LOWER LAKE — First-year Lower Lake coach Stan Weiper was a man as good as his word on Friday night at the Trojans” Gordon Sadler Field.
More important, the Trojans were a team as good as Weiper”s preseason assessment as they methodically, if not artistically, dispatched Willits, 26-14 in a North Central League I North varsity football contest.
The win made Weiper”s prediction correct that Lower Lake would have its first winning season in a decade and would meet North rival Middletown in a game that will have a meaning, and would qualify for the postseason playoffs.
“That”s what we were looking for. That”s No. 1,” Weiper said of the winning season. “No. 2 was qualifying for the playoffs and I hope to be competitive at Middletown. I think we have a chance.
“I”m real proud of these kids. They”ve really come a long ways this year. We”ve worked hard.”
Lower Lake, 2-0-1 in the North and 5-3-1 overall, will play at Middletown (3-0, 6-3) for the league championship next Friday in Middletown. No matter the outcome, the victory over Willits virtually guarantees that the Trojans will compete in the 2A playoffs later this month.
Sparked by the consistent running of Jake Sanders, Lower Lake was never headed against the Wolverines, who fell to 1-2 in the league and 5-4 overall. Sanders, following up a 200-yard-plus performance against Kelseyville, rushed for 200 yards in 29 carries and scored what proved to be the decisive touchdown a 62-yard jaunt with 2:36 left in the third quarter.
The run gave Lower Lake a 20-7 lead and was the third play of a 75-yard drive that was a direct response to a nine-play 75-yard scoring drive by Willits for its first touchdown moments earlier.
It was not an overwhelming triumph, but more a case of the Trojans finding ways to win, a hallmark of Weiper”s coaching style.
Three times in the first half the Trojans held off Willits from scoring range. The Wolverines reached the 8, the 25 and the 14 during the first two quarters only to be turned back. The most telling stand was in first quarter when Willits marched to the Lower Lake 8 in 13 plays.
That drive ended with 6-foot-6 linebacker Kevin Freeman”s 10-yard sack of Willits quarterback Justin Ruzicka on a fourth-and-goal at the Lower Lake 8.
Freeman, the archetype of the classic high school player, was the bulwark of the Trojan defense. He had four of the Trojans” 10 sacks on the night.
His most timely play, however, was flattening Ruzicka from behind as he attempted a play-action pass in the waning moments of the game.
A tight end on offense, Freeman also turned in a key play, hauling in A.J. Harris” only pass completion of the game for a 15-yard gain on a third-and-8 just before Sanders” 62-yard jaunt.
“I liked Jake Sanders. What a great running night he had again and Freeman had a good game with that big catch on third down,” Weiper said.
As mentioned, it was not an artistic victory for Lower Lake, which was penalized 12 times for 110 yards. At one point, the Trojans found themselves kicking off from their own 20 after a series of penalties.
Harris also performed brilliantly on both sides of the ball, scoring on two 10-yard runs. Defensive tackle Chris Sisco had two sacks and was also a factor in the Lower Lake defense.
Looking toward Middletown, Weiper asserted, “They”re well-balanced. They know us, we know them. And we”re going to have to get some passing to match up with them.”
