FORT BRAGG >> It was a Long night for the Clear Lake Cardinals ? as in a Sam Long night ? and that was nothing but good news.
Long moved from tight end to halfback and spearheaded Clear Lake”s season-ending 22-8 victory over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in North Central League I junior varsity football action on Friday night at Timberwolf Stadium in Fort Bragg.
Long”s move to halfback was made necessary when the Clear Lake varsity pulled up two junior varsity players.
“He took full advantage,” Clear Lake coach Derek Butcher said. “As a tight end, you do a lot of blocking and rarely have a pass thrown your way. He”s a good athlete, he works hard every week, so he was the perfect candidate to play halfback.”
Long rushed for each of Clear Lake”s first two touchdowns — a 3-yarder in the second quarter and a 28-yard in the third quarter that put the Cardinals ahead to stay at 14-8. He finished with a team-best 121 rushing yards.
“He had a great game,” Butcher said.
Long also scored the game”s first two points on special teams, pouncing on a bad punt snap in the end zone for a safety.
Clear Lake quarterback Alex Adams added the final touchdown on a 17-yard keeper with 6:23 remaining.
The Cardinals needed two big interceptions from the defense to put this one in the win column, according to Butcher.
Austin Davis pulled the ball out of Fort Bragg receiver”s arms in the third quarter to stop a Timberwolf scoring threat and Christian Rivera”s interception in the fourth quarter ended another Fort Bragg drive, this one at the Clear Lake 4-yard line.
Cody Dilsaver anchored the defense with six solo tackles, three assists and one sack.
While several Clear Lake individuals distinguished themselves in the season finale, so did the offensive line, according to Butcher.
“We rushed for 180 yards as a team,” Butcher said. “They did a great job.”
Clear Lake wraps up the season at 7-2-1 overall, including 4-2-1 in league.
“We”re very happy with that,” Butcher said. “We were usually the smallest team on the football field in every one of our games, but these kids found a way to win. The will to win kept them in a lot of games.”
