LAKEPORT >> Ask any coach the definition of a happy homecoming game and the answer is pretty much the same. A happy homecoming game, with all respect to the school-themed events that come before it and after it, is one where the home team wins by at least one point. The rest is just details.
And by that definition Clear Lake’s homecoming game Friday night against Willits was a joyous one indeed as the Cardinals overwhelmed the Willits Wolverines 48-8 at Don Owens Stadium. Clear Lake (3-0 league, 4-1 overall) has now won four straight since a season-opening loss to Colusa and sits alone atop the North Central League I standings.
“We showed up ready to play football,” Clear Lake coach Mark Cory said of the latest tally in the Cardinals’ win column. “The defense was playing very, very well. I don’t think they (Wolverines) had positive yardage in the first two quarters.”
While the defense shut out Willits until the fourth quarter, which took place under a running clock, Clear Lake’s offense continued its string of strong outings and Cory said the play of the offensive line had everything to do with that.
“The line played very well and it was huge improvement from our previous games,” Cory said.
With Clear Lake’s line in complete control, quarterback Alex Adams cut the Willits defense to pieces. The senior completed 13 of his 18 passes for 286 yards and five touchdowns. He spread out the wealth, too, throwing three TD passes to Rodrigo Lupercio and others to Austin Davis and Chris White. Lupercio finished with five catches for 107 yards and Nolan Williams had three receptions for 88 yards.
“Offensively they made us throw the ball by bringing a lot of pressure right up the middle, so we were tossing it outside,” Cory said.
Lupercio’s big night also included a rushing touchdown in the first half as Clear Lake built a commanding 27-0 halftime lead that featured four touchdowns and a safety.
Davis nearly had his third pick-six interception in two weeks but his long return for the score was wiped out by a penalty – although the interception did hold up.
Clear Lake forced four turnovers overall and sacked Willits’ quarterback five times, two each by Williams and Dominic Mendez.
“It was a good homecoming game and everyone got to enjoy it,” Cory said.
With fully half of the regular season left to be played, the Cardinals find themselves just a win shy of matching their victory output from all of last season (five), Cory’s first year as head coach.
Willits is now 0-2 in league play and 0-3 overall.
Clear Lake has a bye next week before resuming league play Oct. 6 at Kelseyville.
