JVs and Frosh also on wrong end of score

YREKA – Both the Yreka Miners and the Lassen Grizzlies entered their football contest on Friday night with records of 3-3. But, records can be deceiving. Lassen’s preseason included a win over Chico. The losses were to Pleasant Valley, Paradise, and Foothill—all much larger schools. Yreka’s preseason was a bit less challenging.

The Miners, however, did not appear intimidated by their large school opponent, going toe-to-toe with the Grizzlies early on.

Lassen scored on their first possession, an 80-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard run. With the PAT, Lassen led 7-0 three minutes into the game.

The ensuing kick off went out of bounds, giving the Miners possession on their own 35-yard-line. Yreka moved the ball to mid-field behind strong runs by Manny Barragan, and Brandon Larreau. From mid-field, Barragan broke a run for 45 yards to take Yreka to the 5-yard-line. On the next play, Larreau scored on a 5-yard QB keeper. Larreau and Joe Wilson alternated at the QB position throughout the game. Barragan added the PAT to tie the game at 7-7, with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.

Lassen started its next series on its own 32. On what turned out to be the last play of the quarter, the Grizzlies put the ball on the ground, and Devin Howard recovered for the Miners on Lassen’s 37-yard-line. The turnover pumped up both the Miners and their fans.

But, Yreka failed to take advantage of the gift. Instead, they moved backwards five yards, before having to punt. Barragan’s punt went out of bounds at the Lassen 16.

It took Lassen three plays to move the ball its own 48, and just one more play to take it the remaining distance for the TD. The Grizzlies added the conversion and led 14-7, with 8:15 remaining in the second quarter.

Yreka went three-and-out on their next possession. Lassen scored on its next series, going 65 yards on five plays. The PAT failed, leaving the Grizzlies with a 20-7 lead, with 3:19 left in the half.

After the Lassen kickoff, Yreka started at its own 38. Two plays later, the Miners were in Lassen territory at the 41, on runs of nine and 12 yards by Barragan. Larreau picked up a yard on first down. The next two plays netted zero yards. On fourth down, Larreau connected with tight end Andrew Ward for seven yards. Lassen roughed the passer on the play, which moved the ball to the Grizzlies’ 18-yard-line. With six seconds left, the Miners fired the ball into the end zone, but the pass was picked off by Lassen to end the half. Lassen led 20-7.

Following a good kick off return, the Grizzlies started the second half at the Yreka 46. Aided by a questionable late hit penalty, following a 20-yard gain, the Grizzlies quickly moved to the Miner 12. A pair of 6-yard runs by Lassen resulted in another TD. The 2-point conversion failed. With 9:44 left in the third quarter, Lassen was up 26-7.

Lassen pooched the kickoff, and Yreka started its first drive of the second half on the Miner 30. Back-to-back-to-back runs by Barragan of 9, 15, and 11 yards moved the ball to the Lassen 35. On first down from the 35, lineman Aaron Knapp opened up a hole, and Kurt Lorenzini blasted through, going the distance for Yreka’s second TD. Barragan added the PAT, making it 26-14. It appeared that Yreka was still alive and breathing, refusing to roll over to the bigger, stronger, and faster Grizzlies.

Unfortunately for the Miners, Lorenzini’s TD was the last hoorah. Lassen scored on its next two possessions to put the game away, 41-14, with neither team threatening in the fourth quarter.

Miner JV 12 – Lassen JV 35

The Yreka JVs moved the ball well on their first possession, and appeared to have a 28-yard TD on a pass from Adam Kleier to Josh Erhard. The officials, however, called the Miners for offensive pass interference. After the penalty, Yreka wound up turning the ball over on downs to Lassen on its own 29.

Lassen then drove 71 yards for a TD. A bad snap led to a failed PAT, leaving Lassen with a 6-0 lead. Lassen scored again with just over two minutes left in the half. The 2-point conversion gave the Grizzly JVs a 14-0 lead.

Sarome Eng had a good return on the Lassen kick off, taking the ball to the Yreka 44. Travis Fonseca picked up seven yards on first down, and Kleier ran for eight yards to move the ball to the Lassen 40. Fonseca took it the rest of the way on the next play. The 2-point conversion failed, but Yreka had cut the deficit to 14-6 at the half.

After the first play of the second half, those within earshot of the sidelines learned something new about the ownership of Miner Field. A player from each team was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. While Yreka was asking for details on the call, the referee screamed at one of the Miner assistant coaches to, “Get off my field.”

Perhaps somewhat shocked to find out that ownership had been transferred to the “white hat,” the Miner assistant coach replied that it was his field not the official’s, which drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct.

An Internet search following the game did not show any record of transfer of ownership of Miner Field to the white hat.

Lassen added to its lead with seven seconds left in the third quarter on an 8-yard TD run and extra point, making the score 21-6. The Grizzlies scored again halfway through the fourth quarter to up the lead to 28-6.

Yreka scored its second TD of the game on a 65-yard fumble return by Arnett with just under four minutes to play in the game, making it 28-12.

Lassen padded the lead with a TD and PAT, with 55 seconds remaining, making the final 35-12.

Miner Frosh 6 – Lassen Frosh 53

Lassen scored a TD on their first possession, added a 2-point conversion and led 8-0 with two minutes left in the first quarter.

Miner Trevor Daugherty ran the ensuing Lassen kick off back 65 yards for a TD. The 2-point try failed, leaving Lassen with an 8-6 lead, after one quarter.

It was all Lassen the rest of the way. The Grizzlies led 27-6 at the half, and 41-6 after three quarters. Lassen continued to pile on the points, eventually winning 53-6.

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