Cloverdale looking to get back on track on Friday vs. Willits
Football victories come in many forms, and the feeling of satisfaction that comes with leaving it all on the field sometimes transcends wins and losses.
That was the deal in a well-played Homecoming clash with first-place Middletown on Friday, as the Eagles gave the visitors all they could handle before the Mustangs prevailed, 34-22.
“I was beyond proud of our kids and I truly believe that Friday’s game was a turning point for this program,” Cloverdale head coach Chad Talley said. “The difference in this game from the rest since I’ve been here was that we knew we had a shot to pull it out, and that really gives me joy. We’re starting to believe,” he added.
The Eagles (1-4, 2-5) will be back on their home turf this Friday, Oct. 13 when they entertain visiting Willits. Kickoff times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
The Wolverines (1-3, 1-5) notched their first win of the season on Friday in a 54-14 romp over St. Vincent, posing a challenge for the Eagles this week.
Mustangs top Eagles
Middletown entered Friday’s tilt as the only unbeaten team in the NCL 1, looking to control the game with a bruising ground attack. The Mustangs did just that early in the contest with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns that had them up 14-0 after one.
The Eagles caught a break in the second period when an apparent Middletown touchdown was called back due to a penalty, forcing a punt. Cloverdale took advantage of the short field to score on the ensuing drive, adding the two-point conversion to trail 14-8 at the break.
The Mustangs looked to ice the game with another pair of touchdowns in the third quarter for a 28-8 lead, but the Eagles refused to pack it in.
Cloverdale quarterback James Wirt led his team on a pair of scoring drives, including touchdowns by running back John Wesele and a 50-yard bomb to receiver Mel Alonso. The comeback would come up short as Middletown held on for an eventual 34-22 win.
“When we gathered in the north end zone after the game, one of my players, Will Foley said, ‘We didn’t lose coach, we just ran out of time,’” Talley recalled. “You would have thought we won based on their reaction.”
Wirt finished up a solid night under center with seven completions on 12 pass attempts for 147 yards and one touchdown, adding 26 yards on the ground. Leading ball carriers were Wesele (13-20 yards rushing, 2 TDs), Shane Scalese (2-5 yards rushing) and Cesar Buenrostro (1-4 yards rushing). Top pass catchers were Alonso (3-76 yards receiving, TD), Christian Chavez (1-23 yards receiving), BJ Grady (1-32 yards receiving), Ben Paine (1-13 yards receiving) and Scalese (1-3 yards receiving).
Leading tacklers included Alonso (10), Wesele (7), Luis Pesqueda (6, sack), Wirt (5), Scalese (5), Eli Arreola (4), Daniel Lopez (4), Chavez (4), Buenrostro (4, INT), Grady (4), Alex Segobiano (2) and Garret Robertson (1).
JV defense keys win
The Eagle’s JV squad scored arguably its biggest win of the season on Friday, using a critical defensive goal line stand to key a 7-6 victory over Middletown
Trailing 7-0 with 1:38 left, the Mustangs scored to make it 7-6. But the ensuing try for the two-point conversion was stuffed by the Eagles to preserve the win.
Turning in outstanding efforts on both sides of the ball for Cloverdale were Shayne Turner, Logan Axell and Chuche Maciel. The freshmen line also did a great job on both offense and defense in controlling the line of scrimmage.
