Baby steps. That”s the approach first-year Lower Lake coach Stan Weiper is taking with his newest project, which just happens to be the Trojans” varsity football team. Not long strides, not even big steps. Baby steps.
Lower Lake took a few of those on Saturday afternoon, beating the Upper Lake Cougars 26-7 on the final day of summer even though it felt more like the final day of autumn at Upper Lake High School.
A light, steady rain fell throughout the game, easing up just a bit at the end as the Trojans (2-1) secured back-to-back victories for the first time since the 2003 campaign, coincidentally also in weeks two and three of that season. But while ”03 would play out into another long and frustrating year ? 3-7 ? for the Southshore school, Weiper is looking for bigger and better things in ”07.
“There”s so much more we can do on offense that we couldn”t do today,” Weiper said in reference to the weather and his players” continuing education in the veer offense, a big change from what they”ve run in previous seasons (wing-T). “We have other plays that we”re putting in, we”re just not there yet and I don”t want to overwhelm them by putting in too much too quick. Our plan was to throw the ball more today but we just couldn”t do it with the weather. We”re 2-1 and moving in the right direction,” Weiper said.
Lower Lake scored on its first possession after receiving an Upper Lake punt. The Trojans drove 60-yards in six plays, the final one a 14-yard pass from A.J. Harris across the middle to Steven Arson with 7:33 left in the first quarter.
It remained 6-0 in the Trojans” favor until Lower Lake fumbled a punt snap deep in its own territory, Upper Lake taking over on downs at the 3-yard line. Mendoza kept the ball himself on a third-and-goal play from the 2 and scored to tie the game. Luis Santana”s extra-point kick put the Cougars in front 7-6.
Lower Lake answered with a 71-yard scoring drive that featured a key 18-yard pass from Harris to Kevin Freeman on a second-and-18 play, and seven runs, the final one a 15-yard Mike Deakins touchdown scamper on which he was dragging Upper Lake defenders with him while working his way down the Lower Lake sideline to make it 12-7.
The Trojans opened the second half with a drive deep into Upper Lake territory that ended with an interception, but the Cougars, pinned deep in their own territory, couldn”t move the ball and had to punt. Santana had a difficult time handling the snap, recovered but had his kick partially blocked. Lower Lake took over at the Cougars” 5 and Deakins scored on the very next play, a blast up the middle. Harris added the conversion run to make it 20-7.
One play after the ensuing kickoff, disaster struck again for the Cougars, who lost a fumble on first down. Arson recovered at the Upper Lake 23 and the Trojans scored five running plays later on Harris” 1-yard sneak to make it 26-7.
Lower Lake nearly added to its lead in the fourth quarter, but facing a fourth-and-17 play from the Upper Lake 21, Michael Bell picked up about 16 3/4 yards on a reverse to end up just inches shy of the first down.
Upper Lake”s first true first down came on a Jayce Meri 7-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Before that, the Cougars did gain a first down in most unusual fashion. Mendoza threw a second-and-long pass in the third quarter that Harris picked off, but he fumbled the ball while returning it and Upper Lake”s Jeff Lovrin recovered, giving the Cougars a first down at their own 43.
“The defense played solid,” Weiper said of the Trojans limiting the Cougars to 57 yards. “There was no passing threat, so it made it easier.”
Pleasing Weiper the most was his team”s ability to put the game away in the third quarter, and the way the Trojans were able to move the ball throughout the second half.
“We took care of business in the second half,” Weiper said.
Upper Lake (1-2) cut down its turnovers from a week ago, only three this time, but continued to struggle with penalties, committing 90 yards worth, including three straight false starts during one possession in the second quarter, another problem related to breaking in a new quarterback and center.
“Every time we tried to set something up, he”d go the wrong way,” Guerrero said of the speedy Mendoza. “He”s a good athlete, but sometimes he doesn”t remember plays.”
Guerrero said he thought Upper Lake”s overall play on defense was fairly solid.
“I thought we had a better defensive game than against Fort Bragg (the week before in a 34-10 loss),” Guerrero said.
Lower Lake finished with 286 yards of offense, almost all of that on the ground. Deakins led the way with 83 yards on 16 carries, Jake Sanders had 65 yards on five carries, and Harris had 63 yards on 11 carries.
The only downside for the Trojans was a wrist injury Sanders sustained at the end of a 21-yard run midway through the second quarter. It ended his day and Weiper said he hopes it didn”t end his season.
“It might be serious, we don”t know yet,” Weiper said. “He”s such a fast kid, losing him would obviously be a big blow.”
Contact Brian Sumpter at RBSports@aol.com.
