Brian Taylor
Sports Editor
11/3/2009

    The Lassen High School Grizzlies varsity football team stands alone on top of the Northern Athletic League after a 20-7 victory over the Corning Cardinals on Friday, Oct. 30 at Lassen High School’s Arnold Field.
    The Cardinals came out guns blazing, scoring within 3 minutes of the opening kickoff. The Grizzlies defense started with man-to-man coverage, which did not work well with the Cardinals offensive formations.
    After a few adjustments, the Grizzlies defense kept Corning at bay, not allowing any further Cardinal touchdowns on the game and in the words of Lassen High School’s varsity football coach Tom St. Jacques, “they stuffed them.”
    Lassen quarterback Richard Murphy stepped up to the occasion as he threw five completions on eight attempts for 113 yards and rushed for 35 yards on the game.
    “Murphy probably played his best game of the year,” said St. Jacques. “He made a lot of good decisions out there. Even his incomplete passes were thrown well.”
    Lassen powerhouse Darren Lee had a strong showing both offensively and defensively with 129 yards rushing on 16 attempts, one touchdown and 11 tackles.
    Lassen’s Trevor Baum put together a well-rounded attack with 81 yards rushing, 59 yards receiving and came up with a huge midair interception late in the game that crushed a Cardinal touchdown pass and with it any hope for a win that Corning had.
    Lassen kicker Andy Pustejovsky kept his Zen-like focus from the point after line, maintaining a perfect season with two kicks splitting the uprights.
    Defensively, Lassen’s Austin Chedwick had nine tackles on the night followed by teammates Luke Petersen, Cammo Miller and Murphy each with seven tackles. Brandon Bowles, Kyle Harlan and Pustejovsky each had five on the game.
    In Northern Athletic League play Lassen High School’s football teams stand alone atop the winners podium with the freshmen, JV and varsity each taking top positions on the season.
    The Lassen varisty win extended its record to 4-0 and pushed Corning down to 3-1 in league play. The Grizzlies are scheduled to meet a very fast Central Valley team at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 in Shasta Lake, Calif.
    Central Valley is currently 2-2 in league play. The Falcons recently took a 44-34 win over Lassen rival West Valley and should prove to be a tough opponent for the Lassen defense.