Lions eliminated from play-offs

(Above) Clear Lake’s Kyle Calaguas (31) breaks a tackle and picks up some yards with the help of the offensive linemen Dalton Mennenga (52), Kyle Willms (78), Jared Penning (68) and Max McKenna (77).  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.

Crestwood clinched the Class 2A District 2 title and eliminated Clear Lake from play-off contention for the first time since 1997 with a 27-16 victory Friday night at Lion’s Field.

With one game remaining in the regular season Crestwood is the only undefeated team in the district at 6-0; the Lions fell to 3-3 in the district and 3-5 overall.  They will travel to New Hampton this week to take on the other likely play-off qualifier.  The Chickasaws are 5-1 in the district.

“The kids fought all night long, but that’s a good, physical team,” said Clear Lake Head Coach Jared DeVries after the game.

Crestwood’s biggest physical threat was senior running back Spencer Cuvelier, who ran roughshod over the Lion defense, scoring four touchdowns while piling up 291-yards on 38 carries.

The Lion defense made a number of strong plays to keep the 6’3” 230-pound Cuvelier and the Cadets in check early.  The Lions impressed with a stop on fourth and three at the Lion five-yard line to thwart Cresco’s first drive.

The Lions picked up a pair of first downs on their next touch, but were forced to punt on fourth-and-one on their own 27.  The Cadets got the ball at mid-field and scored on seven plays as time ran out in the first quarter.  The PAT made the score 7-0 after one.

Freshman Jaylen DeVries got the call to lead the Lions, as senior quarterback Thomas Storbeck was out with injuries.  The young Lion kept the opposition guessing, as he mixed the pass and running game to spark some big plays.  DeVries connected on 14 of 31 pass attempts for 155-yards in the game. He ran nine times for a team-high 26-yards.

After the Lions’ Alex Snelling recovered a fumble early in the second quarter, DeVries delivered a pass to Cody Matz which went for a 46-yard touchdown.  The two-point conversion failed, but Clear Lake was back in business, down by only one point, 7-6.

The Lions kept the pressure on, as Ryan Atkinson sacked quarterback Jon Henry on their next possession, forcing the Cadets to punt from the five-yard line.  Aided by another completion to Matzo the Lions were moving the ball when DeVries was interested at the goal line trying to thread the needle with a pass to Zach Lester.

Fresco responded with a 10-play 80-yard drive and PAT which put them ahead 14-6.  The score held to halftime.

The Lions came out of the break determined and the defense again provided a spark by recovering a fumble on the Cadets’ first series.  After a quick three-and-out they were called upon again and they answered the bell with a fourth down stop on their own 33.  A Sean Wendel tackle, one of his four solo takedowns on the night, was key.

Crestwood tested out its passing game through much of the third quarter and found little success.  As the clock ticked down in the third quarter they returned to the run game and marched to the Lion one-yard line, only to be turned away again by the Lion defense.

A second interception thrown by DeVries on the Lions’ ensuing possession put Clear Lake’s defense back on the field.  This time Cuvelier and the Cadets would not be denied.  They took the ball in from 32-yards out on six plays.  The PAT failed, making the score 20-6.  Cuvelier tallied his fourth score, pounding the ball across the end line to make the final score 27-6.

Atkinson was a defensive leader for the lions with five solo and two tackle assists to go with his solo sack.  Kyle Calaguas, Lester and Matz joined Wendel with four solo tackles.  Atkinson and Calaguas each had two solo tackles for a loss.  Dalton Grell was in on many plays, as he finished with three solo and nine tackle assists.  Joey Monson also had three solo and five assists; Speed Toyne finished with three solo and three assists; and Jared Penning made three solo and one assist.