GoHawks top the Lions, 21-14

[caption id="attachment_13217" align="alignleft" width="270"] Parker Pitzen makes his way through a big hole created by Ace Walton and Carter Garrington.[/caption]

A pair of football powerhouses squared off for a non-district battle Friday night.  Class 3A Waverly-Shell Rock (4-3) pulled off a 21-14 victory. The loss puts the Lions at 3-3 overall, but they remain unbeaten in Class 2A, District 2 at 3-0 with three district games remaining.

“Hat’s off to Waverly-Shell Rock.  They are a great program and a great coached team,” said Lions Coach Jared DeVries after the game.  “I take responsibility for the loss.  I messed that one up with bad calls on my part.”

The coach was referring to calls made late in the game as WSR fooled the Lion defense on a fake punt. They pulled out a long pass play to set up the winning score.

Good defensive plays by the Lions held the visitor in check the majority of the game.  However, an 89-yard kickoff return and fourth quarter drive produced touchdowns.

After a scoreless first quarter, Zach Tatum put the Lions on the scoreboard with a 29-yard touchdown run.  The score capped an eight-play, 51-yard drive that used the last three minutes of the first quarter and gave the Lions points on their first play in the second.  Jarod Anderson’s kick made the score 7-0.

For the second week in a row an opponent returned a kickoff to quickly silence the Lion faithful.  “Kick-off returns are becoming an Achilles heel for us,” said DeVries.  “We’re working on it.”

Clear Lake players kept their heads up and fought back with another score on their next possession.  The team covered 80-yards in eight plays.  Parker Pitzen carried the ball into the end zone from the 12 to put the Lions in the lead.  Another successful PAT made the score 14-7.

The GoHawks finally picked up their first, first down midway through the second quarter.  On fourth and eight from the Lions’ 43, WSR fooled the Lions, as their punter turned passer and made the first down.  Another pass provided a touchdown and the score was tied at halftime.

The Lions maintained a long drive to start the second half, but came up empty handed after reaching the GoHawk 20.

WSR finally took the lead in the final quarter on a seven play, 76-yard drive.

Again, the Lions responded with determination and took the ball from their own 27 to the WSR 14, but turned the ball over on downs.

With their backs against the wall the Lion defense held the GoHawks and forced a punt from the Lion end zone.  The kick was fielded at the 45 and returned to the 37 with under one-minute to work with.  This time the GoHawk defense rose up and held the Lions.  Quarterback Zach Lester was intercepted on a long third-down try to end the game.

Lester completed 11 of 16 pass attempts for 90 yards through the air.  Cody Matz caught two passes for 38-yards.  Tatum had four for 27-yards and Anderson made three receptions for 22-yards.

The Lion ground game was balanced, as Tatum led the way with 67-yards on 14 carries and Lester ran 12 times for 47.  Carter Garrington ran nine times for 33 and Pitzen rushed eight times for 32-yards.

Justin Sholly had a team-high seven solo tackles and six assists.  Pitzen made five solo and two assisted tackles to go with his solo sack.  Two of Pitzen’s tackles were solo tackles for a loss.  Thomas Storbeck also recorded a solo sack, along with three solo tackles, one of them for a loss.  One of Joey Monson’s three solo tackles went for a loss and he made three more assisted tackles.  Tatum also helped the defense with four solo and two assisted tackles.  Ryan Atkinson was also credited with a solo tackle for a loss, one of three solo takedowns he made on the night.  Atkinson also made a fumble recovery for the Lions.

 This week the Lions will be at Forest City (2-4, 2-2).  Coach DeVries said his team will need to be ready for a Forest City team which appears to be finding its stride after dealing with injuries early in the season.