LAKEPORT — A 33-point first half propelled the Clear Lake Cardinals to a 47-0 victory over the Lower Lake Trojans in the final North Central League I interlock game for both of these varsity football teams on Friday night at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.
The Cardinals (3-2-1) burned the Lower Lake secondary for three touchdown passes in the first two quarters.
After a 2-yard run by fullback Christian Coddington got the Cardinals on the board with 7:07 left in the first quarter, Aaron Adams, starting in place of Ryan Richardson at quarterback, completed a 7-yard scoring pass to Jared Ashworth with 3:13 left in the period for a 14-0 lead.
Noel McCormack”s 4-yard run four seconds into the second quarter pushed the Cardinals” lead to 21-0 as McCormack converted his third straight extra-point kick.
Clear Lake kept right on rolling after that. Richardson, back on the field in the second quarter, completed TD passes of 23 yards to Chris Leloup and 11 yards to Ashworth, the latter score with only 33 seconds left in the half, to give the Cardinals a 33-0 halftime lead.
Lower Lake (0-6), a shutout victim in three straight games, tried to surprise Clear Lake by opening the game in a spread offense, but the Cardinals were able to pressure Trojans quarterback Stephen Whitcomb, who was sacked twice and intercepted twice in the first half. Adams had both of the interceptions.
“The defense did incredible,” Clear Lake coach Milo Meyer said of a Cardinal until that forced six turnovers, had three sacks and limited the Trojans 110 yards of total offense.
Outside linebacker Noel McCormack, who joined the team only last week and played sparingly in the Cardinals” 28-6 loss to Fort Bragg, led the Clear Lake defense with 11 unassisted tackles and a fumble recovery.
McCormack also played a part in Clear Lake”s big night on offense. He scored on a 4-yard run in the second quarter and ended up with 88 yards on only nine carries, caught a 12-yard pass and kicked five extra points.
“A lot of good things happened for a lot of people in this game,” Meyer said of such players as McCormck, wide receiver Jared Ashworth, who caught two touchdown passes and also had one of Clear Lake”s four interceptions, and Adams, who rushed for a team-high 118 yards.
The win snaps a two-game losing streak and gives Clear Lake a bit of momentum going into next week”s NCL I South opener against Cloverdale.
“It was a good strong showing by the offense and something we needed going into league,” Meyer said. “We”ll see where we stand now. The next four games are the big ones.”
Lower Lake fullback Chris Perry gained 74 yards on 20 carries for Lower Lake, which pushed the ball inside Clear Lake”s 20-yard line only once, that in the third quarter.
