Yellow laundry littered the Elk Grove-Laguna Creek Community Stadium with a barrage of penalties for a second consecutive week.

Penalty problems that plagued Laguna Creek last season have been the team’s Achilles heel again in 2012. 

Laguna Creek running back Isaiah Morrison dashed more than 20 yards and brought Cardinal fans to their feet at their home stadium – only to lose the yardage when a facemask penalty was called.

It was a scene that repeated itself over and over for Laguna Creek in a 26-3 loss to Monterey Trail in a Delta Valley Conference game last Friday.

A handful of flags were also thrown on the field against the Monterey Trail offense toward the end of the third quarter, slowing the game down to a crawl.

However, Monterey Trail regained its momentum in the fourth quarter and dominated. Laguna Creek, which only mustered a first-half field goal.

Monterey Trail is now 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the DVC. They are likely just one win away from clinching a playoff spot.

Laguna Creek is now 2-5 and 0-2 in league.

“The guys started clicking, the energy went up,” Monterey Trail head coach T.J. Ewing said about his team. “We’re not a school with big guys…the energy level has to be appropriate and the guys responded well that way.”

Laguna Creek, as it did a week ago in a 52-7 loss to Elk Grove, failed to capitalize inside the red zone. They lost a fumble in the end zone last week and fumbled again at their 4-yard line against Monterey Trail.  

Laguna Creek also had a first-and-goal at the 8, but instead settled for a field goal after three unsuccessful plays.

The rest of the game belonged to the Mustangs.

Running back Trey Nahhas gave Monterey Trail the lead on a rushing touchdown late in the first half. 

The Cardinals’ defense held back threats for much of the third quarter until Monterey Trail quarterback Donovan Robinson kept the ball and scored on a two-yard run.

An onslaught of penalties on both teams then hampered the rest of the third quarter.

Running back C.J. Ramseur brought life back into the game when he scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

He first broke through a wall of defenders for a 57-yard dash, and toward the quarter’s end he sealed the Cardinals’ fate by scoring on a 27-yard run.

Jahmar Sexton effectively sealed the win with a late fourth-quarter interception.

Ewing praised Laguna Creek head coach Dave Morton, mentioning that Morton sent a trainer to aid an injured Mustang.

“Morton is a hell of a man,” Ewing said.

Laguna Creek has lost four straight and scored seven or fewer points in each of the last three.