Nov. 17, 2009 — The Lassen High School varsity football team traipsed all over the Central Valley Falcons in a 38-0 win that was held on Friday, Nov. 6 in Shasta Lake, Calif.   

The Grizzlies secured the top Northern Athletic League spot with an overall record of 7-3 on the season. Lassen went undefeated this year in league play with a record of 5-0.   

The Grizzlies will pursue a top section placement with a playoff game scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20 at Arnold Field against the Anderson Cubs. Anderson took a 36-9 victory against Winters on Friday, Nov. 13 in Winters, Calif.   

Lassen momentum built early in the Central Valley game after an Andy Pustejovsky field goal found its mark and quarterback Richard Murphy came up with an interception from his defensive post.  

“Regarding the Central Valley game,” said Lassen varsity coach Tom St. Jacques. “Our defense played a great game. We have not played well at C.V. in a couple of years. They are an extremely fast team and we just shut them down. Their coach came up to me after the game and said he couldn’t believe what happened out there.”    

Lassen running back Darren Lee dominated the rushing game with 160 yards on 13 carries. Trevor Baum went 81 yards on 16 carries, CJ Houghland had 49 yards on five carries and Murphy had 39 yards on seven carries as well as 20 yards in pass completions.   

Defensively, Lassen held Central Valley to 71 yards rushing and 31 yards passing on the game. The Central Valley team was averaging 340 rushing yards and 40 points per game, before it met the Grizzlies smothering defense.   

Lee led the team in tackles with 12, followed by Luke Peterson with 10, Cammo Miller with eight, Austin Chedwick with seven and William Zekas with six. Zekas also came up with the only Lassen sack of the game causing a six-yard loss for the Falcons.   

Lee scored twice for Lassen with Murphy, Houghland and Conner Gaskill each coming up with a touchdown.   

Baum came up with an interception on the game and teammate Austin Ashby had a fumble recovery.        

Kicker Andy Pustejovsky added eight points on the game going 5-for-5 from the point after line and scoring the previously mentioned field goal from 29 yards out.  

Lassen has made the section’s final four 12 of the last 13 years, and if the team can continue its winning streak it will maintain a home field advantage throughout the championships.       

“I think Susanville has only seen one home section game in the history of the school,” said St. Jacques. “If somehow we can get there again it is sure to be an exciting game. These guys have to lay it on the line, because if they don’t, they will be turning in their gear.” St. Jacques said.