IN SPORTS: FLAMES LOSE A CLOSE ONE TO BRUINS
STOCKTON — For the second time in three weeks, the Lodi High football team did not have time on its side.
A late fourth quarter touchdown seemed to ignite the Flames against a fast-moving Bear Creek squad. But the Bruins took their time on their final offensive possession to hold onto a 40-35 win over Lodi (1-4) at Podesto Field on Friday.
“I thought the kids fought real hard,” said Lodi coach George Duenas. “We just didn’t close it.”
Lodi quarterback Logan Stout found sophomore tight end Isaac Bishop in the back of the end zone on a 14-yard reception with 5:30 left in the game to make it 40-35. Bishop ran toe-to-toe with Bear Creek defensive back Charles Baker; they leaped into the air at the same time for the football. But Bishop came down with the ball for the score.
Colton Stout booted the Flames’ extra-point to make it 40-35. Then it was the Bruins’ turn on offense.
The ball spotted at the Flames’ 49yard line after the kickoff return, Bear Creek (4-1), despite the fact it lost a combined 13 yards on two plays and called for a false start, picked up three first downs. Two of those first downs came from Bruin running back Terry Holmes, who had runs of 20 and five yards. The final first down put the ball at the Lodi 12 with little over a minute
in the game.
Then Bear Creek quarterback Quincy Glasper and his Bruins took time off the clock by running one more play. The next play had Glasper and the Bruins line up in the victory formation for the win.
The Bruins led 34-21, but Lodi made it 34-28 when running back Niko Cabrera scored on a 5-yard run. Colton Stout added the extra point with 11:21 in the game.
Bear Creek scored its final touchdown of the game after the Flames’ score. Glasper scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper at 8:17. He attempted a run on the twopoint conversion attempt but Flames nose guard Kent Powell, who recovered a fumble earlier in the game, sacked Glasper for a loss.
Lodi and Bear Creek traded touchdowns in the third quarter. Logan Stout found Colton Stout, his brother, for a 34-yard strike to make it 2821 with 1:48 remaining in the quarter. A minute later, Holmes scored on a 26-yard run for a 34-28 score.
Bear Creek led 21-6 entering the second quarter. But the Flames were led by fullback Larry McDowell, who scored on a 2-yard run with 8:49 left on the scoreboard. Cabrera, from his free safety spot, made it 21-14 when he sacked Bruin punter Chester Amkhamavong in the Flames’ end zone for a safety. Glasper scored on a rushing touchdown later in the quarter to make it 28-14.
“We finally caught our footing in the second quarter,” Duenas said.
After Bear Creek jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter, Logan Stout found running back Andreas Pappas in the end zone with 3:56 remaining to make it 146. That score came courtesy of Powell’s fumble recovery at midfield.
Lodi also had a track race at Stagg, which posted a 41-37 win over the Flames on Sept. 7.