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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The last time Salesian High came close to losing a football game was in the Dec. 11, 2010 NCS Div. IV championship game against Middletown, when The Pride rallied for three fourth-quarter touchdowns to tie the game in regulation, then won it in overtime, 28-21.
That was the eighth straight victory for the Richmond school, which has since added 14 more wins, not to mention a second straight NCS Div. IV championship.
The Pride bring a 22-game win streak (a 21-game streak if you don’t include a victory by forfeit over St. Elizabeth’s) and a No. 2 section ranking into Middletown tonight to face the No. 17 Mustangs, who are hoping to make a game of it in their season opener.
Middletown is a tough read.
Coach Bill Foltmer believes he has an improved team over last year’s 6-5 club (which lost its opener to Salesian 33-7), and he’s probably right. But how good is Salesian?
Probably not as formidable as last year’s team that went 13-0 and outscored opponents by an average of 32 points a game.
The Pride, who lost 17 starters to graduation, is also in a rebuilding mode.
What’s more, they’re in a new and much tougher league (Tri-County’s Rock Division), and will play against bigger schools and stronger programs than they’re accustomed to.
One East Bay newspaper predicted Salesian to finish third behind El Cerrito and Pinole Valley.
But The Pride still have enough returning talent to convince the prognosticators that they’re one of the best Div. IV teams in the NCS – if not the best.
Their current No. 2 rating, second to Marin Catholic of Kentfield and ahead of No. 3 Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa, is an indication that they have the kind of talent that should fill those 17 vacancies without losing much in quality.
Quarterback Ben Pike leads the Mustangs’ offense, which will rely on quickness to compensate for its lack of size.
Running backs Austin Benson and Tyler Drew are also important cogs in the offense, as are receiver Jared Carrillo, tight end Tyler Rockwell and lineman Anthony Tacla.
Pike, Drew, Benson and Carrillo and Tacla double up on the defense side. Sophomores Anthony Guzman (WR-DB), Wyatt Hall (OL-DL) and Cody Chorjel (OL-LB) are expected to get their first varsity start against Salesian.
If The Pride beat Middletown, they’ll likely be No. 1 next week in the Div. IV ratings as Marin Catholic and Cardinal Newman are expected to “petition up” to play in the Div. III ranks.
Michael Page looks like Salesian’s new premiere running back. He ran for 180 yards in 13 carries and scored four touchdowns, all in the first half, as The Pride opened their season last Friday with 39-6 win over De Anza of Richmond.
The Mustangs should provide a much stiffer test – but can they stick close to Salesian and maybe have a shot at an upset?
Rich Mellott can be reached at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Here’s a rundown of prep football games involving Lake County teams and other teams of interest.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
NCL I/NCL II-BAY INTERLEAGUE
Upper Lake (0-0) at Kelseyville (0-0), 7:30 p.m. Knights (0-0) have some talent at the skill positions, but Cougars have talent too – plus a big size advantage. Prediction: Upper Lake 40, Kelseyville 18.
NCL I TEAMS (NON-LEAGUE)
Salesian (1-0) at Middletown (0-0), 7:30 p.m. The underrated Mustangs could give Salesian a scare. Prediction: Salesian 35, Middletown 24.
Clear Lake (0-0) at Durham (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Trojans, with a quarterback who can run and pass, should handle undersized Cardinals. Prediction: Durham 36, Clear Lake 13.
Cloverdale (1-0) at McKinleyville (0-1), 7:30 p.m. McKinleyville, which dropped a 14-7 decision to Fort Bragg last week, should roll against its second straight NCL foe from Mendocino County. Prediction: McKinleyville 27, Cloverdale 7.
Lower Lake (0-0) at Hoopa Valley (0-0), 7:30 p.m. Hoopa, which defeated Lower Lake 54-0 in last year’s opener, is favored again, but improved Trojans should make it a lot closer. Prediction: Hoopa Valley 33, Lower Lake 20.
SATURDAY’S GAME
Fort Bragg (1-0) at St. Bernard’s-Eureka (0-1), 2 p.m. Timberwolves, 14-7 winners over McKinleyville last week, face a tough test against a strong Div. V team. Prediction: St. Bernard’s 24, Fort Bragg 21.
Bye Week
Willits (1-0) returns to action next weekend against Ukiah.
Rich Mellott can be reached at
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Late Thursday officials lifted some evacuations in areas affected by the North Pass Fires, which continue to burn in northern Mendocino County.
The two lightning-caused fires, burning for nearly two weeks 10 miles northeast of Covelo, reached 34,308 acres and 37 percent containment by Thursday night.
Cal Fire and the US Forest Service have unified command of the incident, 28 percent of which is burning in the State Responsibility Area and 72 percent on federal lands, including the Mendocino National Forest.
So far the fires have resulted in five injuries and the destruction of 11 structures.
On Thursday night the US Forest Service reported that there was a limited lifting of the evacuation order for several areas affected by the fire.
Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M1) was reopened up to Boardman Camp, while all points north along that road remain closed.
Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7) from the Eel River Work Station/Black Butte Ranch up to benchmark 2444 (second driveway entrance to Bauer Subdivision) also was reopened; all areas east of the intersection to Forest Road M4 remain closed and within the evacuation order.
Residents will not be allowed to drive on the roads between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., the agency reported. Only residents in possession of a valid identification with a local address will be allowed into open areas.
Approximately 2,110 fire personnel were assigned to the incident on Thursday. Also on scene were 159 engines, 30 fire crews, two air tankers, 13 helicopters, 29 bulldozers and 31 water tenders.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – State and local agencies battling the spread of invasive quagga and zebra mussels are asking boaters to be especially vigilant over the three-day Labor Day weekend.
Quagga and zebra mussels are non-native freshwater mussels that multiply quickly and can encrust watercraft and infrastructure. They also can compete for food with more desirable species
The mussels spread easily from infested bodies of water by attaching to nearly anything that has been in an infested waterbody, or by being transferred in water held in boat engines, bilges, live-wells or buckets.
Boaters are asked to clean, drain and dry motorized and non-motorized watercraft and any equipment that comes into contact with lakes, rivers or other waterways both before and after boating.
Anyone who launches a vessel into any body of water in the state is subject to watercraft inspections.
In Lake County, all registered water vessels must be screened before they are launched in local waters. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor that brings with it a potential $1,000 fine.
The screening requirements in Lake County do not apply to canoes, kayaks, car-top boats, float tubes, rafts, wind surfers/boards, boogey boards, nonmotorized paddle boats, and nonmotorized sail boats that are 8 feet or less in length.
County ordinance bans the disposal of live bait and any liquid that contains or has contained live bait into Lake County water bodies.
More about Lake County rules can be found at http://www.nomussels.com/ .
To ensure that watercraft is clean, drained and dry, many local agencies are conducting boat inspections.
DFG has posted the list of these inspections on its Web site, www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel , along with information about invasive mussels and what people can do to help prevent their spread in California.
Boaters should call ahead to check for restrictions prior to visiting their destination.
To prevent the spread of invasive mussels and pass inspections, boaters should inspect all exposed surfaces, remove all plants and organisms, drain all water, including that contained in lower outboard units, live-wells and bait buckets, and allow the watercraft to thoroughly dry before launching.
Watercraft should be kept dry for at least five days in warm weather and up to 30 days in cool weather between launches in different bodies of fresh water. These measures are vital to safeguard California waterways.
DFG also has developed a short video demonstrating the ease of implementing the clean, drain and dry prevention method, which can be seen above.
In addition, a detailed guide to cleaning vessels to prevent the spread of mussels is available on the Department of Boating and Waterways Web site at www.nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=4957 .
Travelers also are advised to be prepared for inspections at California Department of Food and Agriculture Border Protection Stations.
Inspections may include not only a check of boats and personal watercraft, but also of trailers and onboard items. Contaminated vessels and equipment are subject to quarantine or impoundment.
Quagga mussels were first detected in the Colorado River system in January 2007 and were later found in San Diego and Riverside counties. They are now known to be in 24 water bodies in Southern California.
Zebra mussels were discovered in San Justo Reservoir in San Benito County in January 2008.
Both species can attach to and damage virtually any submerged surface.
They can ruin a boat engine by blocking the cooling system and causing it to overheat; can jam steering equipment, putting occupants and others at risk; and require frequent scrapping and repainting of boat hulls.
The mussels also can colonize underwater substrates such as boat ramps, docks, lines and other underwater surfaces, necessitating constant cleaning, and can do damage requiring costly maintenance, repair or replacement of equipment.
A multi-agency effort that includes DFG, the Department of Boating and Waterways, Department of Water Resources and Department of Parks and Recreation has been leading an outreach campaign to alert the public to the quagga and zebra mussel threats.
A toll-free hotline at 1-866-440-9530 is available for those seeking information on quagga or zebra mussels.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – West Nile Virus is active throughout the country, including Lake County, and officials from Lake County Health Services and the Lake County Vector Control District remind residents to stay safe during the holiday weekend.
“This year, West Nile Virus activity has been high throughout California, including Lake County. Locally, this is the most West Nile Virus activity we’ve seen since 2007, and the season isn’t over yet,” said Lake County Vector Control District Manager and Research Director Jamesina J. Scott, Ph.D. “We are still finding mosquitoes that are carrying the virus, which means the mosquitoes can infect people,” she reported.
“With the increased West Nile activity now evident in mosquitoes and birds in Lake County, it is more important than ever for people of all ages to take precautions against mosquito bites. Staying indoors during early morning and evening hours, keeping window screens in good repair, wearing protective clothing and use of insect repellents according to package instructions will help reduce your risk of catching the infection,” said Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait.
West Nile Virus is transmitted by mosquitoes to a variety of animals and to humans. Mosquito and Vector Control agencies usually detect the virus in mosquitoes, birds and sometimes tree squirrels before human cases appear.
Dr. Scott explained that West Nile Virus activity is highest in the summertime because high temperatures help the both mosquitoes and the virus to multiply more quickly, which results in larger populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes.
“People spend more time outside in the summer, and are exposed to more mosquitoes that potentially are carrying West Nile Virus or other diseases,” she said.
The Lake County Vector Control District routinely tests samples of female mosquitoes, dead birds, and sentinel chickens for the presence of West Nile Virus. The district uses the surveillance data to guide their control activities.
This year, 12 mosquito samples and two dead birds from Lake County have been positive for West Nile Virus. No human cases have been reported in Lake County.
Forty-four human cases of West Nile Virus infection have been reported in California this year, serving as a reminder that taking precautions is important to preventing this sometimes serious and even deadly infection.
West Nile Virus symptoms of the mild form include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches and swollen lymph glands. While the illness can last only a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks.
Less than 1 percent of individuals (about 1 in 150 people) infected with West Nile Virus will develop severe illness.
The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
West Nile Virus infection can be fatal. People over age 50 and diabetics appear to be at most risk for the more severe forms of disease. There is no vaccine for humans.
A vaccine is available for horses and is strongly recommended because West Nile Virus can also cause serious illness or death in horses.
Local officials offer the following recommendations to reduce exposure to mosquito bites and prevent infection of West Nile Virus:
Drain: Mosquitoes lay their eggs on standing water. Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including buckets, old car tires, pet bowls, and unused wading pools. If you have a pond or livestock watering trough, contact the Lake County Vector Control District for mosquito fish.
Dawn and dusk: Mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus bite in the early morning and evening. When possible, avoid being outside at these times. If you are outside when mosquitoes are active, use repellent and wear long-sleeved clothing that reduces the risk of skin exposure to mosquito bites during this time.
Defend: Use an EPA-registered insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 according to label instructions. Repellents keep mosquitoes from biting. Make sure your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes. Repair or replace screens with tears or holes.
The Lake County Vector Control District is a public health agency that protects Lake County residents and visitors from mosquitoes and other vectors and vector-borne diseases.
Residents can request service, get mosquitofish, or report neglected swimming pools to the district at 707-263-4770 or www.lcvcd.org . Just one neglected pool can produce more than 1 million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
Please report dead birds or squirrels to 1-877-West Nile Virus-BIRD (1-877-968-2473) or visit the California Department of Public Health’s West Nile Virus Web site at www.westnile.ca.gov .
For additional information on West Nile Virus, visit http://www.westnile.ca.gov and http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – During this heavily traveled Labor Day weekend, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers will be out in force, keeping a close eye on the roads, and enforcing the law to keep motorists safe.
The three-day holiday is a maximum enforcement period for the CHP, beginning Friday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. through Monday, Sept. 3, at 11:59 p.m.
Throughout the maximum enforcement period, all available officers will be on patrol cracking down on impaired drivers, speeders, and those who are a danger to themselves and others on the state’s roadways.
During last year’s Labor Day weekend, 29 people were killed in traffic collisions across California; a 38 percent increase from the previous year. Motorists choosing not to wear safety equipment contributed to the drastic increase in casualties.
“It is very disheartening to know that 19 people lost their lives last Labor Day weekend as a result of not wearing their seat belt,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “What a tremendous price to pay for something that is entirely preventable.”
The CHP averages around 1,500 arrests for impaired driving every Labor Day MEP.
Californians who drink alcohol are highly encouraged to designate a non-drinking driver in advance of the weekend and we remind motorists to call 9-1-1 to report suspected drunk drivers.
“Impaired driving is more than a social issue, it is a criminal issue,” said Commissioner Farrow. “As motorists travel throughout California, I want them to know the CHP will be out in force, working hard to remove impaired drivers and motorcycle riders from the roads. Our goal is for everyone to get safely to their destination.”
The CHP offers the following safety tips to help keep drivers and motorcycle riders safe during this holiday weekend:
– Designate a non-drinking driver in advance or plan for alternative transportation if you will be consuming alcohol. If hosting a party, provide non-alcoholic drinks for the designated driver.
– Buckle up or wear proper safety equipment, depending on your mode of travel.
– Establish and enforce a distraction-free zone behind the wheel.
– Leave plenty of time to get to your destination, so you are not speeding to get somewhere.
– Get plenty of rest and, if possible, coordinate with your passengers so that no one is driving while fatigued.
With law enforcement and highway workers keeping the freeways safe this busy weekend, drivers are also reminded of California’s move over or slow down law. It requires motorists and motorcycle riders to change to another freeway lane or, when not able to, to slow to a reasonable and prudent speed to cautiously pass emergency personnel stopped on the side of the freeway.
The law applies to authorized emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or Department of Transportation vehicles when displaying flashing emergency lights or amber warning lights.