Clear Lake runs out of players before waving white flag in non-league road game
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MT. SHASTA >> Suiting up only 13 players, the Clear Lake Cardinals ended up forfeiting to the Mt. Shasta Bears trailing 36-21 early in the fourth quarter Friday night during non-league varsity football action in Mt. Shasta.
Injuries to defensive end David Frederick and lineman Jake Ingham left Clear Lake (3-2) with only 11 players in the second half, and there were times late in the game when the Cardinals ran plays with fewer than 11 players on the field.
“We were playing at times with nine kids,” Clear Lake head coach Augie Perez said. “They (players) didn’t want to quit.”
Clear Lake stayed within a touchdown of Mt. Shasta (2-3) most of the way, but after the Bears scored early in the fourth quarter to go up 36-21, Perez said he had seen enough.
“It got to the point where we pulled the plug,” Perez said. “It’s not worth it.”
None of the injuries appeared to be serious, according to Perez, who said Frederick and Ingham were walking around normally after the game.
A couple of other Clear Lake players finished the game at less than 100 percent – notably Fabian Moreno (ankle) and Mikah Meo (shin splints).
“They didn’t want to come out,” Perez said.
Still, with Clear Lake contending for a North Central League I title and with a road game to Willits coming up next Friday, Perez said the Cardinals needed to cut their losses early in the fourth quarter.
Clear Lake’s low numbers weren’t entirely football related as the team lost players to the school’s weekly grade check system late in the week. Yet another player informed Perez he couldn’t make the trip north right before the team departed.
“So instead of 14, I had 13,” Perez said. “Hopefully we get some of those kids back next week.”
Clear Lake played with a makeshift offensive line, slowing down the Cardinals’ running attack. Jessie Hayes finished with 42 yards on seven carries but extended his streak of games with at least one score by catching a 24-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, which cut Mt. Shasta’s lead to 28-21.
Quarterback AJ Bruch completed 15 of 24 passes for 161 yards, with touchdown passes to Hayes and Meo, who hauled in a 59-yard pass. Meo had two catches for 69 yards overall while Hayes caught five passes for 38 yards.
Clear Lake’s first six points came on a Kaden Graham 3-yard interception return. Graham, a tight end, replaced Ingham at tackle in the third quarter.
Colton Mendonca anchored the Cardinals’ defense with nine tackles.
“He was all over the place,” Perez said.
Hayes added six tackles.
There was no junior varsity game.
