ST. HELENA — A 20-0 first quarter propelled the St. Helena Saints to a 40-14 victory over the Clear Lake Cardinals in a battle of the only two undefeated varsity football teams in the North Central League I on Friday night in St. Helena.

The Saints (5-0 league, 7-1 overall) are now just a home win away against Middletown (5-1, 6-3) from clinching the outright league championship. If Middletown can beat St. Helena next Friday and Clear Lake (4-1, 6-2) defeats Cloverdale, the league would end in a three-way tie.

Clear Lake quarterback Jack Daskam takes a look down the field while teammates Ethan Maize (5) and Diego Brewster-Ramirez block up front. (Photos for the Record-Bee by Dave Mosher)

That was the last thing on the mind of Clear Lake head coach Mark Cory following his team's loss to a St. Helena squad that took advantage of two botched punt snaps and three Cardinals lost fumbles to score quickly against the Clear Lake defense, which has played well all season.

"We made them earn two of their touchdowns, the others we gave them a short field to work with," Cory said. "It wasn't a great night for us. We have not turned the ball over much this season and you just can't do that and expect to win."

Clear Lake miscues paved the way for St. Helena's big first quarter and the Saints capitalized each time. Ivan Robledo (12 carries for 115 yards) got the Saints on the board with a 29-yard run. After a botched punt snap left St. Helena with a short field, Saints quarterback Spencer Printz scored on a 9-yard run for a 13-0 lead. Printz threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Henry Dixon on St. Helena's next possession for a 20-0 lead.

Clear Lake's Jack Daskam and Zane Robinson celebrate after hooking up on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

"We got some breaks in the beginning and were able to jump out early," St. Helena head coach Ian MacMillan said.

While neither team was able to score in the second quarter, it wasn't for a lack of effort on the Saints' part, according to MacMillan. "We moved the ball into their red zone a couple of times and didn't get anything. We missed a couple of short field goals.

"They're defense is good, they played hard," MacMillan said of the Cardinals.

Clear Lake took the second-half kickoff and scored on a 30-yard pass from quarterback Jack Daskam to wide receiver Zane Robinson, who also kicked the extra point, to make it 20-7.

St. Helena answered right back with a drive of its own capped by a Printz 4-yard run.

"They came out and scored on just a couple of passing plays," MacMillan said. "Credit to our kids for coming right back with a touchdown of their own."

Clear Lake then closed the gap to 27-14 on a Daskam 10-yard run midway through the third quarter, but the Cardinals wouldn't score again.

Clear Lake quarterback Jack Daskam throws deep down the field.

St. Helena added to its lead late in the third quarter on a Robledo 20-yard run. The senior scored his third touchdown of the game midway through the fourth quarter on a 19-yard run.

Robledo's backfield mate, Harrison Ronayne, led the Saints with 168 yards on 17 carries.

"Clear Lake is a very good team, but we played well," MacMillan said. "I know our offense gets a lot of attention but I'm really happy with our defense. To hold a team like Clear Lake to 14 points is quite an accomplishment."

St. Helena's defense also came up with a big stop, holding Clear Lake on a fourth-and-1 near midfield in the third quarter.

"I think that was a huge turning point for us," MacMillan said.

A St. Helena player grabs ahold of Clear Lake's Jack Daskam.

"We weren't good enough tonight, that's the bottom line," Cory said. "We made mistakes we haven't made all season and we paid for them."

Daskam went 7-for-16 for 145 yards, with Robinson catching three passes for 91 yards. Ethan Maize rushed for 71 yards on 12 carries.

Hank Ollenberger recovered a fumble for the Cardinals and Tony Gersalia had Clear Lake's only sack.

St. Helena ended up with 349 yards rushing on 44 carries. Printz threw only two passes, the one completion going to Dixon on his touchdown in the first quarter.

St. Helena running back Harrison Ronayne led the Saints with 168 yards on 17 carries.