CLOVERDALE — Senior Joe Barnes moved over 1,000 rushing yards for the season but the Upper Lake Cougars dropped a 30-7 decision to the Cloverdale Eagles in the North Central League I South and regular-season finale for both teams on Friday night at Daly Field in Cloverdale.
Barnes needed 94 yards entering play to become the first Upper Lake running to reach 1,000 since the 2005 season. He finished with 153 yards on 24 carries.
“He”s a pretty humble kid,” Upper Lake coach Airic Guerrero said. “He tries hard all the time. We”re really going to miss him next season.”
With both teams needing a win to reach the .500 mark for the season, the Cloverdale Eagles built a 13-0 halftime lead and then put the game away with 17 third-quarter points.
Upper Lake”s lone score was a Barnes 15-yard run in the third quarter.
The Cougars” defense struggled to stop Cloverdale”s passing attack, according to Guerrero, who said Upper Lake was victimized twice by long completions for touchdowns.
While Upper Lake”s final mark of 4-6 was better than last season”s 1-9 finish, Guerrero said he was not satisfied with how the Cougars” season ended up.
“I”m a little disappointed,” he said. “I thought we”d be in the playoffs.”
Depth proved to one of Upper Lake”s weak points although the performances turned in by such players as Barnes and wide receiver Sloan Hennig were definitely unexpected surprises, according to Guerrero.
“Barnes and Sloan were two diamonds in the rough,” Guerrero said.
