Lions remain unbeaten in Class 2A District 2 action

[caption id="attachment_13482" align="alignleft" width="270"] Clear Lake’s Parker Crispin caught the Lion’s longest pass play of the season, a 49-yard touchdown toss from quarterback Zach Lester.[/caption]

Clear Lake Head Football Coach Jared DeVries said his team impressed him with their mental and physical toughness in a 26-14 romp over Forest City Friday night.  The Lions (4-3, 4-0) used stalwart defense and an efficient offense to remain unbeaten in Class 2A District 2.  The win also qualified the Lions for the State play-offs for the 18th straight year.

“The kids did a fantastic job.  I think we really came together as a team in this game,” said DeVries.  The coach noted eight or more players had been out of practice during the week with everything from pneumonia and mononucleosis to a bacterial infection.  Some were feeling the effects on the sidelines Friday.

“The kids played hard.  There was not much left in the tank when they were done,” said the coach.

If there was a positive to be found in starters limited by illness, it was that many young players got to see more playing time.

“I was proud of all the kids for stepping up,” said DeVries.  “Team football is what it’s all about and several kids got some experience and some confidence.  I tell them you never know when your number is going to be called.  You have to be ready and it showed that they were.”

Both teams started the game with three-and-outs, but the Lions seemed to quickly adjust and take control.

Clear Lake jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the road when Carter Garrington took the ball in from one-yard out for the first score.  Jarod Anderson’s kick made it 7-0.

The Lions got the ball back at mid-field and drove steadily to the Indians’ two-yard line before the home team tackled Anderson for a loss on second down and a Zach Lester pass went incomplete on third down. The Lions opted to go for a field goal and Anderson split the uprights from 24-yards out, giving the Lions a 10-0 lead.

The margin went to 17-0 by halftime, as Garrington again went straight ahead one-yard for a touchdown.  The Lions had a short field to work with thanks to a Thomas Storbeck interception— the first of two he had in the game.   Clear Lake moved the ball 33-yards on nine-plays.

The first half ended with the Lions holding a 161 to 44 advantage in yardage in the first half.

Storbeck’s second pick came three minutes into the third quarter and again it provided the Lions with good field position.

The Indian defense rallied to hold the Lions to three plays, but a Zach Tatum punt put the ball at the one-yard line for the Indian offense.  On their first play the Lions rushed in and scored a safety to make the score 19-0.  The ensuing free kick from the Indians was returned to mid-field by Anderson.  Two plays later Lester connected on the Lions’ longest pass play of the season, a 49-yard touchdown toss to Parker Crispin.  The kick by Anderson made the score 26-0.

The Indians did all of their scoring in the fourth quarter, making the score appear closer than the game actually was.

With 2:37 left to play Forest City fooled the Lions on a reverse and were able to avoid the shutout with a 26-yard score.  Their on-side kick was recovered and they quickly went 48-yards on eight plays for the 26-14 final.

The Lions finished with 259-yards of offense, compared to 143 for the Indians.

Lester completed 13 of 19 passes for 119-yards.  Crispin hauled in three passes for 61-yards.  Parker Pitzen had four catches for 22-yards and Nick Eggers made four for 21-yards.  Tatum made two receptions for 15-yards.

Lester was the leading ground gainer with 47-yards on 11 carries.  Garrington was next with 42-yards on 16 totes and Tatum carried four times for 31.  Nick Eggers returned to the line-up this week and ran five times for 18-yards. Anderson ran five times for one-yard and Speed Toyne ran once for one.

In addition to Storbeck’s two interceptions, Tanner Berger and Tatum each had one for the Lion defense.

Justin Sholly and Ben Mason were the leading tacklers.  Sholly recorded four solo and four assisted tackles, while Mason made five solo and two assisted tackles.

“Sholly was on his last vapor, but he played a heck of a game,” said DeVries, adding that sophomore Max McKenna did an admirable job stepping in for the senior when  needed.

Also playing well was Joey Monson, Berger and Pitzen each with three solo tackles.  Monson also made a solo tackle for a loss.   

This week the Lions travel to Hampton-Dumont Friday for an important District 2 contest.  The Bulldogs are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the district, sitting behind the unbeaten Lions and Garner-Hayfield/Ventura in the standings.

“H-D is a big, physical group who like to play a lot of power football.  We’ll have to be ready,” said DeVries.