PETALUMA — Most of the pieces are already in place for success, but like a Thanksgiving turkey just shoved into the oven, the Lower Lake Trojans need to cook a while longer before they”re ready for prime time.
“We”re just not quite there,” Lower Lake coach Stan Weiper said after watching the Trojans drop a 28-0 decision to the undefeated St. Vincent Mustangs during North Central League I interlock varsity football action Saturday afternoon in Petaluma.
It was a battle of opposites as the Trojans (0-5) entered the game winless against the perfect Mustangs (5-0).
Gazing across the field at the St. Vincent players following the game, Weiper said the Trojans” problem isn”t so much a lack of talent as it is a lack of varsity experience and varsity leadership. While St. Vincent has plenty of both these days and is off to its best start since 1996, Lower Lake”s strength rests in its underclassmen, players such as junior quarterback Stephen Whitcomb, junior fullback Chris Perry and the newest Trojan of all, 15-year-old freshman running back Roy Percoats, who was making his varsity debut.
“We have no senior leadership and that”s tough to overcome,” Weiper said. “Right now we just have to grin and bear it. We have good young kids here already and more coming up.”
Despite what the final score said about Saturday”s game, the Trojans held their own most of the way, even threatening to score twice in the first half with the game still very much on the line.
St. Vincent”s four-receiver strong spread offense piled up 366 yards, most of them on the ground, while producing a touchdown in each quarter against Lower Lake.
“Our offense fits our personnel,” St. Vincent veteran coach Gary Galloway said. “We”re not as big as the Fort Braggs or Middletowns, so we have to spread people out. That”s our advantage. It”s still a work in progress.”
A big fan of the pro set, Galloway said the Mustangs dabbled with the spread offense back in the late 1990s, including in 1998 when then lost to Clear Lake in the North Coast Section Class A championship game.
The first of two interceptions on the day by Lower Lake”s Coate Baker stopped St. Vincent”s initial possession deep inside Lower Lake territory. From there, the Trojans put together a solid drive, moving the ball down to the St. Vincent 6, where they had a first-and-goal. After runs by Perry and Percoats yielded just a yard, Lower Lake went to the air on third down but Whitcomb”s pass was picked off by defensive back Ryan DeGraca.
St. Vincent”s third possession of the game resulted in a lightning-quick touchdown drive of 80 yards in three running plays, the final one a 25-yard burst by Cullen Carroll to make it 7-0.
The Mustangs also scored on their next possession, this one covering 55 yards in the second quarter. After a series of runs moved the ball down to the Lower Lake 8, St. Vincent quarterback Josh Wheless connected with Dillon Irving in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“I”m amazed that they run as well as they do,” Weiper said of an offense geared more for passing. “But it does create areas where you”re going to bounce off of tackles and break into the clear.”
Lower Lake appeared to be on the comeback trail on its next possession, moving from its 17 to the St. Vincent 17 with a combination of runs and passes, including a 25-yard toss from Whitcomb to Percoats, who nearly broke loose down the St. Vincent sideline. Percoats also caught a 9-yard pass on third-and-five later in the drive to give the Trojans a new set of downs.
But as their first scoring opportunity ended with an interception, this time it was a fumbled pitch that took the steam out of Lower Lake”s drive. Percoats couldn”t cleanly field the toss from Whitcomb, fumbling the ball. The Trojans did recover but only after a 14-yard loss left them way back at the 31. After an incomplete pass on third-and-long, Whitcomb was sacked on fourth down.
“We haven”t even worked on the pitch with him,” Weiper said of freshman Percoats. “It”s tough on a kid making that big a jump and with only three days of practice. But he certainly does have potential.”
St. Vincent went up 21-0 in the third quarter on a 17-yard Carroll run set up by 21-yard pass from Wheless to Nick McCarthy on the previous play.
Lower Lake moved the ball inside St. Vincent”s 20 on its next possession but that drive also ended on downs.
The Mustangs picked up an insurance score with 1:43 left in the game on an 11-yard run by Jake Garcia.
Perry rushed for 68 yards on 18 carries and Whitcomb went 7-for-15 passing for 83 yards to lead Lower Lake”s offense. Percoats” varsity debut included a team-best three catches for 46 yards and 6 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Carroll led the Mustangs with 82 yards rushing. Wheless passed for another 135 yards.
