LAKEPORT — Despite three first-half turnovers, the Clear Lake Cardinals rolled past the South Fork Cubs 38-7 in non-league varsity football action Friday night at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.
“We didn”t play as well as I wanted, but we got the job done,” Clear Lake coach Milo Meyer said. “We were sloppy with the football when we came out.”
Clear Lake senior quarterback Kenny Henninger had a busy first half for the Cardinals, who will take a 2-1 record into their North Central League I opener next Friday night in Fort Bragg. In addition to completing a 2-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to Zuhuri Manley and running in the two-point conversion to make it 16-0, Henninger also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. But the Cubs (1-3) couldn”t take advantage against what is shaping up to be a stingy Clear Lake defense, one that blanked South Fork until the final two minutes of the game.
The Cardinals took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter on Andre Buendia”s 1-yard run and conversion run. The touchdown was set up by a 27-yard David Mansell punt return.
Manley”s interception, one of two by the Cardinals in the first half (Mansell had the other), led to the Cardinals” touchdown in the second quarter as Henninger threw his fifth TD pass of the season (two more than the team had all of last year).
All three of Clear Lake”s TDs in the second half came on Luke Punzalan runs — 4 yards in the third quarter and 1 and 22 yards in the fourth quarter. Mansell”s 50-yard kickoff return set up Punzalan”s first score.
Clear Lake had a 38-0 lead until quarterback Joey Wittlake connected with receiver Keith Wittlake on a 67-yard TD pass with 1:43 left.
Clear Lake finished with 326 yards on the ground — 103 by Buendia, 99 by Vince Rave and 96 by Punzalan.
The Cardinals went 0-3 in the preseason a year ago.
“After going 0-3 last season, we have a little bit better feeling going into league play this year,” Meyer said.
