Coaching changes, new playoffs system are front and center in Lake County
By Brian Sumpter
Lake County Sports on Facebook
LAKE COUNTY >> Well, there goes another regular season in football and it’s taking plenty with it. Two casualties are longtime head coaches Bill Foltmer of Middletown and Mark Cory of Clear Lake, both stepping down. Throw in the new playoff system being used by the North Coast Section and it’s enough to make a person scream into a pillow.
Yep, it’s a new world for Lake County and small school football.
While change is inevitable, that doesn’t mean you have to like it, and at least in regard to the new “competitive equity” system for the playoffs, it sounds more like the section is catering to underperforming large schools at the expense of small schools. It’s not the fault of a small school if a large school can’t measure up in its own league. Try getting better or shop for a different league. Maybe create separate playoffs for public and private schools. Hey, it’s just a thought.
The only certainty of the new playoff system in this neck of the woods is that anything less than a North Central League I undisputed championship means your postseason chances are pretty much slim and none.
Well, so much for the ranting.
Week 11 has come and gone as the football season in Lake County and North Central League I is over for all but the Kelseyville Knights, who get to travel about 450 miles to play Del Norte High School of Crescent City in the opening round of the Division 7 playoffs Friday night at 7 p.m. Hopefully Knights fans all have their passports up to date.
Kelseyville should be able to take care of its own business with strong and deep offensive and defensive lines and a powerful offense led by a pair of 1,000-yard backs in junior Michael DeJohn and senior Kyle Watkins, and a senior quarterback in Brock Barrick who has thrown for more than 1,000 yards and is having a career year running the ball. If anyone can hold its own with the big boys in Division 7, it’s the Knights.
It would have been nice to see a full-strength Middletown team get a crack at a postseason berth after quarterback Blake Costlow and wide receiver/defensive back Jon Hawkins rejoined the lineup just in time for Foltmer’s final game Friday night at home against Upper Lake, a 46-0 Mustangs victory. Costlow and Hawkins made an immediate impact as Middletown put the game away early.
That won’t happen, unfortunately. It would have been nice to see NCL I runner-up Willits (8-2 overall) get a chance to return to the postseason, but that won’t happen either. An 8-2 team, 7-1 in league, not make the playoffs? Yep, it’s a really sad day when something like that happens, even sadder when people try to justify it by calling it “competitive equity.”
Let’s take a look back at some of the highlights and lowlights (mostly covered above) of Week 11:
Statistics
Rushing – The Kelseyville Knights ran over the St. Helena Saints to the tune of 554 rushing yards (not a typo) in their 48-27 victory. Michael DeJohn led the onslaught with 242 yards and four touchdowns, Kyle Watkins added 188 yards and two TDs, and quarterback Brock Barrick had 84 yards. Middletown’s Trenton Griffith had his lightest workload of the season but still prospered, gaining 73 yards on six carries. Griffith’s backfield mate, Tyler Galamay, closed out a stellar freshman season with 37 yards and two touchdowns on only six carries. Zack Jones rushed for a touchdown and two-point conversion in Lower Lake’s season-ending 50-20 loss at Fort Bragg.
Passing – Blake Costlow, out of action for two months with a broken foot, returned to the Middletown lineup Friday night and went 5-for-6 for 133 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half. His first two passes of the night were 64- and 27-yard touchdowns. Kelseyville’s Brock Barrick went 7-for-13 for 139 yards and a touchdown. Upper Lake’s Jerod Rosales had a rough night against the Middletown defense, going 4-for-12 for 21 yards and three interceptions. Lower Lake’s Ashton Hartmann had a pair of TD passes against Fort Bragg.
Receiving – Returning to the Middletown lineup after missing six weeks with a wrist injury, Jon Hawkins had four catches for 131 yards and two TDs, all in the first half. In fact, his first two catches were 64- and 27-yard touchdown grabs. Kelseyville’s Kyle Watkins had five catches for 94 yards, including a 71-yard TD.
Special teams
Almost one of each – Middletown’s Trenton Griffith returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown against Upper Lake. Later in the game hie had a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown wiped out by a penalty that occurred late during his return. The Mustangs still ended up with great field position and went on to score.
6-for-7 – Kelseyville kicker Jose Juarez converted six of his seven extra-point kicks against St. Helena.
Defense
Three picks – Middletown’s Jon Hawkins, Hayden Xavier and Tyler Galamay picked off Upper Lake passes.
Five sacks – The Knights sacked St. Helena quarterback Jhony Covarrubias five times. Daniel Anderson Reyes had two of those while also leading Kelseyville with nine total tackles.
Finishing strong – Middletown shut out its final two opponents – Lower Lake and Upper Lake – by a combined 94-0. The Mustangs registered three shutouts on the season.
Double digits – Middletown’s Brody Costlow had 10 total tackles for the junior varsity squad in a 35-8 win over Upper Lake that wrapped up a perfect season (10-0).
Miscellaneous
314 (wow) – Who would have thought a young coach breaking in with the Mustangs back in 1985 would go on to win 295 games at the school and 314 overall during his 45-year career, yet that’s what Bill Foltmer did. His legacy goes far beyond the wins, league titles (21), playoff appearances (29) and section championships (four) he brought to Middletown. He influenced the lives (for the positive) of countless players at the school. His memory will live on long after most of us have departed this life.
Foltmer, Cory exit – Clear Lake’s head coach from 2016-2024, Mark Cory, is also exiting the county’s football scene. He’ll remain on as Clear Lake’s varsity boys basketball coach through the end of the winter season, then he’s off to Europe for a visit with his brother. Foltmer and Cory both left their respective programs in better shape than they found them.
New playoff system – Here’s one vote for not a fan.
All-League teams – All-League teams for fall sports (football, volleyball and soccer) are voted on by the coaches, so please remember that before you drop an email to Lake County Sports complaining about who did or didn’t make the team. All-County teams are based partially on All-League results, but input from league coaches is also taken into account about the strengths/weaknesses of players. Ultimately the final selection process is that of Lake County Sports, so you certainly can blame us for All-County picks you don’t like. One thing is for certain this season; there are too many first-team-caliber players for too few spots. Some tough decisions are coming up.
Hollywood script – Middletown’s top two players return to the starting lineup after lengthy absences because of injury and both turn in All-Star performances on a night when their head coach is appearing in the final high school game of his 45-year career. Middletown not only starts well but has a 14-0 lead after running one play from scrimmage and a 21-0 lead after running four plays from scrimmage. Yeah, happens every day.
793 – Kelseyville’s total rushing and passing yards against St. Helena. Yikes!
JV champions – Middletown’s junior varsity team completed an 8-0 run through the North Central League I with a 35-8 home win over Upper Lake on Friday, and also put the finishing touches on a perfect (10-0) 2024 campaign in head coach Tony Hart’s final season.
New head coach at Middletown? – If it’s not Kurtis Woodard, there’s something wrong.
Great fall season – Kelseyville High School won league titles in varsity football, varsity volleyball and JV volleyball. The JV football team came in second. Both of the school’s cross country teams, boys and girls, did well and fielded complete squads all year.
Winter sports – Just around the corner and basketball games begin as early as next week. Middletown’s Mia Hoogendoorn opens her senior season with 963 career points, just 37 shy of the coveted 1,000 mark. Her first game is Nov. 19 at Casa Grande (Petaluma). The Mustangs then return home Saturday, Nov. 23 to take on Willits in another non-league game.
Thanks – To all those who assisted Lake County Sports by submitting statistics, photos, score updates and other pertinent game information. At the top of that list would be Mike Hansen, by right-hand man so to speak, freelance photographer Trett Bishop, another old, retired guy like me, and my longtime work associate during my former job at the Lake County Record-Bee, photographer Bob Minenna. While the Record-Bee has pretty much ignored high school sports coverage since I retired in late July of 2023, Minenna has submitted photos of area sporting events so that Lake County’s high school athletes still can see themselves in action. Several other photographers have also submitted their fine work, including Michael Lucid, Geri Costlow, Mallory Young, Lindsey Hamner, Coral Pratt and Ed Oswalt. Many parents have chipped in by emailing photos and stories, too. Couldn’t do what I do now as a hobby without all of your help, so thanks again.
