LOWER LAKE >> The Lower Lake Trojans pulled away in the second half to beat Esparto 34-7 in non-league varsity football action on Friday night at Gordon Sadler Field.
Lower Lake (2-0) scored the game’s final 20 points after Esparto, trailing 14-0 at halftime, closed to 14-7 with a 4-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter. The Trojans answered with a 6-yard scoring pass from Hokulani Wickard of Izzac Carver and a Wickard 9-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and a Jordan Lott 22-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
Lott was a game-time decision to play because of an injury and he ended up having a big night with 136 yards rushing on 13 carries. Wickard, the Trojans’ senior quarterback, ran for two scores and passed for two more.
Lower Lake jumped ahead 6-0 in the first quarter on a Wickard 14-yard run and added to its lead in the second quarter on a 14-yard Wickard-to-Matthew Classen touchdown pass. The Trojans had multiple opportunities to pad their advantage in the first half but four personal-foul penalties wiped out some `big plays and let Esparto stick around.
“We have to stop hurting ourselves,” Lower Lake coach Justin Gaddy said. “It was a little frustrating.”
Gaddy had high praise for the play of his offensive line and for Lott.
“I thought the offensive line did a really good job opening up holes for the running game and I thought Lott ran the ball very well,” Gaddy said.
The overall play of Lower Lake’s defense was another bright spot as the Trojans forced three more turnovers and had three players – Peerliss Brooke (16), Virgil Ellis (15) and Cole Doud (11) – finish in double digits in tackles.
“And Cole played less than two quarters,” Gaddy said of the sophomore. “It was awesome to see him have that many tackles.”
The Trojans open their North Central League I schedule next Friday in Willits.
Lower Lake’s junior varsity squad squared its season record at 1-1 with a 14-7 victory over Esparto.
