WALNUT CREEK — Quarterback Ashton Hartmann passed for 130 yards and two touchdowns while running back Zack Jones rushed for 135 yards and a pair of TDs on Saturday afternoon as the Lower Lake High School junior varsity football squad opened the season with a 36-7 victory over the Berean Christian Eagles at Walnut Creek.
“These kids are ecstatic,” Lower Lake head coach Mike Huffman said. “We had a good bus ride home.”
Hartmann’s touchdowns went to Luke Campbell and Robbie Saldana, both 10-yard completions. Jones scored on runs of 2 and 29 yards. Hartmann completed seven of nine passes.
Lower Lake’s defense also added a touchdown as Aiden Saldana recovered a fumble in the end zone.
“The kids all played, everybody got it, everyone contributed,” Huffman said.
Jones anchored the Lower Lake defense with 10 tackles from his outside linebacker position. Defensive ends Edgar Ontiveros and Logan Sapeta also turned in strong efforts, according to Huffman. Sapeta had four tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble while Ontiveros had four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
“We had a good (defensive) rotation going and I think we gassed them out at the end,” Huffman said.
Lower Lake (1-0) returns to action Friday in Healdsburg to close out its preseason schedule. The Trojans open North Central League I play Sept. 23 at home against Middletown.
