LAKEPORT — Hank Ollenberger ran for three touchdowns and returned an interception for another score Friday night as the undefeated Clear Lake Cardinals rolled past Fort Bragg for a 38-7 homecoming victory that ended in a running clock at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.
Clear Lake is now 5-0 in the North Central League I standings and 8-0 overall with two road games remaining on its regular-season schedule — next Friday at Willits and Nov. 4 at Cloverdale.
“Hank had a great night,” Clear Lake head coach Mark Cory said of his junior running back, who goes by the nickname of “Big Shot,” according to Cory. “I told him (Ollenberger) they (Timberwolves) may not know who ‘Big Shot’ is before the game, but they’ll know who he is by the time it’s over.”
Ollenberger scored 18 of Clear Lake’s 19 points in the second quarter as the Cardinals built a 26-0 halftime lead. His first two touchdowns in the quarter came on 24- and 22-yard runs, the final one on a 15-yard interception return with 1:15 remaining in the half.
Ollenberger (11 carries for 101 yards) scored his final touchdown on a 22-yard run with 7:34 left in the third quarter to make it 32-0. He also caught two passes for 90 yards.
“Our offensive line was getting it done,” Cory said. “They did allow a sack, but that’s only two (for the season).”
Clear Lake moved the ball on the ground and through the air with quarterback Jake Soderquist back in the starting lineup after missing last week’s 13-7 win over St. Helena with a concussion. The junior went 10-for-13 for 171 yards and one interception. Backup Graden Greer replaced him late in the third quarter and completed his only pass on the night.
Greer made a huge contribution on defense with two interceptions that set up Clear Lake touchdowns in the first and second quarters. The Cardinals’ ballhawking secondary picked off four Fort Bragg passes in all as both Ollenberger and Jesse Hayes added interceptions.
“The defense played well again,” Cory said. “We subbed down in the second half and they finally scored one against us.”
Clear Lake had a 38-0 lead going to the fourth quarter following an 18-yard touchdown run by Tony Gersalia. The Timberwolves finally broke through with 1:30 left to play on Chance Tager’s 5-yard run.
“We started a little slow … it was an interesting night with some interruptions (because of homecoming),” Cory said. “But when I look at it, we built a lead and did the things we needed to do. Our defense is playing good and makes you earn everything you get.”
Clear Lake opened up a 7-0 lead with 1:33 left in the first quarter on Soderquist’s 1-yard sneak.
Fort Bragg (1-4, 2-6) cracked Clear Lake’s red zone early in the second quarter but a fourth-and-14 pass from the Cardinals’ 19 fell incomplete.
Gersalia’s pressure on the Fort Bragg quarterback late in the second quarter contributed to the interception Ollenberger returned for a touchdown. Gersalia also had a sack in the game.
“It was a good win, a good win for us,” Cory said.
Clear Lake and Fort Bragg tied 14-14 in the junior varsity game.
— Mike Hansen contributed to this report.
