Lions run over Cardinals in 48-8 victory

Clear Lake won the battle against Garner-Hayfield-Ventura and themselves Friday night.  The Lions pounded the Cardinals on their Homecoming night, 48-8.  The win stopped a three-game skid by the Lions and put them at 2-3 overall and 1-1 in Class 2A District 3 play.  GHV fell to 0-5.

“It was a good outing.  We eliminated most of our mental mistakes,” said Coach Jared DeVries, who had challenged his team to “win the competition within” and not beat themselves.  “We were definitely better.”

Another positive in the game was the discovery of a second back who can provide the Lions with more weapons on offense.  

Titan Schmitt, who has handled the majority of Clear Lake ground game this season, was feeling under the weather during the game, according to DeVries.  In the second quarter freshman Sam Dodge was inserted into the lineup to give Schmitt a breather.  The pair tagged teamed through the remainder of the first half and into the second, with each gaining more than 100-yards.  Dodge carried the ball 19 times for 128-yards, while Schmitt ran 17 times for 124.  Each scored two touchdowns.

“Sam was thrown into action and he made the best of it,” said DeVries.  

Schmitt handled the ball on both snaps of Clear Lake’s first scoring drive.  A 41-yard punt return by Zeke Nelson gave the Lions the ball at the Cardinal 25.  Schmitt took the first handoff from quarterback Stephany 11-yards, then broke two tackles on his way to the end zone on the very next play.  Kinnick Clabaugh kicked the first of six PATs for a 7-0 advantage.  

Schmitt and Dodge, helped by tremendous locking by the Lions defense, moved the ball from their own 15 to the GHV 12 on their next possession.  Nelson did the scoring honors by snatching a Stephany pass for a TD and 14-point lead.

Clear Lake’s third score came after an 11-play drive midway through the second quarter that spanned 61-yards.  Schmitt scored his second TD when he raced almost untouched into the end zone.

The Lion defense padded the lead with a huge stop as time was winding down in the first half.  Clear Lake forced a punt with just under one-minute to play.  Stephany, with good protection from his line, calmly connected with Travaughn Luyobya and Thomas Meyer to make the score 28-0 at the break.

The Lions had dominated play and out-produced the Cards offensively, 209 to 37.

The onslaught continued in the second half, as the Lions drove 46-yards on eight plays for a score on their first possession.  A running clock provided some relief from the one-sided game and misty rain, but GHV intercepted a tipped Stephany pass and one play later scored to make the score 35-8.

Dodge excited Lions fan with his speed on Clear Lake’s next series, as he burst through for a 33-yard touchdown run as the third quarter came to a close.  

The final nail in the coffin was a 49-yard completion down the sideline to Ben Loge.