Weather barely affects Lions in 40-6 win

(Above) Despite getting stiff armed by a Clarion-Goldfield-Dows/CAL running back, Luke Eggers (34) moves in to make the tackle in Friday night’s game.  Eggers finished the game with three solo and one assisted tackle.  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

Clear Lake Lions fans barely noticed the weather.  Their football team was good enough to make them forget— even enjoy— the soggy night.

School officials decided to move up the start of the game to time the play with a forecasted break in the weather. The plan was a success, as little more than drizzle fell and the Lions were barely affected in a 40-6 victory over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows/Cal.   

The win kept the sixth rated (2A) Lions perfect in District 2 with two games remaining in the regular season.  Clear Lake’s post-season fate is in its own hands, as they face the top two challengers in the district for playoff berths this week and next.  This Friday they will travel to Crestwood (4-1, 4-3) and on Oct. 20 they will host New Hampton (4-1, 5-2).  GHV is also still in the mix with a 3-2 record in the district and games remaining against New Hampton and Osage, which is also 3-2.

The Cowboys (0-7) showed they were determined to give the Lions a battle when they took the opening kickoff to Clear Lake’s 24, picking up a couple of first downs on the way.  Nick Danielson tipped away a Jake Weidemann pass to end the scoring threat with five-minutes gone in the first quarter.

The Lions were stopped on their first possession, but after the Lion defense stopped the visitor the offense began to hit its stride.  Jaylen DeVries found Drew Enke racing along the sideline for a 37-yard touchdown pass.  Zach Lester’s PAT was good for a 7-0 lead.

Clear Lake’s hard-hitting defense knocked the ball loose two times on Cowboys’ next turn, but they somehow recovered each ball that slipped through their hands and managed to take the ball to the Lion 10.  The defense finally put the hammer down and shut the Cowboys out.

In the blink of an eye Danielson broke through the Cowboy line and raced 82-yards for the second Lion TD.  Lester’s kick made it 14-0 and that’s how the score remained at halftime.

Early in the third quarter the Lions started their scoring frenzy.  Danielson picked up his second score on a  two-yard touchdown run.  Lester’s PAT lifted the score to 21-0.

The Cowboys got their only score in the game as the result of a Lion trick play.  After a failed CL fake punt, CGD/Cal took advantage of a short field and Reymundo Vasquez scampered two-yards

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into the end zone.  A two-point attempt failed.  Vazquez was the work horse for his team.  He picked up 141-yards on 40 carries and caught one pass for 15.

Clear Lake added another third quarter score on the ensuing kickoff.  Lester took the kick 99-yards for a score and took care of the PAT himself for a 28-6 advantage through three quarters.

By the fourth quarter the strength of the Lion defense was wearing down the Cowboys and Clear Lake’s offense continued to strike.  DeVries again connected with Enke for a 74-yard touchdown pass.  Kody Kearns put the final nail in the coffin with a 50-yard run to the end zone.

DeVries had a solid night, despite the damp conditions.  He completed seven of 10 pass attempts for 162-yards.  Enke’s 74-yard reception helped him to 116-yards on the night with three catches.  Lester had two for 38 and Tate Storbeck grabbed a pass for nine-yards.

Danielson led the ground game with 131-yards on 10 rushes.  After Kearns’ 50-yard run, Alex Snelling was next with 26-yards on four carries.  Rhys Glidden was held in check, running the ball five times for eight-yards.

The Lions out-produced the Cowboys 348-yards to 163.

The Lion defense was balanced, with multiple players making an impact.  Chase Stuver was in on many tackles.  He made five solo and eight assists in the game.  They also called Sean Wendel’s and Dalton Grell’s names often.  Wendel had five solo and five tackle assists; Grell made three solo and eight tackle assists.  Nico McPherrin marked his return with three solo and five assisted tackles.  Joey Monson attacked for six solo and one tackle assist to go with his two solo sacks in the game.  Five of his six solo tackles were made for a Cowboy loss.  Lester had five solo and two assists;  Kade Hambly finished with four solo and two assists; Jack Barragy had three solo and three assists; and Luke Eggers had three solo and one assist.

“Our defense continues to get better every week and we are becoming a complete team, but there are still things to work on,” said Coach DeVries.

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