Onwuasoeze, Conatser spark Trojans in season-opening victory against Kelseyville
KELSEYVILLE >> Camari Onwuasoeze Jr. ran for one touchdown and passed for another Saturday as the Lower Lake pee wee youth football team opened the season with a 34-0 win over the Kelseyville Chiefs at Kelseyville.
Brayden Conatser caught the 20-yard TD pass from Onwuasoeze, and he scored again on a 42-yard run.
Other touchdowns for the Trojans came on a Draco Benefield 48-yard punt return and an Erian Gonzalez run. Brayden Walsh had three conversion runs and Gonzalez one.
“What stands out most about Brayden (Conatser) is his versatility,” Lower Lake head coach Jamez Conatser said. “He’s a kid I can put just about anywhere on the field and trust him to do the job.”
While it was a standout opener for Lower Lake’s offense, the team’s defense also excelled in its season debut.
Onwauasoeze and Cristiano Lopez each had two tackles or losses and Conatser and Edward McTear one apiece. Stephen Barios forced a fumble that teammate Hector Barocio recovered.
“Camari is our quarterback, but he also lines up on the defensive line and consistently finds himself in the opponent’s backfield,” Conatser said. “You don’t typically see your quarterback playing defensive line, and his ability and willingness to contribute on both sides on the ball says a lot about what he’s willing to do to help us win.”
Added Conatser, “Cristiano Lopez continues to be one of the leaders of our team and was dominant again, recording two tackles for a loss for a combined 14-yard loss.”
The game ended under the league’s mercy rule as Lower Lake held a 34-0 lead at halftime.
“What I’m most proud of is that we’re not a one- or two-player powerhouse,” Conatser said. “We have athletes all over the field who can make plays and help us win. None of that would be possible without our offensive line, so a big shoutout to those kids up front for making it all work.”
No Kelseyville statistics were reported.
Both teams return to action next Saturday. Lower Lake (1-0) hosts Middletown (1-0) while Kelseyville (0-1) visits Cloverdale (0-1).
