Three hundred and nine days.
That’s how long the Clipper football team had to wait before washing away the bitter taste of losing to United South Central in the second round of the sections last season.
Had they beaten the Rebels, and they woulda, coulda, shoulda, the Clippers would have had a legit shot at making the state tournament.
“That was kind of our feel all winter and summer coming into this year,” said junior quarterback Carson Lyons. “We knew we had the ability to win that game. We knew we were going to play them first game this year and wanted to get that bad taste out of our mouths.”
And the Clippers did in a big way in Wells on Friday as they rolled over the Rebels 33-0, belying the word on the street: USC was returning a crowd of now seniors, so the season opener would be an uphill battle.
Head coach Erik Hermanson attributed the victory to several influences. First off, the Clippers started preparing for the game in earnest not long after their 2024 season ended. And they never stopped.
“We’ve had great practices. (Assistant coaches) Larry (Walechka) and Matt (Miller) started lifting weights with these guys right after Thanksgiving. Over 100 times we got together as a team and lifted. Coach (Dustin) Bosshart, coach (Garrett) Mensing were huge additions working with linebackers and being up in the booth tonight giving us tips and advice, and (defensive coach) Kyle (Atherton) put together a great plan.”
Because of all of that, Hermanson said, the Clippers limited USC's possession time—despite their two senior offensive linemen listed at 300 lbs and another at 355—and that made the difference.
“They couldn’t do anything on offense, and we have some talented kids ball handlingwise and athletic wise. Cleveland always has. And tonight, they did everything we asked and everything we’ve been practicing.”
Hermanson also said that injuries in the playoff game last year loomed large.
“There were quite a few guys who were standouts tonight but didn’t get to play in that game. David Draheim was hurt. He was an incredible anchor on the line today. Injured also, Bode (Bartell) didn’t get to play that game. Look at what he did tonight: two touchdown catches. When Braeden (Smith) and Tanner (Simonette) have to do everything, they’re getting all that attention, and that made it so much harder that day. We’re still missing a couple of guys, but being more at full strength made a big difference.”
Clippers make a statement early
Setting the tone from the get go, the Clipper defense forced the Rebels to a three-and-out after the opening kickoff. After a pair of short runs and a 2-yard screen pass from Lyons to Simonette, the Clippers had to punt too.
Taking over on their 43 and aided by a pass interference call, USC drove as far as the Cleveland 28, but Max Esser corralled the runner in the backfield after the next snap. The Rebels suffered a pair of delay penalties and threw an incomplete pass after that, but they landed their ensuing punt safely on the Cleveland 5.
The starting point didn't make a difference though, as Clippers drove the length of the field from there.
After a Lyons incomplete pass, Caleb Possin ran for 6 yards and then for a yard, but his helmet flew off. Deep in their own territory on a fourth and 3, it was a punting situation, but Possin, who does the punting, had to sit out a play. Smith took the snap though, and, on a fake punt, picked up 5 yards for the first down.
From there, Possin rattled off a 5-yard run, and Lyons hooked up with Bartell near the sidelines for a 35-yard catch and run. Lyons found Bartell again on the next play, this time for 5 yards and then ran 11 himself. Possin dived for another yard before Lyons hit Bartell again for a 23-yard strike in the end zone. With the Possin PAT boot, the Clippers were in front 7-0 a couple of minutes into the second quarter.
They never looked back after.
After Possin’s kickoff, the Rebels got in a pair of runs before they went to the air. But Sam Ternes was there to intercept it, and with a 30-yard return on the play, the Clippers were suddenly perched on the USC 8.
The coaches were giving Ternes direction just before the snap, and it paid off.
“We were just warning him about backs out of the backfield, and it just happened that was the play, and Sam was right there,” Hermanson said. “Nobody has worked harder to try to earn a spot than Sam, and he’s such a Swiss army knife of a player. He plays tight end. He plays running back. He plays receiver. He’s our backup quarterback. He’s everywhere on defense, and so guys like that don’t normally get the glory because they're not always playing in a certain spot, but Sam just showed that’s what helps teams win.”
After a false start penalty, Lyons went with Bartell again in the end zone for a 13-yard TD pass. With the Possin PAT kick, the Clippers were instantly in front 14-0.
“Carson and I have been playing since junior high,” Bartell said. “There’s a great connection there. I wouldn’t want anyone else throwing the ball.”
While last year Bartell played under the shadow of standout wide receiver Brennan Kortuem—who is now on the GAC football team—Hermanson said it was his offseason effort that made the difference.”
“As soon as basketball was done, Bode was in the weight room, and all his numbers were skyrocketing, so he’s stronger, he’s faster, he’s more confident, and it showed out here tonight.”
The Rebels rushed twice for short gains before breaking free for 20 yards. Smith caught the runner from behind to prevent the touchdown, but USC had the ball on the Cleveland 35. A few plays later, another pass, although the receiver trapped the ball, put them on the Cleveland 12.
Another completed toss took the Rebels to the Clipper 6, but the defense stepped up, and the Clippers got the ball back on downs from there.
“We’ve talked all offseason about ‘REP,’ which is restart every play,” Hermanson said. “If something doesn’t go our way, we’re not going to hang our heads anymore and let that affect us. We’re going to come out even harder and try to make up for it.”
Two plays later, Lyons passes of 42-yards and 52-yards, both to Smith, the Clippers were back in the end zone. Possin’s PAT kick put them in front 21-0 less than a minute before the break.
“I’m glad Carson gave me the ball,” Smith said. “It was really fun to get open. It was a fun night.”
Possin’s leg went to work again in the Clippers’ first possession after the second-half kickoff for a 25-yard field goal. The only points of the third quarter, it was set up by a 27-yard Alex Kortuem grab and a 25-yard Nathan Seeman catch.
Later in the third quarter, after the Rebels turned the ball over on downs, the Clippers started a 54-yard campaign that extended into the final frame. It featured a 28-yard Lyons keeper and a 14-yard Possin run up the middle to the end zone. Possin’s point-after kick missed left, but the Clippers had a comfortable 30 to 0 lead.
On the first play after the kickoff, Bartell intercepted a Rebel pass and returned it 22 yards to the USC 33. Simonette clicked off a 17-yard up the middle, the Rebels sacked Lyons for a 12-yard loss, and Simonette had another big run, this time to the 6. From there, Possin kicked a 27-yard field goal with 7:51 remaining.
The younger players took over the game after.
It was the first time the Clippers have beaten the Rebels. In their first meeting in 2019, the Clippers’ first year back to 11-man, host USC won 60-20. In their 2020 season opener, the Clippers again fell in Wells, this time 22-6. In 2021, again at Wells, USC won 42-14. In Cleveland in 2022, the Rebels won 24-8. The playoff game last year ended 16-10 with the Clippers getting as far as the Rebel 6 with under a minute remaining.
Stats and action around the district
Lyons, who was the QB in this meeting with USC and the last, completed nine of 14 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns. With four catches for 76 total yards and two TDs, Bartell was his favorite receiver. Smith hauled in two catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. Kortuem had one catch for 27 yards, and Seeman had one catch for 25 yards. Simonette had one catch for 2 yards. Freshman Jack Mons had one pass—to classmate Pierce Lyons—for 1 yard.
The Clippers picked up 140 yards on the ground. Lyons kept the ball seven times for 55 yards. Simonette rushed the ball four times for 46 yards. Possin had 11 carries for 24 yards. Smith carried the ball once for 5 yards. Ternes rushed one time for 3 yards. Sophomore Owen Lloyd had two carries for three yards. Freshman Tony Hollerich had two carries. Freshman Jake Mueller had one carry for 7 yards.
Possin’s foot was good for nine points. He punted one time, and it traveled 33 yards. Smith punted once for 62 yards. Simonette returned one kickoff for 22 yards.
Jack Shouler had five solo tackles and five assists. Draheim had two solo tackles and three assists. Esser had one solo tackle and three assists with two tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Garrett Heldberg had two solo tackles. Lyons had four solo tackles and two assists. Smith had one solo tackle and two assists. Possin had one solo and three assists. Simonette had two assists. Mason Kluntz had two solos and three assists. Ternes made one solo tackle and one interception. Before he left the game with an injured ankle, Kiptyn Coon had two assisted tackles. Bartell had one interception and one pass deflection. Wyatt Krenk, Urijah Hoheisel, Lloyd, Jeremy Miller, Richard Jordan and Hollerich each had one solo tackle.
The Clippers had 16 first downs, five more than USC. They were penalized six times for 50 yards compared to four penalties for 25 yards issued to the Rebels.
The Clippers travel to former nine-man rival Madelia today (Friday). Lakeview rolled over the visiting Blackhawks 70-8 a week ago.
“We want to take it not one game at a time or even one quarter at a time,” Hermanson said. “We want to take it one play at a time, and that worked tonight. It will be one play at a time not only with Madelia but no matter who we play.”
Elsewhere in the district and Section 2A, Lewiston-Altura beat visiting Blooming Prairie 21-8, GFW won 44-6 over visiting Lac Qui Parle Valley, St. James Area fell 24-20 to host Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, Mayer Lutheran beat visiting Sibley East 14-0, Lester Prairie fell to visiting Le Sueur-Henderson 6-0, and Martin County west lost to host Windom Area 30-8.
Above: With sophomore Richard Jordan out front, Carson Lyons breaks through the line on a QB keeper.
Despite being outsized, the Clipper defense for the most part kept the Rebels in check. Here they include senior David Draheim, junior Jackson Shouler and senior Caleb Possin.
Caleb Possin on the run.
Bode Bartell breaks up a USC pass.
Tanner Simonette bursts through the line.
Freshman Jack Mons sets up to a pitch to classmate Tony Hollerich…
…who gained 5 yards in his first varsity run.
It was a jubilant huddle after the win.
Seniors Caleb Possin, Max Esser, Nathan Seeman, David Draheim, Mason Kluntz, Alex Kortuem and Bode Bartell pose with their classmates after the win.