{"id":4267,"date":"2025-10-09T20:52:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T20:52:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/?p=4267"},"modified":"2025-10-09T20:52:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T20:52:21","slug":"mtown-looks-to-rebound-against-kville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/?p=4267","title":{"rendered":"M’town looks to rebound against K’ville"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mustangs coming off hard-fought 41-34 loss; Knights looking for second straight win<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Brian Sumpter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lake County Sports on Facebook<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LAKE COUNTY >> When you allow as many rushing yards as the Middletown Mustangs did a week ago in a 41-34 loss to the St. Helena Saints, there is always cause for concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That doesn\u2019t mean head coach Kurtis Woodard\u2019s squad is in panic mode after giving up 408 yards on the ground to the Saints (4-0 league, 6-0 overall), but the Mustangs (3-1, 4-2) certainly are paying a little closer attention to went on up front against St. Helena as they prepare for the ground-oriented Kelseyville Knights (1-2, 1-3) on Friday night at Bill Foltmer Field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe definitely didn\u2019t want to overreact,\u201d Woodard said of the loss to St. Helena, a game between undefeated league leaders that wasn\u2019t decided until the final second when the Saints snapped a 34-34 tie. \u201cIt was a great game. They\u2019ve got a solid offensive line, good-sized and experienced. We\u2019ve got a good line of mostly sophomores. We can\u2019t wait to see where our guys are when they\u2019re seniors. We still have all the confidence in them in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While St. Helena dominated up front both on offense and on defense, also holding Middletown\u2019s ground game to 102 yards, Woodard said the Mustangs will learn from the experience and address areas where improvements can be made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve challenged the offensive line this week and they\u2019ve responded,\u201d Woodard said. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve taken a different approach with our defensive line in practice this week after watching film on Saturday and Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the manhandling the Mustangs experienced up front against St. Helena was \u201chumbling for all of us,\u201d according to Woodard, Middletown\u2019s first-year coach said he is plenty excited about his team\u2019s four remaining league games and any postseason action to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first of those four games is against Kelseyville. That will be followed by road contests at Fort Bragg (Oct. 17) and Lower Lake (Oct. 24), and a home game Oct. 31 against Clear Lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with Kelseyville at Middletown on Friday night, Upper Lake (0-4, 0-6) travels to Cloverdale (0-3, 1-4), Clear Lake (3-0, 3-2) visits Willits (2-1, 4-1), and Fort Bragg (3-1, 3-3) plays at St. Helena. Lower Lake (0-4, 2-4) has the league bye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelseyville at Middletown<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelseyville is coming off its first win \u2013 both league and overall \u2013 of the season after a 40-7 drubbing of the Cloverdale Eagles a week ago in Kelseyville. The Knights moved the ball on the ground and through the air as starting quarter Kimo Brown returning to the lineup after missing the team\u2019s first three games with an injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting players back from injuries helped fuel the Kelseyville rout, according to head coach Les Flores, and not just Brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael DeJohn, the team\u2019s top running back a year ago, also returned to the lineup after missing time with an injury and gained 101 yards on only 10 carries. Max Lee, who filled in at quarterback while Brown was out, moved back to his natural position of running back and gained 40 yards, and sophomore Andrew Souza had 71 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Junior running back Bryce Keener also saw limited action while recovering from an injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe gave limited carries to Michael and Bryce because we didn\u2019t want them to aggravate their injuries,\u201d Flores said. \u201cHaving Max back at running back was big. He\u2019s a phenomenal runner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brown also got into the act with 114 passing yards and two touchdowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With nearly 270 rushing yards against Cloverdale, the Knights figure to test out a Middletown defense that struggled against St. Helena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to establish the run to get our passing game open,\u201d Flores said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019re not discouraged by what they saw,\u201d Woodard said of the Kelseyville coaching staff\u2019s reaction to Middletown\u2019s struggles against the St. Helena running game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woodard said both DeJohn and Keener provided the Mustangs with a challenge a year ago when the Knights, on their way to a perfect league record of 8-0, beat Middletown 24-21 at Middletown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur work ethic is not to take an easy approach to this week, and we haven\u2019t,\u201d Woodard said of preparing for Kelseyville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re at home, there\u2019s not much to say about them,\u201d Flores said of the Mustangs. \u201cThey have athletes over there with some speed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While appreciative of getting in the win column last week against Cloverdale, Flores said there are plenty of things the Knights can improve at this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe made a lot of small, fundamental mistakes that can cost you a game if you\u2019re not careful,\u201d Flores said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putting the ball on the ground on three straight offensive possessions was one such thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe gave them a chance to get back into the game,\u201d Flores said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of stuff we need to fix.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keys for Kelseyville against Middletown are simply eliminating the mental mistakes, according to Flores, and keeping their heads up if things don\u2019t break their way right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t put our heads down, we need to play through adversity,\u201d he said. \u201cOur senior captains need to keep the team moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was some other good news for Kelseyville on the injury front. Lineman Elijah Watkins\u2019 knee injury last week wasn\u2019t a torn ACL, according to Flores, who said a MRI revealed only a knee contusion that while painful wasn\u2019t season ending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, there\u2019s an outside chance he could play against Middletown, according to Flores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not looking like he\u2019ll be out there (Friday), but I can\u2019t rule it out. It\u2019s a game-to-game thing. We\u2019ll take it slow. His health comes first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clear Lake at Willits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming off a 36-21 non-league loss to Mt. Shasta, a game that was called early in the fourth quarter because Clear Lake had run out of players because of injuries, the Cardinals resume league play, putting their 3-0 NCL I mark on the line against the 2-1 Wolverines, who struggled to beat an understrength Lower Lake squad 21-14 a week ago in Lower Lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Clear Lake win combined with a St. Helena loss at home to Fort Bragg would leave the Cardinals alone atop the NCL I standings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the weekly grade checks Clear Lake conducts every week won\u2019t cost the Cardinals any players this week, injuries continue to be a problem. Two-way lineman Jake Ingham is out for the season with a knee injury while another two-way lineman, Colton Mendonca, is out this week with a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe would have only 13 players, but I\u2019m pulling up four or five JVs because there is no JV game,\u201d Clear Lake head coach Augie Perez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clear Lake\u2019s JV team has lost too many players to grades and injuries, so it will forfeit against Willits, freeing up players to join the varsity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat will allow us to give our starters some breaks, like on special teams,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The varsity game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. When it does, it could be wet as a chance of rain is in the forecast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf it does rain, whoever runs the ball best usually wins,\u201d Perez said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to see who wants it more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Added Perez, \u201cI think our offense we\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willits had trouble moving the ball a week ago against a Lower Lake team that started its backup quarterback and played the entire second half with its third-string quarterback. In fact, the game-winning score was a pick-six interception that snapped a 14-all tie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re big, physical kids,\u201d Perez said of the Wolverines. \u201cThey run the ball well and mix in some passes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upper Lake at Cloverdale<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone is coming away with their first league win as the winless Cougars and Eagles collide. It\u2019s likely the Cougars\u2019 best chance for a victory this season as their remaining games are against Lower Lake (home), Kelseyville (away) and St. Helena (home).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cloverdale is coming off a 40-7 loss at Kelseyville while Upper Lake fell 18-6 to Fort Bragg a week ago at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cougar fans are reminded that halftime of next week\u2019s Lower Lake-Upper Lake game will feature the presentation of longtime football and basketball coach Craig Kinser as the first member of the school\u2019s Hall of Fame. Kinser will be officially inducted Oct. 18 during a dinner at Twin Fir Ranch in Upper Lake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mustangs coming off hard-fought 41-34 loss; Knights looking for second straight win By Brian Sumpter Lake County Sports on Facebook LAKE COUNTY >> When you allow as many rushing yards as the Middletown Mustangs did a week ago in a 41-34 loss to the St. Helena Saints, there is always cause for concern. That doesn\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,20,110,58,26,17,18,19,59,15,57],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4267"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4267"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4269,"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4267\/revisions\/4269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briansumptersports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}