Middletown scores on six straight first-half possessions to gain first win of season
By Brian Sumpter
Lake County Sports on Facebook
MIDDLETOWN >> A warm night at Bill Foltmer Field notwithstanding, the Middletown High School offense took a quarter to heat up against the Willits Wolverines.
Once it did, this game was over by halftime.
Middletown (1-1) scored 35 points in the second quarter to open up a 42-0 lead, which turned out to be the final score in this North Central League I interlock contest that saw the Mustangs score on six straight possessions, including all five in the second quarter, none of which took more than four plays.
“We found a nice little streak of it,” Middletown head coach said of the momentum that began building late in the first quarter after the Mustangs drove 80 yards in 11 plays to open up a 7-0 lead on quarterback Jamisen Jackson’s 1-yard keeper with 1:09 remaining.
The blowout win allowed Woodard to empty what there is of his bench in the second half, which was played with a running clock.
“We got everybody in, which is an energy builder moving forward,” Woodard said. “The TDs were spread around … everyone got some love.”
Jackson gave way to Tyler Galamay at quarterback in the second half as the Mustangs simply handed the ball off to reserve running backs the final two quarters. Jackson was brutally efficient during his two quarters behind center, completing six of eight passes for 121 yards, including touchdown strikes of 31 yards to Luke Mace and 45 yards to John Finney in the second quarter.
Galamay scored on 20- and 16-yard runs in the second quarter while amassing 120 yards, all but three of which came in the first half. His touchdowns came just 41 seconds apart. After capping a four-play, 38-yard drive set up by a short Willits punt with 8:08 left in the first half, the Wolverines failed to cover the ensuing kickoff, Middletown recovering the ball at the Willits 19. Two plays later Galamay scored from 16 yards out, busting up the middle to give Middletown a 28-0 lead as Jackson added the extra-point kick (he was 6-for-6 on the night).
Finney’s long touchdown reception made it 35-0 with 2:30 left in the half. Middletown recovered another Willits fumble to set up its final touchdown, a 22-yard run by Esteban Muniz.
Mace’s 31-yard catch and run to the end zone accounted for Middletown’s first touchdown in the quarter.
Willits (0-3), a team in full rebuild mode this season with a roster dominated by sophomores and juniors, gained only one first down in the first half, that right before halftime. The Wolverines were able to move the ball a bit in the second half against Middletown’s reserves, picking up four first downs. Willits made it as far as the Middletown 11-yard-line early in the fourth quarter before Finney recovered the Wolverines’ third lost fumble of the night.
“It was a good win, and the defense got the shutout,” Woodard said.
Ryan Halverson’s 13 total tackles fueled Middletown’s defense while Finney and Galamay each had seven.
Middletown’s offense finished with 210 rushing yards and 331 yards overall. Finney had a team-leading 62 yards receiving on three catches. The Mustangs had no turnovers after committing four in a season-opening 10-7 home loss to Pierce two weeks earlier.
Best yet, the Mustangs came out of the game healthy as they prepare to hit the road next week to play Kelseyville.
“We’re excited for next week. We’re both Bemidji (State University) graduates,” Woodard said of himself and Kelseyville head coach Logan Barrick.
NOTES: What a difference a year makes. Last season, the Mustangs went for two points after all of their touchdowns. This year, Jackson is 7-for-7 on extra-point kicks. “Last year we didn’t have any (conversion kicks),” Woodard said. Jackson was backed up five yards by a penalty on one of his PAT tries and still hammered the ball through the uprights with plenty to spare … Four of Galamay’s runs were for double-digits yardage, including both of his touchdowns. His long run of the night was 26 yards, the first play of Middletown’s 11-play scoring drive in the first quarter. He ran the ball six times for 53 yards during that drive … The game was relatively penalty free with no 15-yard infractions of any sort … A moment of silence was held for 9-11 victims on the 25th anniversary of the 9-11 attack … There was plenty of good sportsmanship following the game as both teams spent several minutes on the field in conversation with plenty of smiles to go around … Middletown snapped a two-game home losing streak.
