Jesse Hayes scores four touchdowns in 41-0 home win over Fort Bragg
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Editor’s note: Mike Hansen contributed to this report.
LAKEPORT >> Playing with the team he expected to have two weeks ago but didn’t because of injuries, Clear Lake High School varsity football head coach Augie Perez watched the Cardinals dissect the Fort Bragg Timberwolves 41-0 in the North Central League I opener for both teams Friday night in Lakeport.
“This is the team we can be when everyone’s healthy,” Perez said as the Cardinals shook off a rough start to their season with three quarters of solid football, and not only from the offense, but from the defense as well.
“AJ (Bruch) did great and was distributing the ball among all of his receivers,” Perez said of his senior quarterback who missed Clear Lake’s opener against St. Bernard, a 30-6 loss in Eureka, on Aug. 30.
Bruch also was unavailable for a scheduled non-league game last week at Pierce, but that contest never took place because the Cardinals (1-0 league, 1-1 overall) barely had enough healthy players to field a team. Pierce agreed to a no-contest, saving Clear Lake a forfeit loss. That extra week off made all the difference, according to Perez, as the Cardinals regrouped and suited up 18 players for their league opener against the Timberwolves (0-1, 0-3).
“Absolutely,” he said. “It’s the first week I’ve had everyone and hopefully we can build off of this.”
Best yet, the Cardinals incurred no injuries Friday night against Clear Lake, so they should have a full crew next Friday when they host Lower Lake (0-1, 2-1) at Don Owens Stadium.
The blowout win had the fingerprints of many Cardinals all over it, but none played a bigger role than senior running back Jesse Hayes, a star for the league- and section-winning Clear Lake team during his freshman season before going out with a knee injury on the first game of his sophomore year. He missed the remainder of his sophomore season and all of his junior year while rehabilitating the injury, but he’s most certainly back now.
“Jesse had a hell of a game,” Perez said.
Hayes rushed for 133 yards on 17 carries, including touchdown runs of 2 yards early in the second quarter, the Cardinals’ first points of the night; a 34-yard run early in the third quarter made it 27-0; and a 33-yard run with 5:55 left in the game that pushed the Cardinals advantage to 41-0 as kicker Copper Garrity booted his fourth straight extra point and fifth PAT of the night.
Hayes also figured in Clear Lake’s productive passing game led by Bruch, who completed 11 of 22 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns, the final one of those going to Hayes from 16 yards out that staked Clear Lake to a 20-0 halftime lead.
Bruch also connected with Joey Portlock on a 35-yard touchdown with 7:09 left in the second quarter to give the Cardinals a 13-0 lead.
When Bruch didn’t have the time he wanted in the pocket, he was able to extend plays by scrambling, many times locating open receivers down the field, or he would take off running. He rushed for 29 yards.
Clear Lake scored all 41 of its points after a scoreless first quarter during which Fort Bragg drove down the field on its first possession only to be denied by the Cardinals’ defense on a fourth-and-one play.
Fourth downs plays were huge for the Cardinals – both on offense and defense – all night long.
The Timberwolves went for it on fourth down five times during the night – four times in the first half when the outcome of the game was still in doubt – only to come up short on four of those five tries.
On the other side of the ball, Clear Lake’s offense converted three fourth-and-long plays, two of those coming on the team’s scoring drive at the end of the first half, including a 16-yard touchdown from Bruch to Hayes on fourth-and-eight with 12 seconds remaining.
“That kind of opened up the game for us,” Perez said.
And Kaden Graham’s 35-yard interception return for a touchdown slammed the door shut less than a minute into the fourth quarter as the Cardinals went up 34-0. Graham also had one Clear Lake’s three sacks on the night, with Kingston Hoaglen and Jesus Ballardo registering the others.
Graham also had two catches for 47 yards, one of five Cardinals to finish the game with at least one reception. Ayden Moreno had two catches for 33 yards, Hayes three for 24 yards, Zane McAuley two for 25 yards, and Portlock a 35-yard TD reception.
Clear Lake’s line play impressed Perez as the Cardinals amassed 343 yards of total offense.
“Our line stepped up and had some beautiful blocks to open up holes,” Perez said.
Fort Bragg didn’t threaten after its first possession of the game. The Timberwolves, coming off a promising 2024 campaign when they finished 5-3 in league and 6-4 overall, have really struggled this year and have been outscored 126-6 in their first three games. They host Kelseyville next Friday.
Fort Bragg had a 23-13 lead in the junior varsity game with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter when Clear Lake forfeited the game because it ran out of players. The Cardinals suited up 13 but had only 10 left because of injuries when the game was called.
