State-ranked 2A NYA too much for Clipper boys

Good morning Cleveland Clippers.

You are scheduled in 2023 to take on five double-A schools and three single-A schools. All of the latter will, sometime during the season, be ranked in the state top 10.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, will be—despite key injuries and a youthful roster—to always play your hardest and improve each game.

Good luck Clippers.

While the 2023 season has not been an impossible mission for the Cleveland varsity football team, it has been a difficult one, and it didn’t get any easier on Thursday when the Clippers lost at home 37-0 to Norwood-Young America, a 5-0 team ranked eighth in the state in class 2A.

It was the first time the Clippers were shutout this season.

“They were super aggressive, strong, fast, and they play well as a team,” said head coach Erik Hermanson.”

But despite the decisive defeat, Hermanson said experience is always good.

“Any time any of these guys are on the field, throwing the ball, catching the ball, blocking somebody, tackling, we’re getting better and better. That experience is going to pay off where next summer, we don’t have to start over. We’re not giving up on this season, but next summer we’re not going to be starting at step one anymore. They are taking their lumps, but it is making them better.”

While the Clippers stopped NYA in the series after the opening kickoff, the Raiders scored on a 51-yard drive in their next possession with the TD coming on a 25-yard run up the middle. Taking advantage of a Clipper fumble and run to the Cleveland five after the kickoff, they scored on a 5-yard pass. After the Clippers punted again, the Raiders racked up 37 yards on a catch and run before scoring on an 11-yard dash up the middle.

With the three PAT kicks tacked on, the Raiders led 21-0 with 5 minutes left in the first quarter.

After gaining 10 yards on a fake punt, the Raiders scored again early in the second quarter with the TD coming on a 13-yard toss into the end zone. The point-after boot was good. Later in the half, they added three more points on a 25-yard field goal for a 31-0 lead at the intermission.

“They are a big team, fast and hit hard,” said Gabe Sullivan, who, along with Ian Vlasak, Brady Bostic and the injured Carter Barto, was honored before the game for Senior Night.

“They’ll catch you off guard,” Vlasak said. “They will make you pay for your mistakes.”

The Raiders’ final touchdown came during their first series of the third quarter after a 35-yard pass. The PAT kick didn’t make it through the iron.

Blake Lyons completed 14 of 38 pass attempts for 106 yards.

Carson Lyons pulled down five catches for 41 total yards, Tanner Simonette grabbed two catches for 32 yards, and Kale Kelley had three catches for 18 yards. Bode Bartell had one catch for 7 yards, and Sam Ternes had one catch for 9 yards.

With a net 27 yards, the Clippers didn’t get much going on the ground. Blake Lyons kept the ball seven times for 29 yards. Caleb Possin had two runs for a total of 2 yards.

Kelley returned four kickoffs for a total of 80 yards. His 35-yard return was the game highlight for the Clippers. Simonette had two returns for 24 yards, and Braeden Smith had one return for 14 yards.

The Raiders took advantage of three interceptions and one Cleveland fumble.

With three solo tackles and four assists, Sullivan led the defense. Bostic had four solos and two assists, and Vlasak had four assists.

Blake Lyons had three solo tackles and one assist. Nick Simonette, back on the field after missing two games with an injury, had one solo tackle and one assist as did his younger brother Tanner.

Smith also had three solos and four assists. Kelley had two solos and one assist and picked off a Raider throw. David Draheim had two solos and two assists. Mason Kluntz had three solos and one assist. Carson Lyons had two solos and one assist.

The Clippers return to action on Thursday when they host Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop in their homecoming game. The Thunderbirds, whose only loss has been to Lester Prairie, are coming off a 36-20 home win over Randolph.

Also around the district last week, WEM lost 22-0 to host NRHEG, Lester Prairie lost to visiting Mayer Lutheran 34-26, JWP fell to host USC 22-6, and St. Clair/Loyola rolled over visiting Medford 40-6.

Above: Ian Vlasak and Tanner Simonette push open a hole for Kale Kelley.