LAKEPORT — In a battle between winless teams, neither the Clear Lake Cardinals or Cloverdale Eagles appeared to be all that motivated at game”s start Friday in the North Central League I South opener for both of these varsity football clubs in Lakeport.
But the Cardinals were plenty motivated by game”s end, outscoring the Eagles 32-13 in the second half and winning 46-13 at Don Owens Stadium.
Clear Lake”s first offensive play was an interception and Cloverdale”s first drive ended in a blocked field goal by Tanner Mansell, but the pace of the game picked up after that, especially for the host Cardinals.
Clear Lake took advantage of a fumble at the Cloverdale 1-yard-line to score on a 1-yard keeper by quarterback Steven Edwards. It was Clear Lake”s first touchdown and first lead in the opening period this season.
The Cardinals scored again in the second quarter on a 77-yard drive engineered by quarterback Eddie Lyons. Jake Chapin”s 3-yard run made it 13-0 at the half.
The second half was all Clear Lake as Tyler Beets scored on a 30-yard TD, followed by a Jake Chapin TD scamper of 14 yards to make it 25-0. Cloverdale scored two plays later, but Clear Lake answered on a 51-yard quarterback sneak by Edwards, who ran untouched in into the end zone.
Cloverdale answered with its final TD on the very next drive and recovered the subsequent onside kick trailing 32-13.
Clear Lake”s defense then put the game away with two long interception returns for touchdowns ? 77 yards by Edwards and 55 yards by Beets to make it 46-13.
The Cardinals are now 1-5 on the season and atop the wide-open NCL I South race at 1-0. They are home against St. Vincent next Friday.
Cloverdale falls to 0-6 overall.
