Like every coin, including the one flipped three times on Friday, Randolph 41, host Cleveland 35 can be examined from two opposing positions.
On the tails side, with a rock ’em, sock ’em homecoming contest that was only decided after two overtimes, it’s natural to dwell on what might have been. But from the heads point of view, the manner the Clippers held on shows that they have assembled a team that can compete with any in the district.
Randolph brought a 3-1 record to town with its only loss a week earlier: 42-32 to Norwood-Young America, the solitary undefeated team in the district.
“Randolph, being a 2A school has the luxury of having separate offense, defense and special teams players,” said head coach Erik Hermansen. “Our core group, many being underclassmen, play the entire game. Going into double OT against fresh players really proved the strength, grit, mental toughness and school spirit that we have longed for in our football team since moving up to 11-man football.”
Perched on their 10 to start the first OT, the Rockets gained 5 yards on the ground, lost 2 yards after a backfield tackle by Mason Kluntz and Braeden Smith, but scored on a 7-yard TD pass. The PAT kick was good.
The Clippers matched the 7 points though after Kale Kelley ran for 8 yards and quarterback Carson Lyons targeted Bode Bartell in the back of the end zone. Reminiscent of Austin Plonsky (CHS 2018), the junior somehow came down with the ball for the TD. Caleb Possin’s PAT boot sent the game in OT number two.
The Clippers got first shot after the next coin toss but didn’t gain a yard. The Rockets responded with a 3-yard run and a run up the gut for a 7-yard game winner.
“It stings, but after this game, it shows we can compete with anyone in our conference,” said Kelley. “I’m really proud of our guys for never giving up.”
All even after first four quarters
Despite short fields, the Rockets didn’t score in the first quarter and missed a field goal.
But after taking advantage of a 15-yard gain on an interference infraction, Randolph capped off a 46-yard drive with a 31-yard run along the right side and into to the end zone. With the PAT boot, they led 7-0 17 seconds into the second frame.
After the kickoff, the Clippers went three and out, but Lyons picked off a Rocket pass and returned it 32 yards to the Randolph 30. From there, Kelley legged 8 yards, Lyons hooked up with Tanner Simonette for 14 yards, Brennan Kortuem hauled in a 10-yard pass, and Lyons scored on a QB draw from 2-yards out. With the Possin points-after kick, the game deadlocked 7-7.
It was the first of four touchdown exchanges in regulation.
Again with a short field, this time 51 yards, the Rockets scored after the Clipper kickoff on runs of 12, 14 and 13 yards and dozen-yard reception in the corner of the end zone. The PAT boot put them in front 14-7 with 1:42 left before the break.
Back on their own 20, the Clippers quickly got down to business when Lyons connected with Simonette, who broke through a tackle and legged up 65 yards to the goal line. With the Possin kick, it was all even at 14 with 31.8 seconds to halftime.
The Clippers offensive line did well at picking up Randolph's very aggressive blitzes, Hermanson said.
“AJ (Alex Johnson) and Mason (Kluntz) were on islands going one-on-one with their ends, but David (Draheim), Noah (Hermel) and Nick (Simonette) had to scan the defense for potential blitzes, often being called on to pick up multiple defenders. This is a high-level concept that they are, in turn, performing at a very high level. Coach (Matt) Miller and coach (Larry) Walechka have done an awesome job working with these talented linemen. The strength, smarts, athletic ability and talent of our line this season is the main key to our improvement.”
But Randolph didn’t waste time regaining the lead when they took the kickoff 86 yards to the house. It could have gotten worse for the Clippers when the Rockets recovered their onside, but time ran out on that effort, and the Clippers trailed by seven at the intermission.
With a 17-yard Simonette catch and run and a 21-yard Smith catch and run, where he dragged a host of defenders with him for the last 10 yards, the Clippers found themselves with a first-and-goal on the Randolph 7 in the first series of the second half. From there, they scored on a Lyons delay keeper that, with the Possin PAT, knotted the game at 21.
Looming large in the Clippers success this year have been the versatility and talent of tight ends Smith and Simonette, Hermanson said.
“They are very special players. No teams we play have two tight ends who are strong, physical and tough enough to block in the run game but still be able to split out wide as very gifted and skilled receivers like we have. They will continue to present even more miss matches as they get older.”
Randolph got back on top right away though on a 2-yard run that capped off a 71-yard campaign. It looked like there was an offensive holding on the TD, but with the PAT kick, the Rockets led 28-21 with half a second left in Q3.
“We are playing tough teams, and they are going to score on us,” Hermanson said. “We can’t worry about any close calls and have to be able to punch back.”
And they did. After each team punted, the Clippers stalemated the game 28-28 with 6:18 left. Starting at the Randolph 44, they advanced on 5-yard passes to Smith and Kelley, a 12-yard Kelley run, a pair of Randoph personal fouls before Simonette hauled in a jump ball for the TD.
Gaining real estate while draining the timer, Randolph got down to the Cleveland 29 on its ensuing possession but turned the ball over on downs. Although aided by a pass interference call, the Clippers also forfeited possession on downs after a sac followed by an incomplete pass. With 55 seconds left, the Rockets had another shot, but a Kortuem interception put a dagger in the drive, and on their 28 with 13 seconds left, the Clippers took a knee to send the game into OT.
Stats and upcoming week
Lyons completed 17 of 38 passes for 213 yards and three TDs. Sam Ternes completed a 30-yard pass.
Simonette caught five passes for 110 yards and 12 points. Kortuem hauled in five passes for 42 yards. Bartell grabbed three passes for 49 total yards and a TD. Smith had three catches for 31 yards, and Kelly caught two passes for 11 total yards.
Kelly rushed 13 times for 27 yards. Lyons ran eight keepers for 26 yards. Possin had six runs for 11 total yards.
Kortuem returned two kickoffs for 22 total yards. Lyons returned two for 50 total yards. Possin was perfect in PAT kicking.
Randolph picked up 13 first downs, one more than the Clippers.
Jackson Shouler, thrust into the middle linebacker position after Blake Lyons’ injury, wrestled three solo tackles and five assists with one tackle in Randolph’s backfield. Lyons had vie solo tackles with one in the backfield and intercepted one pass and deflected three. Nick Simonette had one solo tackle. Kelley had two solos. Kluntz teamed up on six tackles with one behind the line. Tanner Simonette had three solos. Possin had five sols and two assists with three tackles behind the line. Draheim had three solos and three assists with one tackle behind the line. Kortuem had two solos and two assists, one interception and a pair of pass deflections. Bartell had three solos and two pass deflections.
“We have incredible kids who work super hard, and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Hermanson said.
The Clippers, now 3-2, will get their shot at NYA in a road trip this Friday. NYA is coming off an easy 48-7 win over Lester Prairie.
Elsewhere in the district, St. Clair/Loyola fell to host JWP 53-34. Mayer Lutheran picked up its first win, 21-16 over host GFW. WEM beat host USC 34-6, and NRHEG topped visiting Medford 43-8.
Above: Carson Lyons threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns.
