JV teams are tied for best record in Mendo-Lake Empire Junior Football League
LAKEPORT >> The junior varsity teams with the best record in the Mendo-Lake Empire Junior Football League went head-to-head on Saturday at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport. When the game was over, they still had the best record.
The Westshore Cardinals battled the Middletown Colts to a 6-6 draw in a game dominated by the two defenses.
“It was mainly a defensive battle the whole game,” Clear Lake head coach Sid Percaccio said.
All of the game’s scoring took place in the second quarter. The Colts (3-0-1) jumped on the scoreboard first and went for two points on the conversion, but Pops Horne blocked the kick. Westshore (3-0-1) answered right back as Horne completed a 45-yard pass to Brady Liske, setting up Horne’s 1-yard touchdown run on the next play, which came with no time remaining in the half. Like Middletown, Westshore’s extra-point attempt failed.
The two teams spent the second half unable to make headway against the other’s defense. Westshore punted with a little less than two minutes remaining in the game, pinning Middletown behind its 15-yard line. Westshore got one final chance with less than a minute remaining but was unable to score. After taking over on downs, the Colts elected to take a knee in the final seconds.
LJ Hopkins carried the ball 17 times for 85 yards for Westshore. On defense, Jake Hayes led the team with 10 total tackles and a fumble recovery. MJ Knight had nine tackles, Leighton Butcher six tackles, and Damian McCloud, Aaron Wangberg, Chase Poland and Joseph Szupello three tackles each.
Middletown statistics were not reported.
“It was a great game, a lot of really good defense was played by both sides and I hope to them again in the postseason,” Percaccio said.
Westshore hosts Kelseyville on Saturday while Middletown hits the road to play Northshore in Upper Lake. Kickoff at both locations is set for 5:30 p.m.