LAKEPORT — Quarterback Jameson Holder”s 11-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter tied it, but Mike Zimmerman”s extra-point kick was off the mark Friday night as the Clear Lake Cardinals settled for a 6-6 draw with the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in a North Central League I interlock varsity football game at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.
Although he missed what could have been a game-winning PAT, Zimmerman certainly did his part for the Cardinals, who remain undefeated on the season at 4-0-1. His third interception of the night gave Clear Lake the ball at its own 40 and the Cardinals drove 60 yards for their touchdown.
Fort Bragg (3-1-1) grabbed a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a Nick Paoli 15-yard run. The Timberwolves went for two points on the conversion but their run failed.
Clear Lake”s defense limited Fort Bragg”s star running back, Chris Dahl, to 55 yards on 21 carries. Paoli finished with 56 yards on 11 carries.
“We were really concentrating on Dahl, which left a hole for their fullback Paoli,” Clear Lake coach Milo Meyer said. “We overlooked him a little and it bit us in the butt early on.”
Both teams had promising drives stall out on penalties.
“We”d make a nice run and then have the ball moved back 10 or 15 yards (because of a penalty),” Meyer said.
Collin Coddington”s 94 yards on 10 carries powered the Clear Lake running attack.
Neither team had much success throwing the football. Holder was just 1-for-9 for 6 yards with an interception and Fort Bragg had just 18 yards through the air.
Clear Lake lost running back/linebacker Colby Butcher to an injury in the third quarter. “He fell on the ball and bruised his sternum. At least we”re hoping that”s all it is,” Meyer said.
The Cardinals lined up for a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter but Zimmerman”s kick was blocked.
