Tenth ranked (2A) Crestwood used an inspired second half to topple Clear Lake, 26-7, in a battle of District 3 teams Friday night. Both teams will advance to the post-season playoffs, but the order of their finish in the district is still uncertain.
Clear Lake fell to 2-2 in District 3, while Crestwood and ninth ranked New Hampton, who the Lions will take on this week, are both 3-1. Eighth rated Osage is in command with a 4-0 district record, however the Green Devils travel to Crestwood this week. A win by Crestwood would give the Cadets a share of the district title.
Clear Lake Head Coach Jared DeVries said his team will focus on the positives of their meeting with Crestwood as they prepare for the final game of the regular season.
“On the bright side, we figured out how to play inspired football in the first half,” DeVries said following Friday’s contest. “We clawed for everything we got. I think we felt too satisfied at halftime. It was the same players and the same schemes in the second half, but we didn’t have the same intensity.”
After a scoreless first quarter, the Cadets were the first to get on the scoreboard in the second. They moved the ball 76-yards on eight plays for a 6-0 lead. The PAT failed.
The Lions responded to the score with fire. A drive that started on their own 27 was celebrated in the end zone following a one-yard run by Titan Schmitt. Kinnick Clabaugh split the uprights with his all-important kick for a 7-6 Clear Lake lead.
The score stood in the Lions’ favor until the second half.
The Cadets exploded out of the gates and scored on their first possession to take the lead. Another missed PAT made the score 12-7.
The Lions responded to the score with determination and a 42-yard reception from Cael Stephany to Ben Loge put Clear Lake at the Cadet 29. On the very next play Loge took another catch all the way to the one-yard line, only to have it knocked out of his grasp. The Cadets recovered the fumble and the Lions were never the same.
Crestwood rattled off two third quarter TDs, and one more in the fourth, while keeping the Lions scoreless throughout the half for the lopsided win.
The Cadets amassed 462-yards of offense, 384 of it on the ground, compared to 212 total for the Lions.
Stephany was 9/17 passing for 120-yards and one interception. In addition to Loge’s three receptions for 42-yards, he connected four times with Zeke Nelson for 16-yards and twice with Thomas Meyer for 18-yards.
Schmitt carried the ball 15 times for 84-yards and a TD. Stephany managed nine-yards on three totes and Meyer had minus-one on his only rush.
Defensively, Kaleb Hambly piled up 13.5 tackles, 12 of them solo. Hayden Rieck was credited with nine and one-half tackles, eight of them solo. Rieck had the teams’ only tackle for loss, as well as a fumble recovery. Jake Trenary also covered a Cadet fumble and had four solo tackles in the game.
Coach DeVries said his team emerged from the loss with no serious injuries to his players, which is crucial
considering they lost Alex Brcka and Aidan Hartl in recent weeks. Both are recovering from season-ending injuries. Brcka is a senior who played tight end and defensive end for the Lions. Hartl is a junior running back and linebacker.
“We really miss them. Alex was an emotional leader and maybe the best player on the team. To be without him is tough. We need to all step up and play to the best of our abilities,” said DeVries.
New Hampton will present challenges similar to that of the Crestwood team, according to the top Lion. The Chickasaws strong run game is led by junior Braden McShane, who has gained over 1,300 yards so far this season.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 Friday at Lions Field.
