Indians stop Lions

Forest City-- and specifically quarterback Tate Thompson, was just too much for the Lions Friday night.  The Indians outscored Clear Lake 25-7 in the third quarter on their way to a 32-17 non-District victory.

The loss snapped Clear Lake’s 42-game regular season win streak, as well as the 18 consecutive wins the Lions had posted over Forest City.  Clear Lake, ranked seventh in Class 3A, fell to 1-1 on the season, while the Indians, who compete in Class 2A, improved to 2-0.

“Forest City did a great job,” said Clear Lake Head Coach Fred Wieck.  “That Thompson kid-- we couldn’t bring him down.  He was just too much for us.”

After a scoreless first quarter, it was the Lions which got on the scoreboard first.  Late in the second quarter Clear Lake’s Gavin Sheakley intercepted a Thompson pass and returned it to the Indian 33 yard line.  Cody Maulsby and Carter Hand carried the ball down to inside the 10, but the Lions were forced to attempt a field goal with just four seconds left on the clock.  Logan Kracht successfully booted a 24-yard field goal to give the Lions a 3-0 lead at the half.

The third quarter belonged to the Indians, as they broke out of the gate with a four play, 60-yard drive which took just 1:56 to produce a touchdown.  Thompson kept the ball, got to the outside, broke tackles and changed direction to reach the endzone for the score.  

After the Lions went three and out, Forest City scored again, this time on a 16-yard pass from Thompson to Matt Snyder.  The extra point was blocked, making the score 13-3.

With momentum clearly on their side, the Indians surprised the Lions with an onside kick, which they recovered on the 30 and turned into a touchdown five plays later.  A two-point conversion attempt failed and the Indians were up, 19-3.

Things went from bad to worse on the Lions’ next series.  On third and long at their own 26 quarterback Chase Lester was sacked and the ball was knocked loose.  The Indians recovered it and needed just four plays to go 17 yards for another score.  Again, the two-point conversion failed, making the score 25-3 with 1:10 left in the third quarter.

The Lions kept themselves in the game with a late score in the third on a 60-yard touchdown pass from Lester to Jack Abbas.  The successful PAT by Kracht pulled the team to within 25-10.  The margin quickly closed to eight when Carson Farmer recovered the Lions’ kickoff, giving Clear Lake the ball at the Forest City 29.  Hand rumbled into the endzone on first and goal from the one and Kracht split the uprights to make the score 25-17.

The Indians fought back, scoring their final touchdown with 5:44 left in the game.  The PAT made the final 32-17.  Thompson finished the night 6/8 passing for 106 yards.

Clear Lake quarterback Chase Lester was 12/22 passing for 175 yards.  Maulsby grabbed five passes for 72 yards and Abbas had four receptions for 67.  Hand, Sheakley and Luke Schiller had one reception apiece.

The Lions collected 101 yards on the ground, led by Hand’s 13 caries for 43 yards.  Maulsby ran seven times for 34 and Sheakley handled the ball five times for 21 yards.  Connor Nosbisch rushed three times for five yards.  Lester had negative two yards rushing.

Defensively, the Lions were led by Pete Swenson, who made - Read More Via e-Edition