Cardinals shut out Trojans 24-0 in youth league football action
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LAKEPORT >> The last two undefeated teams in the varsity standings of the Mendo-Lake Empire Junior Football League squared off Saturday night in Lakeport and the host Westshore Cardinals came away with a 24-0 victory over the Lower Lake Trojans at Don Owens Stadium.
“It was a tough game, but my kids came together and played like the team they are and never gave an inch,” Westshore head coach Sid Percaccio said. “Some of our leaders stepped up in a big way and kept the momentum going. Lower Lake is a tough team, and if we see them again (in the playoffs), my kids will be ready for war again.”
“Westshore has a really good team,” Lower Lake head coach Mark Garner said. “They play tough and disciplined football. We made too many mistakes, especially on special teams, and our offense just wasn’t clicking at all. We’ll get back to work next week, fix our mistakes and get back on track.”
John Pasalo’s 40-yard punt return in the second quarter set up the first score of the game, a 1-yard Pasalo run. Isaiah McLeod added the conversion kick to make it 8-0 with only 30 seconds remaining in the first half.
Jayvon Evans’ interception ended the half.
Westshore’s special teams came up big again in the third quarter as Pasalo returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. McLeon kicked the conversion for a 16-0 lead.
A third special teams’ gem by the Cardinals, this time an Andre McCloud punt block that was recovered by teammate Landyn Collins, set up a 30-yard touchdown pass from Pops Horne to Nathen Heath a few plays later. Again, McLeod kicked the ball through the uprights on the conversion to make it 24-0.
Collins anchored the Westshore defense with 11 solo tackles, Dylan Egan had seven, Pasalo and Jake Hayes added six apiece, and Heath had five.
Gavin Cheek’s five tackles led the Lower Lake defense.
