WALNUT CREEK — The Lower Lake Trojans did reach the scoreboard, twice in fact, but they still ended up on the wrong end of a 46-12 loss to the Berean Christian Eagles in non-league varsity football action Saturday afternoon in Walnut Creek where it was 78 degrees and overcast, a big change from the triple-digit days in Lake County all last week.
“It even drizzled a little bit,” Lower Lake head coach Jay Jakubowski said.
Berean Christian (1-2) built a 34-0 first-half lead by dominating Lower Lake (0-2) at the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense, according to Jakubowski.
“They were a lot bigger than they looked on film,” Jakubowski said. “They intimidated us, especially in that first half.”
The Eagles were able to run the ball and pass it, scoring twice through the air on what Jakubowski said were breakdowns in coverage.
“They’re a pretty efficient team,” Jakubowski said. “They’re good and well coached.”
Lower Lake’s offense moved the ball at times on the ground but had no success through the air in the opening quarters.
“We really couldn’t establish a passing game,” Jakubowski said.
Lower Lake scored its first points of the game and the season in the third quarter on a Charles Jones 3-yard run that was set up by a 20-yard pass from backup quarterback Demarion Jones to Charles Jones one play earlier. Demarion Jones replaced starter Michael Russell in the third quarter after Russell took a hard hit.
“He dropped back to pass, took a big shot,” Jakubowski said. “He could be out four to six weeks (with a separated shoulder).”
Demarion Jones, who has prior experience at quarterback at the junior varsity level, moved from wide receiver to behind center after Russell’s injury.
“As of now our plan is to move forward with Demarion,” Jakubowski said with an eye toward next Friday’s game at Healdsburg against the 0-3 Greyhounds, who are coming off a 40-7 loss to Cloverdale.
Unfortunately for the Trojans, Russell’s injury wasn’t the only one against Berean Christian. Four other players left the game, including two with concussions, one with a knee injury and another with a back injury.
“It’s not fun when you’re losing players,” Jakubowski said. “We’ve already got three guys on our line who have never played there before. It was a rough trip.”
Game statistics were not available.
Lower Lake won the junior varsity game 36-7 (see related story).
