overall. They have a bye next weekend before the start of the North Coast Section playoffs the weekend of Nov. 15.
Willits could end up in a three-way tie for the NCL I title if St. Helena (6-1, 6-3) beats Kelseyville (7-0, 8-1) next Friday in Lakeport. Kelseyville clinched no worse than a tie for the championship with a 40-14 win over Clear Lake on Friday night in Lakeport during Bass Bowl XIV.
“The Willits kid (quarterback Corey Rockey) threw the ball pretty well given the conditions, but we did not,” Upper Lake head coach Stan Weiper said of his own team’s passing difficulties – quarterback Jerod Rosales went 3-for-9 for only 28 yards and one interception.
“It was real tough tonight to do much,” Weiper said of the slick and muddy conditions.
Willits jumped head 7-0 with 5:36 left in the first quarter. Upper Lake (3-4, 4-5) was driving the ball a short time later.
“It was fourth down and we were about a foot away from a first (down),” Weiper said.
Upper Lake ran a quarterback sneak but the Cougars were penalized on the play for aiding the runner – he was pushed from behind by a teammate – and Willits took over on downs.
The Cougars’ defense held the Wolverines in check until :44 seconds remaining in the half when Willits scored again to go up 14-0, taking advantage of a pair of long completions to drive down the field.
“That really kind of was a killer,” Weiper said.
Willits’ final touchdown came with 2:36 remaining in the third quarter as the Wolverines inherited a short field after a bad snap on a punt by the Cougars. Willits added a safety with 1:54 left in the game for its final two points.
“Both teams played very well defensively,” Weiper said. “I wasn’t unhappy with the kids. We did show improvement against a good team. The difference is we made a few mistakes, and they were able to take advantage. The game wasn’t as bad as the score shows.”
Jon Barnes gained 75 of Upper Lake’s 101 rushing yards, most of that coming in the first half before field conditions deteriorated with the falling rain.
Upper Lake closes out league play and the regular season next Friday in Middletown (3-4, 4-5) where 40-year-veteran Mustangs head coach Bill Foltmer will be playing his final home game. Both teams need a win to improve their playoff chances.
“Hope we can give Bill a good game in his last game there (at Bill Foltmer Field),” Weiper said.
Upper Lake’s junior varsity team scored early against Willits and made that 6-0 lead stand up the rest of the way. The Cougars are 4-3 in league play and take on a 7-0 Middletown squad next Friday.
