LAKEPORT >> Clear Lake High School varsity football coach Mark Cory doesn’t like to lose, but he had nothing but praise for the Cardinals on Friday night after their 32-19 loss to the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in the North Central League I opener for both teams at Lakeport.
Cory’s Cardinals threw more than a scare Fort Bragg’s way by opening up a 12-6 halftime lead.
It was still a close game after three quarters with the Timberwolves, defending league champions, on top 25-19.
“I couldn’t be happier with these kids,” Cory said. “My guys played their butts off. We never backed down.”
Clear Lake scored in each of the first two quarters, first on a 25-yard Christian Rivera fumble recovery in the first quarter and again on a 3-yard run by Alex Adams in the second quarter.
The Cardinals added their final touchdown in the third quarter on a 12-yard run by Sam Long.
The Cardinals rushed for 200 yards as a team and had another 113 through the air.
“We just made a few more mistakes than they did,” Cory said. “Defensively I thought the kids played really well.”
Long rushed for 75 yards and Adams completed 8 of 16 passes although he was intercepted three times.
Brandon Orozco had three catches for 41 yards.
