LAYTONVILLE — What appeared to be a game-tying touchdown with less than 30 seconds remaining was wiped out by an Upper Lake penalty on Friday night as the Cougars dropped a heartbreaking 20-14 decision to the Laytonville Warriors in North Central League III eight-man football action in Laytonville.
“It was a frustrating night,” Upper Lake coach Vince Moran said of one of many near misses by the Cougars (1-2 league, 1-5 overall), who threatened on several occasions only to come away empty.
Richard Guadaycan’s long return, which would have tied the score at 20 pending the extra point, was nullified by a questionable illegal block, according to Moran.
“It looked pretty straightforward to me,” Moran said. “I didn’t think it was an illegal block.”
Upper Lake drove deep into Laytonville territory late in the fourth quarter only to turn the ball over on downs at the Warriors’ 12-yard line.
“They went three and out and we used all of our timeouts to stop the clock, forcing a punt,” Moran said of the events leading up to Guadaycan’s punt return in the final seconds.
Upper Lake punched the ball inside the Laytonville 5 in both the first and second quarters. The Cougars turned the ball over on downs the first time. In the second quarter Rene Diaz caught a 12-yard pass and appeared to score but fumbled the ball into the end zone where Laytonville recovered for a touchdback.
“I thought he had crossed the goal line but the official said it was a fumble,” Moran said. “We had plenty of trips into the red zone and didn’t come away with any points.”
The Cougars briefly tied the game at 6-6 on a Ryan Escue 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The Warriors (2-1, 3-3) pushed in front to stay with a touchdown late in the first half and they scored again in the third quarter to open up a 20-6 advantage. Upper Lake closed to 20-14 later in the third quarter on a Bradley Sneathen 2-yard run and Sneathen’s extra-point run.
Upper Lake lost starting quarterback Cody Bank in the fourth quarter when he aggravated an existing injury to his left (throwing) hand. Diaz replaced him.
Sneathen rushed for 49 yards on 20 carries and also had one reception for five yards. He recovered a fumble on defense as well. Benat Love had three receptions for 48 yards. Guadaycan had two of Upper Lake’s three sacks.
The Cougars return to action Oct. 19 when they travel to Antioch to play Cornerstone Christian in a non-league game.
