South Fork Football Rolls Over Anderson Valley 78-6, Will Play Upper Lake for League Championship Friday

In a dominant 78-6 win over Anderson Valley last Friday night in Miranda, South Fork’s varsity football team was sharpening every tool in the box in preparation for this Friday’s game at Upper Lake, which, due to the upheaval in many teams’ schedules due to the catastrophic fires in Lake and Sonoma Counties, now figures to be a battle for first place in the NC3 8-man football league.

With South Fork and Upper Lake carrying matching 3-0 league records, the winner of Friday night’s game at Upper Lake will automatically qualify for the 8-Man Championship game to be played against the southern champ the weekend of November 3-4. The North Coast Section decided not to lengthen the football season by a week to allow games cancelled due to fire to be made up. A lengthened season would have a domino effect on winter sports which start practicing November 6.

“We’re right where we want to be,” said head coach Andy Olsen. “We’re healthy, eager to play, and getting back into a good rhythm.”

Starters played for about three quarters of the Anderson Valley game. Junior quarterback CJ Van Meter was 4 for 7, throwing 3 passes for touchdowns and a total of 115 yards. Senior running back Gabe Malley had 3 touchdowns on 3 carries for a total of 98 yards. Scott Coffelt had 9 carries for 76 yards and 3 touchdowns. Olsen was pleased to see Coffelt back at full strength. “As a big guy he takes a lot of shots to the knees and shins, and he seemed much more comfortable Friday. He looked great.”

Junior wide receiver Cody Wyatt caught 2 touchdown passes.

Senior lineman Levi Kirk had “his highest tackle output of the season” according to Olsen with five, and senior linebacker Aaron Etherton had three sacks and 19 tackles.

To sum it up, Olsen said, “We’re playing the way teams going into the post-season play.”

Upper Lake has 36 players on its roster and a number of linemen over 200 pounds. They have a big running back who is their chief offensive weapon, but as Olsen says, “We have 4 or 5 guys who can move the ball well and we are capable of big plays.” Kick-off will be at 6 p.m. in Upper Lake.

The winner of Friday’s game will play the champion of the Southern division of the 8-man league, to be determined this week as well. Rincon Valley Christian, Branson, and Stuart Hall are all in the running.