Lions capture Class 2A District 2 title

Clear Lake wins battle of district’s unbeatens, 20-7

New class.  New District.  Same result.

The Clear Lake Lions captured another District title and earned home field advantage when playoffs begin next week with a 20-7 victory over previously unbeaten Hampton-Dumont Friday.  Class 2A’s top ranked team fenced in the fourth ranked Bulldogs to go to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in District 2.

Clear Lake and Hampton-Dumont came into the game as the two best defensive teams in the district and the much-anticipated battle lived up to the pre-game billing.  Yardage was almost even between the two teams, with Clear Lake picking up 197-yards and the Bulldogs gaining 186.  

“It was a great high school football game,” said Wieck after the game.  “We both made a few mistakes, but it was definitely a good game.  Looks like we made it through with no injuries and we are ready to go on to GHV Friday and hopefully wrap up an undefeated season.

Hampton-Dumont set the tone for the game right at the start.  The Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and successfully ran it to midfield before the Lion defense stiffened and sacked quarterback Cole Miller, forcing a punt.  The kick was tipped and muffed and the Bulldogs quickly picked it up for a second chance for an early score.  The Lion defense again answered, forcing a three-and out.

After Chandler Diercks rattled off a quick 12-yard gain on first down, the Bulldog defense stepped up and forced a punt.  

MaKean Bang quickly put the Lions back on offense with an interception at the H-D 36-yard line.  Seven plays later, Tamarik Lee powered the ball in for a Lion TD.  M.J. Mixdorf’s PAT was good for a 7-0 lead.

Lee and Mixdorf teamed for seven more points in the second quarter.  Another one-yard run by the senior fullback and extra point kick put the Lions up, 14-0.

The H-D offense quickly doused any thoughts of the Lions running away with the game when Miller began to find his receivers midway through the second quarter.  They moved the ball 62-yards in seven plays to close the gap to 14-7 with under two-minutes to go in the half.  

Chandler Diercks single-handedly pulled momentum back to Clear Lake’s side when he zoomed through the Bulldog’s special teams unit and returned the ensuing kickoff 94-yards for a score.  

The Lions followed that performance with a fumble recovery on the kickoff and had the ball at the Bulldog 40 with :30 seconds remaining in the half.  With the seconds ticking away, quarterback Brock Adams had a pass picked off to end the threat.  They took a 20-7 lead into the halftime break.

Both teams struggled to move the ball in the second half, as each team made impressive defensive stands.  

The Bulldogs moved the ball to inside the Lion 25, but Ernie Miszewski intercepted a Miller pass which ended a late threat.  The Lions spent the final minutes controlling the tempo of the game, eating up the clock along with H-D’s chances for an upset.

Adams was 3/7 passing for 58-yards with two interceptions in the game.  Diercks caught two passes for 23-yards and Tucker Tusha made one grab for 35.  

Diercks carried the ball nine times for 51-yards.  Adams rushed 12 times for 34 and Lee ran 11 times for 26-yards.  Miszewski finished with 26-yards on seven carries.

Zach Zwiefel had a team-high eight tackles, with three solo and eight assists.  Justin Sholly and MaKean Bang were also defensive standouts.  Sholly made two solo and five assisted tackles; Bang was credited with two solo and seven assisted tackles.  Tavian Coleman made two solo and four assists. Tim Franken and Mitchell Keeran each made three and one-half total tackles and each sacked the quarterback.  Tamarik Lee also had a QB sack.

This week the Lions will look to finish the regular season with a 9-0 mark at Garner-Hayfield/Ventura.  

Clear Lake will begin the post-season Wednesday, Oct. 29, at home against a yet-to-be-named opponent.