Middletown, Redding Christian clash in NorCal Division 7-AA championship
By Brian Sumpter
Lake County Sports on Facebook
MIDDLETOWN >> Only once before has a Lake County football team reached Week 15 of the season, which is where the Middletown Mustangs find themselves on the eve of their Northern California Division 7-AA showdown with the undefeated Redding Christian Lions on Friday night at Bill Foltmer Field. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
Clear Lake made it this far three years ago, losing to eventual state champion Orland in Orland, and now it’s Middletown’s turn as it attempts to clear that final hurdle to a state championship game showdown with either San Fernando (11-3) or Woodbridge (5-8), the teams that play for the SoCal title Friday. The Division 7-AA state final will take place either Dec. 12 or Dec. 13 at one of three Southern California venues.
Redding Christian (13-0), the Northern Section champion, offers a balanced attack between its running and passing games, just like the Mustangs (11-2). Middletown has the clear speed advantage, according to Middletown head coach Kurtis Woodard, and an edge in size as well.
By the numbers, Redding Christian quarterback Wyatt Shaw has passed for 2,887 yards and 52 touchdowns with a 78-percent completion percentage while running back Levi Putnam has rushed for 1,344 yards and 16 TDs. The Lions have their own version of Middletown senior wide receiver Jon Hawkins in Darren Goodman (No. 19), who will sometimes take the snap from center in a wildcat formation. Goodman has 808 yards worth of receiving yardage and 15 TDs while fellow receiver Collin Matos leads the team with 56 receptions for 769 yards and 14 TDs.
“They’ve got guys who can change the momentum in a game,” Woodard said of the Lions. “They like to go to No. 19 (Goodman). He’s 6-4, 210 pounds, their Jon Hawkins. They are a well-balanced, athletic team.”
Middletown’s scout squad by Henry Ames and Austin Davis has been especially effective in practice simulating the plays the Lions like to run, according to Woodard, even frustrating the Mustang starters at times earlier this week.
“They’ve done a great job helping us prepare for them,” Woodard said.
Middletown’s week in practice has been building up to where Woodard likes to see it going into Friday’s titanic collision.
“By Thursday it’s all coming together,” Woodard said. “It’s gone well.”
While scouting the opposition and heavy film sessions are par for the course for Middletown’s coaching staff, Woodard said it basically comes down to a matter of trust on game day.
“I just need to trust my guys,” he said. “Sometimes you get caught up in everything else, but I do trust my guys to get it done.
“The expectation is to win state, so we are right where we’re supposed to be. We don’t want to watch them celebrate on our field,” Woodard said of the Lions.
A little more than 24 hours from now the Mustangs hope to be celebrating a NorCal championship, the first in county history. The rest is pretty much details.
