LOWER LAKE — Worst to first … and Jake Sanders was there leading the way for the Lower Lake Trojans during a most remarkable 2007 football season on the Southshore.
Sanders, a running back who was voted the North Central League I North MVP on offense, helped Lake County”s least successful football program over the last decade reverse its fortunes in the matter of 11 games. The NCL I North doormat suddenly was the NCL I North winner as the Trojans held off the favored Middletown Mustangs to claim their first league title since 1996 with a 3-0-1 record. They went on to lose to Terra Linda 17-6 in the opening round of the North Coast Section Class 2A playoffs, the final game in their 6-4-1 season.
Sanders, a senior running back, rushed for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns, spearheading first-year coach Stan Weiper”s offense.
“At first he was going to be our quarterback (his position in 2006) and we flipped him back and forth between quarterback and running back,” Weiper said. “About the third week we felt he could be a good running back. We thought he could go for 1,000 yards and he did. He was willing to jump right in there.”
Between Sanders, fullback Mike Deakins and quarterback A.J. Harris, the Trojans” offense quickly developed into a three-prong running attack, with Sanders at the forefront.
“He was an explosive-type weapon because of his speed,” Weiper said. “Quickness is everything.”
In a late-season showdown with Middletown and the NCL I North title hanging in the balance, Sanders was at his best, rushing for 161 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion in a 15-13 win over the Mustangs.
“He would find a seam and go,” Weiper said. “It”s hard to get him, he”s that quick.”
Having experienced little success in football at Lower Lake until Weiper”s arrival last season as head coach, Sanders and the team”s other seniors, such as Deakins, were only too willing to do whatever was necessary to get into the win column, according to Weiper.
“They were all receptive to whatever changes we were putting in,” Weiper said. “Jake never questioned things. He”s a great back and a great kid.”
Sanders also earned All-League first-team honors for another first-year Lower Lake coach, varsity baseball skipper Chris Emberson.
“He was the first one to practice and the last one to leave,” Emberson said. “He was the only captain on the baseball team. He”s a good leader.”
Though the Trojans didn”t win a league game and struggled to a 3-20 season mark, Sanders was strong behind the plate as Lower Lake”s catcher and solid at the plate when holding a bat. He hit .313 for the season with two home runs and 13 stolen bases. His on-base percentage was a solid .370.
“He had a good strong, arm,” Emberson said.
So good, in fact, that Emberson used Sanders as a closer. He averaged nearly a strikeout an inning in limited action.
“I would have used him more on the mound but I didn”t have another catcher, so I really didn”t have the opportunity,” Emberson said.
Sanders also wasn”t your typical slow-footed catcher. Just as speed served him well on the Trojans” championship football team, it also made him dangerous on the basepaths.
“I don”t think he was caught once stealing,” Emberson said.
Emberson said one of Sanders” best traits was his desire to improve in the offseason.
“He played summer ball, he wanted to get better,” Emberson said.
Sanders also was the ideal teammate, according to his coach. “He was the most well-liked guy on the team. I wish I had nine other guys just like him.”
