Chiefs need one more victory to clinch playoff berth
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FORT BRAGG >> Austin Aiken’s 62-yard run early in the first half lifted the Kelseyville Chiefs to a 7-0 victory over Fort Bragg in the pee wee division of the Mendo-Lake Empire Junior Football League on Saturday in Fort Bragg.
Aiken also ran in the extra point as Kelseyville improved to 5-3 in the league standings. He finished with 155 yards rushing as the Chiefs moved closer to clinching a playoff berth in the league playoffs early next month.
“Fort Bragg was solid,” Kelseyville head coach Joe Aiken said. “They did their homework and were hard to gain yards against. They had some good linebacker reads, and it took some searching to find a place for Aiken to run, but once he found the hole he was gone.”
While there weren’t many highlights on offense outside of Aiken’s game-winning touchdown run, another was a pass quarterback Eagle Feather Pasalo completed to Brantlee LeFrancois in the second half.
In a game dominated by defense, the Chiefs had their fair share of standouts, including Aiken with eight solo tackles, three assists and a forced fumble. Ryker Vanderwall added five tackles, Jace McLoud had three tackles and three assists, and Pasalo finished with three tackles.
Also for Kelseyville, Andrew Denham intercepted a pass, and Ellis Thornton had two tackles and a fumble recovery.
Kelseyville hosts Middletown (2-2-4) this Saturday. A victory guarantees Kelseyville a top-four finish in the league standings and a playoff berth.
“This week is a big game for us,” Aiken said. “If we win it locks us into the playoffs. We are going to be working hard to do just that. Middletown is always a solid team and can’t be underestimated.”
Aiken credited his assistant coaches – Ty Pruitt, Cody LeFrancois and Lew Lincoln – for coming up with a solid gameplan for Fort Bragg.
