Mustangs improve to 4-0, extend long winning streak with 24-8 win over Cougars
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MIDDLETOWN >> Colton Rodrigues scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter, his second touchdown of the game, to put the finish touches on another Middletown win, this time a 24-8 victory over the Upper Lake Cougars in a battle of undefeated junior varsity football teams at Bill Foltmer Field in Middletown.
Upper Lake (2-1-1) was facing an undefeated opponent for the second week in a row – the Cougars tied Clear Lake 8-8 a week earlier in Upper Lake – but Middletown’s JVs were more than up to the task, extending a winning streak – now 28 games – that extends back to the 2023 season. They are 4-0 this season.
The Cougars certainly made it competitive, scoring on an Adrian Valencia 2-yard run midway through the third quarter and adding the two-point conversion to cut Middletown’s lead to 16-8.
Rodrigues put Middletown in front late in the first quarter with a 1-yard yard. He also scored on the conversion run to make it 8-0. The Mustangs added to their lead in the second quarter on a Blake Pullman 14-yard pass from quarterback Hudson Kelley, and Rodrigues again added the conversion run to make it 16-0 by halftime.
Middletown gained 259 of 270 yards of offense on the ground. Rodrigues led the way with 116 yards on 12 carries while Lucas Hernandez (nine carries for 67 yards) and Dre Goins (13 carries for 56 yards) also contributed to the Mustangs’ success on the ground.
Middletown is off next week. Upper Lake returns home to take on St. Helena at 5 p.m.
Quarterback Hudson Kelley completed the only pass he attempted, the 14-yard TD strike to Pullman, and he also rushed for 20 yards and a two-point conversion.
For Upper Lake, quarterback Isaia Pena completed 8 of 12 passes for 68 yards with one interception. Billy Pimental caught four passes for 38 yards, and he also scored a two-point conversion. Brayan Vasquez carried the ball three times for 26 yards.
Hernandez anchored Middletown’s defense with 11 total tackles, Goins added nine more, Rodrigues eight and Pullman seven. Kelley had an interception and 15-yard return.
