LOWER LAKE >> The Lower Lake Trojans didn’t enjoy a bunch of success in a 34-8 season-opening loss to the El Molino Lions on Friday night in junior varsity football action at Gordon Sadler Field, but they did use a bunch of players; 27 to be exact.
“Between offense, defense and special teams I started 27 players,” Lower Lake coach Ed Fuchs said. “I had only one player start on both offense and defense.”
Fuchs said his primary goal is to keep as many players as possible interested and motivated as the season continues. He’s also concerned about declining participation in football inside and outside of Lake County.
“Just look at the roster numbers,” Fuchs said. “They’re down everywhere.”
El Molino held a 28-0 lead against Lower Lake until Elijah Hernandez and Taylor Scott hooked up on a 30-yard touchdown pass to cap an 89-yard drive in the fourth quarter. Hernandez also ran in the conversion to make it 28-8.
Lower Lake had another promising drive stall on an interception late in the second quarter.
Hernandez completed six of 13 passes for 116 yards and he also rushed for a team-best 28 yards. Scott had two catches for 42 yards, including the touchdown, and Darian James caught two passes for 26 yards. Jordan Lott and Carlos Berry also had drive-sustaining catches during the game.
There were a handful of positives for the Trojans in the loss, including only five penalties for 25 yards and the long touchdown drive.
“We lost a lot of players (sophomores) to the varsity, so we’re just tying to find some guys to fill some holes,” Fuchs said. “I’m in the shuffling mode right now.”
Best of all, Fuchs said his players kept fighting to the end.
“I was impressed with their discipline. They never quit on me.”
Lower Lake hosts a Healdsburg team coming off a 50-15 loss to Kelseyville on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
