LOWER LAKE, CA -- It was an emotional evening in Lake County Friday night as the Middletown football team took the field for the first time since the devastating Valley Fire that recently ravaged the area.
Visiting Middletown, looking for its first win of the season, faced off against CIF North Central League I rival Lower Lake. The Trojans, after being down for the past few seasons, came into the contest unbeaten this season.
The stands at Lower Lake were packed with both communities coming out in full force to support each other after the tragedy of the fire.
Despite being a decided underdog, and with quite a few members of the team directly affected by the fire, Middletown would not be denied in a 21-0 victory.
“Tonight was a very emotional game,” Middletown coach Bill Foltmer said, “A lot of people here today don’t usually go to football games, but this was a community event.”
The Mustangs (1-2) were led by running back Coleman Drew. He was one of many Mustangs athletes to lose their home in the Valley Fire. Drew finished with 181 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Neither offense was able to mount any momentum in the first quarter with both quarterbacks throwing interceptions to end long drives.
Middletown scored first on a Connor Armstrong 45-yard pass to Stephen Amos in the early second quarter. The rest of the half was all Drew, as the 5-foot-6 senior had 70 of his 181 rushing yards in the quarter, capping it off with a 10-yard run up the middle to put Middletown ahead 13-0 shortly before the break. Drew finished his night with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter by bolting around the left side of the offensive line for a 10-yard touchdown run. Junior Tyler Chorjel added a two-point-conversion to close out the scoring.
Mustangs quarterback Armstrong didn’t have to sweat much, ending the night 3-for-11 for 73 yards and one touchdown.
Lower Lake (3-1) was led by quarterback Hoke Wickard, a 6-3 sophomore that went 21-of-42 for 151-yards. He also had two interceptions, both by Middletown junior safety Gabe Guzman.
"The saying ‘Middletown strong’ is all about pride,” Drew said. “The amount of fans that came out tonight to support us really means a lot.”
“What makes me proud is to be a Middletown man,” Foltmer remarked, “I am also so proud of Lake County as a whole for all the support.”
Middletown travels to Willits this week while Lower Lake goes to Fort Bragg to face the high-powered offense of the 4-0 Timberwolves
Note: Correspondent Daniel Poulter attended the game in Lower Lake and wrote this story.
