Lions fall by just inches to Aplington-Parkersburg

[caption id="attachment_13888" align="alignleft" width="270"] Clear Lake’s Carter Garrington picked up 24-yards on 10 carries against Aplington-Parkersburg. Garrington, a senior on the Lion roster, wrapped up his prep career at Clear Lake. -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy[/caption]

The Clear Lake Lions finished their season just inches away from a first round victory Wednesday night.  With the ball inside the one-yard line on fourth down,  seventh ranked Aplington-Parkersburg (8-2) held the Lions out of the end zone to earn a 7-0 overtime victory in the first round of Class 2A playoffs.

“The kids played their hearts out.  I’m proud of the kids and the great effort they gave,” said Coach Jared DeVries after the heart-breaking loss.

The Lions ended their season with a 5-5 record.

The game was a defensive gem for Clear Lake, as they kept the Falcons, one of the leading offenses in Class 2A, between the 40-yard lines.

At halftime the Lions had held the Falcons to just 56 yards on 31 plays.  A-P had a negative two-yards in the second quarter.

The Lions were also struggling on offense, gaining 39 yards on 27 plays in the first half.  Both teams made only four first downs through two quarters.

In the fourth quarter the Lion defense came up huge when Carter Garrington recovered a fumble on the seven-yard line to stop a Falcon drive which had started on their own 47.  The Lions were unable to move the ball from deep in their own territory.  The Falcons kept the pressure on and forced Thomas Storbeck to throw an  interception.  It was the Lions’ first turnover of the night.

Once again the Lion defense reared up and stopped another Falcon challenge.  They repeated the feat one more time in the fourth to force overtime.

The Lions won the coin toss and chose to play defense.

The Falcons scored on their second snap from the 10-yard line. Riley Barrett  raced into the end zone.  Placekicker Nick Waller got a home field bounce when his PAT kick hit the upright and went through, giving A-P a 7-0 lead.

Then it was the Lions’ turn.

The Falcons stifled the Lions on first down, but on second down Zach Tatum took a direct snap from center and raced to the three.  Garrington powered through on third down and moved the ball inside the one-yard line.  With the season on the line, Garrington also took the snap on fourth down and the Lions did their best to clear a path.  When the pile cleared, the referees ruled he had fallen just short of the goal line.

Seniors Zach Tatum and Carter Garrington finished with 46 and 24-yards respectively.  Tatum ran the ball 19 times, while Garrington carried 10 times.  Jarod Anderson ran four times for seven-yards, Halston Southwick had two-yards on two runs and Parker Pitzen carries twice for one-yard.

Storbeck was the starting quarterback.  He ran the ball six times for one-yard.  He was 2/7 passing for 13-yards.  Zach Lester, who sat out in week nine with a concussion, was cleared to play but didn’t enter the game until Storbeck was shook up in the third quarter.  He was 2/4 passing for 21-yards.  Tatum

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LIONS

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caught three passes for 25-yards.  Garrington had one for nine.  He also had a fumble recovery.

The Lion defense was led by Parker Pitzen with three sacks and 13 tackles.  Other tackle leaders included Justin Sholly with 10 and one-half tackles, Joey Monson had seven tackles, while Carter Garrington had five and one-half tackles and Ben Mason had four and one-half tackles.  Zach Tatum and Tanner Bergen had three and one-half tackles apiece.

Aplington-Parkersburg advanced to host Waukon in the second round of the playoffs on Monday night, Nov. 2.  Waukon won that contest, 42-21.

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