Defensive stands aid the Lions in win

(Above) Clear Lake kicker Hunter Nielsen gives the ball a boot during Friday night’s game against Waverly-Shell Rock.  Nielsen was five-for-five in PATs.  Also pictured is Austin Larson.  -Reporter photos by Chris Barragy

by Marianne Gasaway

A total team effort lifted second ranked (2A) Clear Lake over Class 3A perennial power Waverly-Shell Rock, 35-6.

Coach Jared DeVries said his team was “a little jittery” on their first road trip of the 2019 season Friday night.  That may have contributed to some early miscues which put the Lion defense in the trenches early.  However, their success in holding the Go-Hawks out of the end zone carried over to the Lion offense and Clear Lake was in control through the majority of the game, ultimately out-gaining the home team, 445 to 236-yards in offense.

“Holy cow!  We made some defensive stands,” said DeVries.  “Once we settled in the kids did a nice job of executing.”

Despite picking up a first down on their opening possession, things looked dire for the Lions early.  After the Lion drive stalled, the Go-Hawks were able to partially block Kody Kearns’ punt, setting themselves up with first and 10 on the Lion 33, barely three-minutes into the game.  However, the Lion defense squashed the threat by forcing a quick three-and-out.  Just three plays later, quarterback Jaylen DeVries connected with Kearns for the first of three TD passes in the game.  The 49-yard strike and PAT from Hunter Nielsen gave the Lions a 7-0 lead.

Clear Lake’s defense again held the Go-Hawks to only one series, but a punt had the Lions pinned deep in their own territory on the next possession.  This time the Lion offense was unable to break any big plays and a fumble recovered by the Go-Hawks on the Lion 24 had the home team in good position to score.  Again, the Lion defense held the opponent in check and the best W-SR could do was a 40-yard field goal.

The 7-3 score stood until early in the second quarter when DeVries again aired it out.  This time Nick Danielson was his target.  Danielson raced past his defender and was wide open as DeVries delivered the ball.  The 86-yard TD strike and PAT put the Lions ahead, 14-3.

The teams traded possessions before the Go-Hawks had to settle for another field goal. The 37-yard boot made it 14-6.

W-SR threatened to close the scoring gap as time was running out in the first half.  DeVries uncharacteristically threw an interception, giving the Go-Hawks the ball on the Lion 38.

Again, the defense responded.

Austin Larson forced a fumble and Thomas Gansen jumped on the ball to give it right back to the Lions with two-minutes to go.  Five plays later the Lions scored again.  This time the TD pass went to Carson Toebe, capping a 69-yard drive. The PAT made the score 21-6 at the break.

The Lions kept the door slammed shut throughout the second half.

Clear Lake’s Sam Nelson and Nathan Lollar recovered fumbles on the Go-Hawk’s first two possession of the half and DeVries and company turned one of those into a score.  A 10-play drive ended with Danielson taking a swing pass to the house from 10-yards out.

Despite holding a comfortable 28-6 lead through three quarters, the Lion defense continued to hit hard.  The group  made another successful stand in the red zone, stopping the Go-Hawks on fourth and goal.  Clear Lake took over on the nine and three plays scored again.  This time Jaden O’Brien-Green showed W-SR the Lions’ running game.  The junior back scampered 86-yards to the end zone.  Nielsen made it five-for-five in PATs for the final, 35-6.  O’Brien-Green finished with 143-yards on 12 carries.

DeVries completed 19 of 31 pass attempts for 61 percent and carried the ball 10 times for minus-eight yards.  Danielson finished with eight receptions for 123-yards and rushed once for 10.  Kearns had five catches for 92-yards.  Jack Barragy pulled down two passes for 38 and Toebe caught four balls for 29-yards.

Although reluctant to single out any of his players for praise, Coach DeVries said the play of Connor O’Tool and Ty Fisher on defense was especially notable.  “It was only their second time starting at linebacker, but they were both impressive.  Our whole defense played with grit” said DeVries.   O’Tool, a senior, finished with four solo and four assisted tackles.  Fisher, a junior, finished with five solo and five assists.

Other defensive standouts included Thomas Gansen, who had six solo and two assists to go along with his fumble recovery.  Austin Larson made three solo tackles, two of them for losses, and three assists.  Sophomore Max Dieke had four solo and one tackle assist, and Jagger Schmitt recorded three solo and two assisted tackles.

This week the 2-0 Lions will make the short trip to Garner to open District play against the 1-1 Cardinals.

“They have a new system and new coach there this year and they seem to be more ready— and big,” said DeVries.  The coach added that Clear Lake’s depth this season has been instrumental in the success of the team, as he is able to substitute players more liberally and fewer are being asked to play both sides of the ball.  “W-SR was a good, physical football team, but once we settled in we played a good game.  We will have to do that again this week.”