LOWER LAKE — One way of looking at Arcata”s 44-6 overhauling of Lower Lake on Friday night at Gordon Sadler Field is that it was a good forum for the Tigers” to polish their squib-kicking and onside kickoffs. They followed each of six touchdowns with them.
Another way of looking at it was, well, it was just one way.
But any way you look it, it was just one more loss for the Trojans in the — shall we say friendly confines — of their home field, where they haven”t won since Oct. 1, 2010. And, unless things get better in a hurry for Lower Lake, now 0-2, this young season looks suspiciously like one more lackluster campaign for Mike Huffman and his charges. With Lower Lake up against Valley Christian on the Trojans” home turf next week, week three offers little hope for relief. Middletown follows in week four.
On Friday night, there were few bright spots for the Trojans, whose only touchdown came on a 15-yard Richard Tucker to Thomas Cross pass with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter. The score was set up by a 42-yard run by sophomore Johnny Egger to the Tiger 14.
But The TD was way too little way too late. By the time it was scored, Arcada led 38-0. While Egger”s run was a high point, it must be noted that it and a 12-yard keeper by Tucker were the only runs the Trojans had that were in double digits.
Meanwhile, five different Tigers notched TDs, most notably running back Tyler Keil, who scored from 61 and 48 yards.
There were a couple of questionable calls by the game officials that went against Lower Lake. One resulted in a touchdown after wideout Tiger Marquis Van appeared to drop Chad Bickenstaff”s 21-yard pass for Arcata”s third TD of a four-TD, 30-point second quarter. Arguably, Van never had control of the football although he claimed he was simply laying the ball on the turf.
Later in the quarter, which ended at 30-0 , Cross was on his back at the Arcata 2-yard-line after catching a 42-yard pass from Tucker and struggling to hold onto the ball. Officials ruled that the ball touched the ground, which it clearly never did, and that denied the Trojans one last crack at scoring before the halftime buzzer sounded.
Although Huffman was animated in his protests of the two calls, in the aftermath he said, “That”s not what changed the game. We just got to come and work harder next week. Our first three opponents (Hoopa, Arcata and Valley Christian) are very good.”
If nothing else the three teams would prepare the Trojans for the North Central League campaign, which opens at Bill Foltmer Field in Middletown on Sept. 21 for them.
Nor was Huffman disturbed by Arcata coach Dave Filippini”s habit of onside kicks after every touchdown.
“That”s what they do,” he said.
