Strong second half lifts the Lions over the Cardinals in post-season game

(Above) These two GHV defensive players were closing in, but Tyres Green (1) broke away to gain some extra yards for the Lions. Also pictured for Clear Lake is Jacob Schoby (79), PJ Feuerbach (4) and Jagger Schmitt (25).  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

by Marianne Gasaway

[caption id="attachment_58611" align="alignleft" width="300"] Clear Lake’s Eric Ritter sent the ball through the uprights for an extra point. Carson Toebe held the ball for Ritter- Reporter photo by Chris Barragy[/caption]

In a season where wins have been hard to come by, the Clear Lake Lions notched an important one Friday.  The Lions defeated Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, 35-14, in the opening round of Class 2A post-season play.

The game was sloppy early on, as each team had four turnovers in the first half, but the Lions finished strong and outscored the Cardinals 21-8 in the second half.

“Our defense did a fantastic job forcing turnovers,” said Clear Lake Head Coach Jared DeVries after the game.  “We are making plays, but putting the ball on the ground.  We’ll get that cleaned up.”

The Lions will need to bring their A game when they take on Spirit Lake this Friday on the road.   The Indians are 4-2 and ended their regular season with a 54-0 shutout against Okoboji and a 42-0 victory over GHV.   Their losses came early in the season to West Sioux and OABCIG.

Clear Lake hosted Spirit Lake in the opening round of the playoffs last season and topped the visitor, 21-7.

“We think we have a great plan for Spirit Lake,” said Coach DeVries. We saw them last year and their quarterback is key to what they like to do.  We will tackle and swarm to the football.”

Against GHV, the Lions amassed 301-yards of offense.  Jaden O’Brien-Green  led the way with 116-yards rushing on 13 carries.  Jagger Schmitt was another explosive offensive threat.  He used his speed to tally 85-yards rushing on 18 carries.  The junior scored three touchdowns in the game.

GHV and Clear Lake traded turnovers in their early possessions Friday night. The Cards were the first to score after blocking a Lion punt, giving them the ball on the Clear Lake 25-yard line.  In five plays they reached the end zone, but a two-point conversion failed, making the score 6-0 with about two-minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Lions took the lead in the second quarter with four straight run plays.  Schmitt broke away for a 34-yard touchdown run to knot the score. Eric Ritter split the uprights with the first of his five PATS to give Clear Lake a 7-6 lead.

Schmitt intercepted GHV’s Kevin Meyers in the final seconds of the first half and returned the ball 35-yards for Clear Lake’s first TD off a pick this season.  The Lions went into the break with a 14-6 advantage.

GHV struck early in the third on a 77-yard drive and a successful two-point conversion tied the score at 14-14. The Lions quickly responded, but a quick pass from Carson Toebe to Tyres Green popped loose and the Cards recovered on the Lion one.  Clear Lake’s defense stepped up and kept GHV pinned deep.  Owen Pueggel’s punt from deep in the end zone was returned by Zeke Nelson to the three and one play later the Lions got their score.

An interception by Austin Warnke had the Lion offense back on the field for another score with 4:30 remaining in the third.  The final TD came early in the fourth on a 31-yard completion to Green.

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Toebe was 5/15 passing for 58-yards. Green accounted for 37 of those yards; PJ Feuerbach caught one pass for 10-yards and Andrew Formanek had one for 11.

Ty Fisher was a one-man wrecking crew for the Lions with 15 solo tackles.  He finished with 17 total tackles.  Tyres Green and Andrew Formanek each recorded five solo tackles and six total apiece.  Sam Nelson had 5.5 tackles, four solo, while Austin Warnke had five total, three solo.

Fisher, Schmitt, Caden Jones and Nathan Lollar all recovered fumbles for the Lions.

The Cardinals, who ended the regular season with a 42-0 loss to Spirit Lake, finished the 2020 season with a 3-5 record.  Meyers passed for 80-yards (9/28) against the Lions. Senior Isaac Knutson led the ground attack with 117-yards on 21 carries.  The Cards ran for a 238-yards in the loss.

“It’s a brand new season and we’re excited about it. We’re getting healthy at the right time,” said Coach DeVries.   “We eliminate our turnovers and we’re a heck of a team.”

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