LOWER LAKE >> The Fort Bragg Timberwolves scored 22 unanswered points in the second half to stun the Lower Lake Trojans 29-28 in a North Central League I varsity football thriller on Friday night at Gordon Sadler Field.
Lower Lake (0-1 league, 2-2 overall) built a 28-7 lead on the strength of interception returns for touchdowns by James Clark (84 yards) and Isazah King (98 yards). King also scored on runs of 61 and 33 yards to give the Trojans a healthy lead going into halftime.
But it was all Fort Bragg (1-0, 3-1) in the second half as quarterback Kaylor Sullivan rallied the Timberwolves to the victory.
Though a tough defeat for his team, Lower Lake coach Justin Gaddy had nothing but praise for his players.
“Just a heck of a game and I couldn”t be more proud of my boys,” Gaddy said. “They showed great character.”
The game was costly on a couple of fronts for the Trojans, who lost starting running backs Mason Sanders and Johnny “Bubba” Egger to injuries.
“I don”t know how serious they are yet,” Gaddy said.
King was impressive in defeat. He rushed for 247 of Lower Lake”s 318 yards on the ground, passed for 64 yards, had the interception return for a touchdown and also recorded half a sack.
Lower Lake intercepted Sullivan three times and sacked him four times.
The Trojans led 14-7 after one quarter and 28-7 at halftime. Though the loss of Sanders and Egger right before halftime hurt the team in the second half, Lower Lake had a couple of scoring chances but couldn”t capitalize.
“We put some pressure on them but we couldn”t get the ball in (to the end zone),” Gaddy said.
The Trojans hit the road next Friday to play a St. Helena team that beat Kelseyville 44-7 on Friday night in Kelseyville. Fort Bragg returns home to play Middletown (1-0).
