Sometimes you have to give a shoutout to a nemesis.
To set the scene, the Middletown High football team won its fourth CIF North Coast
Section championship defeating the Salesian (Richmond) Pride 28-14 at Alhambra
High in Martinez, CA for the NCS Div. V title.
Section championship defeating the Salesian (Richmond) Pride 28-14 at Alhambra
High in Martinez, CA for the NCS Div. V title.
For the the No. 5 seeded Mustangs, defeating No. 2 Salesian marked their fourth
section title in the 34-year coaching era of the iconic Bill Foltmer. The last time
Middletown won a section title was 2001, when the United States was recovering
from the 9/11 attacks. For Middletown, Saturday’s title meant two things, a)
Redemption from 2010, when the Mustangs snatched defeat from the jaws of
victory, turning a 21-7 lead after three quarters into a 28-21 overtime loss and b)
Represented a continued healing from the dastardly wildfires from 2015. Granted
the state of California has had continuous such events the last few years but Lake
County was the epicenter of the blaze that year.
section title in the 34-year coaching era of the iconic Bill Foltmer. The last time
Middletown won a section title was 2001, when the United States was recovering
from the 9/11 attacks. For Middletown, Saturday’s title meant two things, a)
Redemption from 2010, when the Mustangs snatched defeat from the jaws of
victory, turning a 21-7 lead after three quarters into a 28-21 overtime loss and b)
Represented a continued healing from the dastardly wildfires from 2015. Granted
the state of California has had continuous such events the last few years but Lake
County was the epicenter of the blaze that year.
I’m not going to break down the season because I only caught glimpses of them
from afar. Lake County Record Bee sports editor Brian Sumpter, whom I consider
a friend, would be much more qualified to do so. Having spent 10 years covering
St. Helena and Calistoga High Schools (2004-2014), I saw more than a few
glimpses of Middletown up close. St. Helena is the the same league (North Central
League I) as Middletown. Calistoga was in the NCL II with Middletown for a number
of years.
from afar. Lake County Record Bee sports editor Brian Sumpter, whom I consider
a friend, would be much more qualified to do so. Having spent 10 years covering
St. Helena and Calistoga High Schools (2004-2014), I saw more than a few
glimpses of Middletown up close. St. Helena is the the same league (North Central
League I) as Middletown. Calistoga was in the NCL II with Middletown for a number
of years.
Though I have changed careers as of December 2014, I get my writing fix via this
blog and as a freelance writer for my former employer (Napa Valley Register)
during football season. I have also covered a few games for the aforementioned
Lake County Record Bee.
blog and as a freelance writer for my former employer (Napa Valley Register)
during football season. I have also covered a few games for the aforementioned
Lake County Record Bee.
As a reporter, you get caught up in celebrating the success of the team you cover.
Though some may view the reporting as biased, I beg to differ. Sure, there are some
reporters who are biased but I look at it more through the prism of you see
youngsters work so hard for their success that you can’t help but be happy for them.
Though some may view the reporting as biased, I beg to differ. Sure, there are some
reporters who are biased but I look at it more through the prism of you see
youngsters work so hard for their success that you can’t help but be happy for them.
I had many road trips to Lake County but the more often I covered a game involving
Middletown as the opponent of the team on my beat, my admiration for them
increased every time. In Foltmer’s 34 seasons at Middletown, the Mustangs are
263-104-1 with four section titles (seven appearances), 11 seasons of 10 or more
victories, only four losing seasons in that span and never failed to win at least three
games. Success to that magnitude gets the field named after you. In 2010, the
football field at Middletown was named Bill Foltmer Field. That status is like getting
a street named after you in Green Bay. Before becoming a coaching icon in
Middletown, Foltmer was a head coach for three years at Princeton High, which is
in Colusa County, where he went 19-22.
Middletown as the opponent of the team on my beat, my admiration for them
increased every time. In Foltmer’s 34 seasons at Middletown, the Mustangs are
263-104-1 with four section titles (seven appearances), 11 seasons of 10 or more
victories, only four losing seasons in that span and never failed to win at least three
games. Success to that magnitude gets the field named after you. In 2010, the
football field at Middletown was named Bill Foltmer Field. That status is like getting
a street named after you in Green Bay. Before becoming a coaching icon in
Middletown, Foltmer was a head coach for three years at Princeton High, which is
in Colusa County, where he went 19-22.
Though I only know Foltmer on the periphery, the overarching impression I always
received is that coaching continuity is an incredible luxury. The Mustangs don’t win
consistently because their athletes are so much better than the rest of the NCL I.
They win because from the varsity to JV to the Middletown Colts, you get a machine
that is so well-oiled that by the time a youngster reaches the varsity team, they are
a step or two ahead of their opponents.
received is that coaching continuity is an incredible luxury. The Mustangs don’t win
consistently because their athletes are so much better than the rest of the NCL I.
They win because from the varsity to JV to the Middletown Colts, you get a machine
that is so well-oiled that by the time a youngster reaches the varsity team, they are
a step or two ahead of their opponents.
Another reason why I am thrilled that Middletown won the NCS Div. V title is
because trips to that venue are a true Friday Night Lights experience. In terms of
physical geography, Middletown is in California but the Friday night football
experience could pass for Mid-America and I mean that in the most complimentary
way possible.
because trips to that venue are a true Friday Night Lights experience. In terms of
physical geography, Middletown is in California but the Friday night football
experience could pass for Mid-America and I mean that in the most complimentary
way possible.
When you have multiple high schools in one city, there are divided loyalties. In
Napa, you either bleed the Blue & Gold of Napa High or Burgundy & Gold of
Vintage High. In one high school towns like Middletown, there are no gray areas.
It’s Purple & Gold.
Napa, you either bleed the Blue & Gold of Napa High or Burgundy & Gold of
Vintage High. In one high school towns like Middletown, there are no gray areas.
It’s Purple & Gold.
Another reason why Middletown is a special place, in the aftermath of the
aforementioned fires, Bill Cowher visited and talked to the players after practice.
Yes, that Bill Cowher, the former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers who is a
studio co-host for NFL games on CBS. At the time, Cowher and the crew were
in the Bay Area for a Thursday Night national TV game between the Seattle
Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
aforementioned fires, Bill Cowher visited and talked to the players after practice.
Yes, that Bill Cowher, the former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers who is a
studio co-host for NFL games on CBS. At the time, Cowher and the crew were
in the Bay Area for a Thursday Night national TV game between the Seattle
Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
Until next time, this Saints and Wildcats fan says, “Shoutout to Middletown!”
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