Willits scores final 21 points to beat Knights 42-28, remain in thick of league race
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KELSEYVILLE >> The Kelseyville Knights certainly aren’t making things easy for some of the top teams in the North Central League, especially in games played at Kelseyville, but a strong effort through three quarters against Willits eventually evaporated into a 42-21 Wolverines victory Friday night.
Kelseyville (1-4 league, 1-5 overall) played undefeated league leader St. Helena tough for a half earlier this season at Kelseyville before eventually succumbing in the second half to the Saints, and the Knights had a 28-21 lead with 5:23 left in the third quarter against the Wolverines (4-1 league, 6-1 overall) before Willits wrestled momentum back in its favor.
The Wolverines scored 21 unanswered points to secure the victory. A touchdown late in the third quarter brought Willits even at 28, and a 17-yard touchdown run with 8:29 left in the game put them in front 35-28, a score set up by an onside kick after the Wolverines tied the game.
Willits iced the game at the 3:24 mark of the fourth quarter, recovering a Kelseyville fumble and scoring a short time later to go up 42-28.
Kelseyville senior running back Michael DeJohn did everything he could to derail Willits’ league title chances, rushing for 243 yards on 21 carries and scoring all four of the Knights’ touchdowns. Max Lee added another 92 yards on the ground while Bryce Keener had 52 yards as the Knights finished with 395 rushing yards.
DeJohn’s touchdown runs, in order, covered 67, 52, 35 and 28 yards.
The game was tied 14-14 at halftime and 28-28 through three quarters.
Defensive highlights included Adrian Garcia with nine tackles, Keener with eight, and DeJohn and Milez Gambria with seven apiece. Gambria also had a sack as did Michael Little, who finished with five tackles. Brayton Thomas added four tackles while also intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble. Roman Mathis also picked off a pass.
Kelseyville won the junior varsity game 21-0. Running back Case Pivniska scored on a pair of 1-yard runs while Knights quarterback Deake Lyndall and receiver Carson Stone hooked up on a 65-yrd touchdown pass to give the Knights a 7-0 lead.
Pivniska was 3-for-3 on his extra-point kicks.
Kelseyville’s defense forced a handful of turnovers. Jacob Wiser and George Cline recovered fumbles while Ethan Wheeler picked off two passes.
Kelseyville is 2-2-1 in league play and 2-3-1 overall.
The Knights are home next Friday to play Upper Lake. JV action kicks off at 5 p.m. with the varsity game to follow.
