Kelseyville running game takes control during non-league contest
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SAN RAMON >> Running nearly nine minutes off the game clock, the Kelseyville Knights never gave the Dougherty Valley Wildcats a chance to catch them late in the fourth quarter Friday, holding on for a 27-20 non-league varsity football win in San Ramon.
Trailing 27-12, Dougherty Valley scored and added the two-point conversion with 9:02 left in the game to cut Kelseyville’s lead to 27-20. The Knights (4-4) then began a long march down the field that ultimately ended at the Dougherty Valley 1-yard-line when time expired.
“We milked the clock pretty good,” Kelseyville head coach Logan Barrick said. “Our offensive line did a great job and so did our running backs.”
While nearing the goal line, Kelseyville was able to draw Dougherty Valley offsides twice all the while keeping the clock running.
Kelseyville spotted a pass-heavy Dougherty Valley offense a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. The Knights answered with 20 unanswered points, the first 13 coming in the second quarter. Jayden Fabisch scored on a one-yard run as the Knights moved in front 7-6.
Case Pivniska’s 4-yard run later in the quarter made it 13-6, the halftime score. Pivniska and Fabisch both topped 100 yards on the night, Pivniska with 165 yards on 24 carries, and Fabisch with 136 yards on 18 carries.
Brayton Thomas also took a run at 100 yards, finishing with 73 on eight carries, including a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that boosted Kelseyville’s lead to 20-6. Dougherty Valley closed to 20-12 by quarter’s end.
Fabisch’s second one-yard touchdown run of the night with 10:18 left in the game made it 27-12 as Jorge Gonzalez tacked on his third extra point of the night.
Dougherty Valley countered on its next possession to make it a one-score game, but Kelseyville never gave the Wildcats a shot at tying or winning the game.
As the Knights make their playoff push in the final weeks of the regular season, Barrick said he was impressed with his team’s effort.
“The most disciplined football game we’ve played all year,” he said. “We ran our base Wing-T stuff, they couldn’t stop it, and we got eight yards at a time.”
Kelseyville’s defense did its best to clamp down on Dougherty Valley’s passing attack, which accounted for all of the team’s touchdowns.
“Their quarterback (Javi Estrada) did a good job,” Barrick said. “They made it tough on us. Our guys (defensive backs) were where they were supposed to be, but their receivers were making catches.”
It wasn’t enough to overcome Kelseyville’s running game, one that isn’t even at full strength because of injuries.
“Brayton, Fabisch and Pivniska did a good job and our line was excellent,” Barrick said.
Barrick also had plenty of praise for his defense.
“Everybody did really well,” he said. “Gordon (Astrup, defensive end) did his job taking away the middle.”
Astrup had three tackles for loss as well as a sack. Carson Stone intercepted a pass while Hugh O’Boyle blocked an extra-point kick.
Kelseyville attempted only six passes, completing two for 25 yards, but the Knights were able to draw a pair of pass interference penalties.
The Knights finish their regular-season schedule with a pair of North Central League I North games, beginning with Fort Bragg (1-7) next Friday in Kelseyville. They close with Willits (4-5) on Nov. 6 in Willits. Willits (2-0) and Kelseyville (1-0) are currently atop the North standings.
There was no junior varsity game with Dougherty Valley.