Trojans improve to 9-0 as they blank Westshore 34-0 for eighth shutout of the season
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UPPER LAKE >> The Lower Lake pee wee youth football team is one win from a championship and a perfect 2026 season in the Mendo-Lake Empire Junior Football League.
Lower Lake improved to 9-0 on Saturday with a 34-0 victory over the Westshore Cardinals in the playoff semifinal round at Upper Lake High School. The mercy-rule win puts the Trojans into the league finals next Saturday against the Middletown Colts (8-1) at Fort Bragg. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m.
Lower Lake and Middletown met in Week 2 of the regular season on Aug. 29 in Lower Lake, the Trojans prevailing 32-0.
“Another outstanding performance from our boys, especially with the added pressure of playoff football,” Lower Lake head coach Jamez Conatser said. “We definitely came out a little slow, and you could see some nerves early on, but once we settled in and got rolling, we were tough to stop.”
From Westshore’s perspective, Lower Lake quarterback Camari Onwuasoeze Jr. was impossible stop. He carried the ball only five times but gained 190 yards and ran for three touchdowns. Erian Gonzalez inlicted his fair share of damage to the Cardinals as well, rushing for 73 yards, two touchdowns and two conversions. He also threw a conversion pass to Onwuasoeze Jr.
Cristiano Lopez rushed for another conversion.
“Offensively, Camari and Erian led the way once again,” Conatser said. “We put 34 points and 280 yards on just nine plays. At this point, those two have set the bar so high that performances like this have almost become expected. They continue to impress me with what they’re capable of doing every time they step on the field.”
Lower Lake’s defense limited Westshore to 16 yards while delivering its eighth shutout of the season.
Lopez had a team-best six tackles, three of those for loss, while Gonzalez added five tackles, one for loss. Stephen Barnes had four tackles, three for loss, and Travis Johnson had four tackles, two for loss.
“Defensively, we had kids stepping up all over the place, but I really want to recognize Travis Johnson,” Conatser said. “Travis was asked to fill a position he had never played before, and he stepped up in a big way. He embraced the opportunity and played an outstanding game for us.”
Lopez also excelled, according to Conatser.
“Cristiano Lopez continued his dominance up front as well,” Conatser said. “Westshore even started trying to run away from him, but that didn’t matter. He was still finding ways to chase plays down from behind and make tackles. That’s the kind of effort and determination that has made him such a force for our defense all season.”
Added Conatser, “I’m proud of what they’ve accomplished, and I’m looking forward to watching them take the field with a championship on the line.”
