Cloverdale to visit Willits on Friday
The varsity football Eagles continued to take their lumps on the league road circuit on Oct. 7, falling to a solid home-standing Middletown squad, 46-0.
The setback was the fourth straight for the Eagles and dropped them to 1-4 in the NCL-1 and 1-6 on the year, while Middletown improved to 4-0 in league and 4-2 overall.
Cloverdale may catch a break on the NCL-1 schedule this Friday, Oct. 14 when it visits 1-5 Willits. The Wolverines (1-3 in league) recorded their first win of the fall campaign on Saturday in a 28-27 squeaker over St. Vincent, but represent a beatable opponent for the Eagles this week.
Eagles turnovers costly
Friday’s trip to Middletown was the latest in a string of tough league match-ups for the Eagles, as the Mustangs controlled the game and scoreboard virtually from the opening whistle.
The tone was set from on the opening kickoff, when a Cloverdale fumble recovered by the Mustangs at the Eagles’ 20 yard line set up the game’s first score. The Mustangs cashed in on their second play from scrimmage on a 10-yard scoring run to grab a lead they would not relinquish.
The Middletown defensive unit continued to throttle the Eagles’ offense in the first half, forcing a string of punts that would give the Mustangs good field position. Middletown gained separation late in the second quarter when it mounted a 6-play, 53-yard drive resulting in a 3-yard touchdown run for a 20-0 lead at the half.
Things didn’t get any better after intermission, as Middletown kick returner Beckett Hoage took the opening kickoff and raced 68 yards to the house to effectively ice the game. The Eagles, who committed four turnovers on the night, trailed 40-0 at the end of three en route to a 46-0 Middletown win.
