by Marianne Gasaway
Clear Lake reached the round of 16 in Class 2A play-off action Friday night. The Lions rallied from a two touchdown deficit to defeat Prairie City Monroe, 28-27. The Lions, who finished third in District 3, were on the road to Prairie City to face the Mustangs, runner-up to West Marshall in District 7.
The Lions (5-4) advance to take on undefeated and third ranked Spirit Lake (9-0) this Friday in Spirit Lake. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
“Spirit Lake is always a challenge, but I am extremely excited about the opportunity,” said Head Coach Jared DeVries. “There’s a lot of work to be done this week, but I feel like we are ready. We have been getting better and better and are figuring it out.”
The win over PCM represented another step forward for the Lions, who roared back after a 1-3 start to the season. Clear Lake ended the regular season at .500 with a win over New Hampton. But unlike the quick start the Lions got off to against the Chickasaws, they were put on their heels at PCM. The Mustangs dominated the first quarter and scored twice. One PAT was blocked, making the score 13-0.
The Lion offense found its footing when it needed it most. A 76-yard drive that included a 45-yard Cael Stephany to Ben Loge completion and ended with a 13-yard TD run by Titan Schmitt and PAT by Kinnick Clabaugh narrowed the score to 13-7.
Less than two-minutes later the Lions took the lead on an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Schmitt took the ball in from the 10 and with Clabaugh’s kick Clear Lake took a 14-13 lead.
With 4:30 remaining before halftime, PCM regained the lead with a touchdown and PAT, then punctuated the resurgence with an interception and score 15-seconds before halftime. The Lions trailed, 27-14, at the break.
“We shouldn’t have needed a comeback— we made some mental mistakes, but I’m glad the kids kept fighting,” said Coach DeVries.
That fight was evident from the start of the half. PCM took the kickoff with the opportunity to go up by three scores, but Zeke Nelson intercepted a Mustang pass for a touchdown. Clabaugh’s 24th consecutive PAT had the Lions back within six, 27-21.
An 11-play, 75-yard drive by the Lions midway through the third quarter completed the comeback. Clabaugh remained perfect on the night and gave the Lions the lead with his kick, 28-27.
In the fourth quarter it was the Lion defense’s time to shine. It withstood three Mustang possessions without giving up a point. Schmitt intercepted a PCM pass attempt in the final two-minutes to secure the victory.
“I thought our offensive and defensive lines played very well, with Kaleb Hambly and Hayden Rieck being outstanding once again,” praised DeVries. “And Cabot Neuberger was extremely valuable off the bench.”
Neuberger came in to make four tackles, two of them solo and two for a loss.
Hambly and Rieck continued to swarm to the ball carrier, with Hambly figuring in on 10 takes, six of them solo and one for loss. Rieck was credited with nine tackles, seven of them solo and one for a loss.
Stephany was 5/11 passing for 96-yards and an interception. He connected with Loge twice for 56-yards and Nelson twice for 30. Travaughn Luyobya had one catch for 10-yards.
Schmitt carried the ball 27 times and collected 142-yards for the Lions. Sam Dodge ran six times for 32 and Stephany kept the ball four times for six-yards.
