LAKEPORT >> The Clear Lake Cardinals kept the St. Helena Saints in their sights until late in the fourth quarter, falling 20-8 to the undefeated North Central League I varsity football leaders on Friday night at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.
St. Helena (4-0 league, 6-0 overall) scored late in the first quarter to go up 6-0 on quarterback Jack Preston”s 10-yard run and that”s where the game remained until early in the fourth quarter when Jahaiver Otero broke loose on a 78-yard run to make it 12-0.
Clear Lake (0-4, 3-4) blocked a punt to set up its lone touchdown with 8:25 left in the game. Tyler Dore, playing for the injured Damian Lopez, tossed a 15-yard pass to Deshawn White. The Cardinals closed to 12-8 on the conversion.
St. Helena lengthened its lead on Preston”s 37-yard pass to Juan Hernandez with 6:30 left.
The Cardinals not only were without starting quarterback Lopez (ankle injury), but six other starters as well, including running back/linebacker/placekicker Cole Brodnansky.
“Seven starters on both sides of the ball,” Clear Lake coach Darin Brodnansky said. “But I”ll tell you, they just stepped up and played one heck of a game. They did everything I asked and I can”t ask for anything more.”
Dore finished 5-for-14 for 60 yards. On defense, Jake Egger had two of the Cardinals” four sacks.
Clear Lake has lost four in a row since going 3-0 in the preseason.
