Cardinals rough up Kelseyville, home next Saturday to face Napa in semifinals
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KELSEYVILLE >> Westshore capped a perfect regular season with a 34-6 win over the Kelseyville Chiefs in the varsity division of the Mendo-Lake Empire Junior Football League on Saturday night in Kelseyville.
The Cardinals (10-0) advance to next weekend’s semifinal round of the playoffs and will meet Napa (6-4) at 6:30 p.m. in Lakeport. The winner advances to the varsity championship game against either Lower Lake or Cloverdale on Nov. 8.
Pops Horne’s interception and 75-yard return for a touchdown gave Westshore an early 6-0 lead against the Chiefs (5-5). John Pasalo’s 75-yard punt return made it 12-0.
Kelseyville drove deep into Westshore territory before turning the ball over on downs. A pass from Horne to Nathan Heath and a handful of Pasalo runs set up a touchdown pass from Horne to Dillon Egan. Isiah McCloud’s conversion kick made it 20-0, the halftime score.
A long pass from Horne to Javon Evans had Westshore at the Kelseyville 12-yard line early in the third quarter, but the Knights picked off a Horne pass and returned it all the way to the Westshore 6-yard line. The Chiefs went on to score on a fourth-down play, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 20-6.
Heath’s fumble recovery set up Westshore’s next score, a 43-yard pass from Horne to Evans. McCloud’s conversion kick pushed the Cardinals’ lead to 28-6.
After Kelseyville turned the ball over on downs, Westshore added a final score on a 75-yard pass play from Horne to Evans.
Horne finished the game 7-for-10 for 209 yards and three touchdowns in addition to his pick-six touchdown on defense.
Egan led the Westshore defense with 10 solo tackles and Jake Hayes had eight. Horne and Andre McCloud finished with six apiece.
“We started off a little bit slow, but the kids picked it up and started playing the way they have all season,” Westshore varsity Sid Percaccio said. “Kelseyville came in a lot tougher than they did the first time we saw them. We had a few minor injuries and made some adjustments and never skipped a beat. We are looking forward to seeing Napa this coming weekend in the playoffs. It will be a tough game, but my kids will be very prepared.”
Westshore beat Napa 42-6 on Sept. 27 in Napa during week six of the regular season.
