Fanucchi scores four touchdowns as Trojan varsity rolls past Cougars 37-6
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UPPER LAKE >> “The Battle of the Lakes” trophy was up for grabs Saturday and the varsity Lower Lake Trojans brought it home without much of a problem, beating the Northshore Cougars 37-6 in Mendo-Lake Empire Junior Football League action at Upper Lake High School.
The trophy goes to the team that wins at least two of the games between the Lower Lake and Northshore pee wee, junior varsity and varsity squads. On Saturday, Lower Lake won them all. The series began in 2022.
Lower Lake recovered an Upper Lake fumble on the first play from scrimmage and immediately took advantage as Braylen Fanucchi scored on a 21-yard run a few plays later.
Northshore answered with a touchdown of its own to tie the game at 6-6, but the rest of the game belonged to the Trojans (8-1), beginning with a Fanucchi 5-yard run that put Lower Lake ahead to stay. Fanucchi scored on a 55-yard run the next time he touched the ball.
If his night wasn’t going good enough to that point, Fanucchi scored his fourth touchdown on a 50-yard run.
Lower Lake’s special teams added to the lead when Damion Giambra blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown, pushing the Trojans’ halftime lead to 31-6.
The Trojans began their first possession of the second half at the 50-yard line, a series that ended with Adriyan Diaz catching an 8-yard touchdown pass with 6:32 to go in the third quarter, at which point the mercy rule took effect.
“We played well on both sides of the ball tonight,” Lower Lake head coach Mark Garner said. “It was a great team win, and it was nice for the kids to come away with the “Battle of the Lakes” trophy.
Steve Arson received “Battle of the Lakes” player of the game honors for his play on defense while Fanucchi received the same honor on offense.
Lower Lake closes out its regular-season schedule next Saturday in Middletown at 7:30 p.m. Win, lose or tie, the Trojans have clinched a berth into the league playoffs that open Nov. 1. Middletown (5-4) is fighting Kelseyville (5-4) for the final playoff berth in the varsity division. Westshore (9-0) plays at Kelseyville next Saturday.
