With Carson Lyons wanting to give his injured throwing hand a little more rest, he took a break from quarterback on Wednesday when the Clippers hosted Martin County West and mostly played defense. But head coach Erik Hermanson had absolute confidence in Sam Ternes’ ability to step in.
Completing 11 of 14 throws for 111 yards and three touchdowns, the junior, who was the JV quarterback last season, didn’t let anyone down, and the Clippers cruised to a 32-0 victory to sweep their regular season 8-0 for the first time since the 2016 season.
“We had a good quarterback to back me, and we had a great line,” said Lyons, who still made some big contributions on defense. “Sam can throw the ball better than most quarterbacks in the section. He’s a great athlete. He’s the Swiss army knife like everyone says.”
Hermanson agreed and added that the O-line deserves credit for the W as well.
“Sam’s been working at quarterback with us since he’s been in eighth grade. He’s got thousands of reps. We knew he could do everything he did out here tonight as long as the line did everything it has been doing all year, which is be the better line. When you have a line like that, you can have your skills guys deliver some awesome plays.”
The win sets up the section tournament, where the Clippers, having beaten all the other six teams, are the top seed and get the only first-round bye. They will host the winner of fourth-ranked GFW vs fifth-seeded Mayer Lutheran on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
The winner of that game plays the winner of the other side of the bracket in New Prague at 7:00 p.m. on Halloween. On that side in the Tuesday quarterfinals, second seeded St. James Area hosts seventh-seeded Madelia while third-ranked Lester Prairie hosts sixth-ranked Martin County West.
After the opening kickoff, MCW, which came into the game with one win: Madelia, took the ball as far as the Clipper 13. But, after a block-in-the-back penalty reversed the Mavericks 10 yards, a Mason Kluntz sack on fourth-and-12 for an 11-yard loss put a dagger in that drive. Tackle Max Esser, one of seven seniors honored before the game on Senior Night, left the game in the series with an ankle injury and did not return.
“My ankle has been fine all year unlike last year,” Esser said, “but it was the worst ankle pop I have ever had.”
“Max plays super hard,” Hermanson said. “He’s a senior, and he knows every play can be your last play. That’s the way he has been playing all year: playing as hard as he can. Hopefully his injury is not as bad as he thinks.”
Ternes and company went right to work. After senior Caleb Possin ran for 5 yards and Tanner Simonette caught a 4-yard pass, a big Possin run with block-in-the-back penalty yards tacked on landed the Clippers on the MCW 8. From there, Simonette ran for 7 yards before senior Alex Kortuem pocketed a Ternes pass in the end-zone for a touchdown.
“We have the best offensive line in the state,” said Ternes, who learned he was penciled in at QB two days prior. “We have the best coaches. They all believe in me. I was nervous at first, but I trusted everyone around me. I couldn’t ask for a better line and better receivers.”
Possin’s PAT kick slid just wide right, but the Clippers, with their 6 points, lit up the scoreboard in the first half for the first time since three games prior.
Lyons forced a fumble on the Maverick’s ensuing series, and Jackson Shouler pounced on it to set up the Clippers on the MCW 39, but the Clippers only got 2 yards out of the deal, and the Mavericks took over on downs.
The stingy Clipper defense only gave up five yards though, and after the punt, the Clippers, starting out on their 32, scored again. Possin legged 9 yards, Simonette ran for 14 more, and Ternes kept the ball for 2 yards before airing the ball to Braeden Smith down the middle for a 43-yard catch and run to the house. The Maverick’s stopped Ternes’ PAT run, but the Clippers were up 12-0 with 9:21 left to the intermission.
After the kickoff, Lyons intercepted a Maverick pass at midfield, but the Clipper’s went three and out while the clock expired on the Mavericks.
With three touchdowns, the Clipper offense had its way in the third quarter. The first score came after Garret Heldberg returned the kickoff 11 yards to the Clipper 40, Possin ran for 20 yards and Smith legged 17 more before he grabbed a Ternes pass for a 27-yard TD. This time Possin’s PAT boot found its way between the uprights, and the Clippers led 19-0.
After their defense stopped the Mavericks for minus a yard, the Clippers, starting on their 32, scored again. Lyons ran for 9 yards and Possin for 15 more before Simonette dashed 44 yards to the end zone. The PAT pass fell to the ground, but the Clippers were comfortably in front, 25-0.
After the Mavericks punted again, the Clippers assembled a 75-yard campaign. Leaving tacklers in the dust, Simonette weaved his way 54 yards to the goal. Possin’s successful PAT kick put the Clippers in front 32-0 with 1:20 remaining in Q3.
With a 12-yard run and a 31-yard pass, the Mavericks threatened in their next possession, but Smith intercepted in the end zone to put a dagger in that drive. Later, freshman Jack Mons took over at quarterback.
Stats and district/section roundup
With six catches for 98 total yards, Smith was Ternes’s favorite target. Possin had two receptions for 4 total yards. Simonette had one catch for three yards. Kortuem had one catch for 1 yard and a TD. Nathan Seeman had one catch for five yards. Mons completed one of three passes. The third in the succession of Lyons brothers after Blake and Carson, freshman Pierce Lyons caught it near the sideline for his first varsity reception.
Simonette took 10 handoffs for 138 yards and a pair of TDs. Possin ran the ball six times for 92 yards. Lyons had one 9-yard run. Ternes called his own number twice and advanced the ball 9 yards. Owen Lloyd rushed four times for 31 yards. Jake Mueller ran the ball twice for three yards. Tony Hollerich hauled the ball three times for 10 yards.
Possin made two of three extra-point kicks and punted twice, once for 44 yards and once for 11 yards. Kiptyn Coon’s punt traveled 7 yards. Seeman fair caught two punts.
With three solo tackles, seven assisted tackles and a fumble recovery, Jackson Shouler led the Clipper tacklers. Kluntz made one solo and six assists and recorded one sack. Smith had two solos, two assists and one interception. Lyons had one solo tackle, forced one fumble, deflected one pass and intercepted one pass. Possin had one solo and five assists. Garet Peterson had three solos and four assists. Coon had three solos and three assists. Simonette and Lloyd each had one solo and one assist. Urijah Hoheisel had one assist. Heldberg had one solo tackle and two assists. David Draheim had two solo tackles with one of them behind the line. Jeremy Miller recovered an MCW fumble. Henry Boelter, Seeman, Kortuem, Ternes and Esser each made one solo tackle.
At 5-8 and 165 pounds, Esser, who started his career as a linebacker and is now a defensive end, relies on his quickness and ability to read the offense to make stops.
“You have to predict it, see how they are lined up and if they have any tendances, if they lean a certain way.”
The senior was up from the bench walking after the game. He said he has definitely upped his game as the season progressed and, taking advantage of the first-round bye, hopes to be on the field on Saturday.
The Clippers gained nine first downs compared to MCW’s five. The Clippers committed six infractions, and it cost them 35 yards while the Mavericks were flagged for five penalties for 34 yards.
Among the Clipper regular-season opponents, visiting St. James Area rolled over winless Madelia 60-0 for a 6-2 regular season. Lester Prairie topped host Mayer Lutheran 14-7. Both of those teams finished their regular seasons 4-4. GFW lost to crossover host Springfield 42-14 to finish its regular season 4-4.
In Clipper crossover competition, USC beat host NRHEG 29-0 to go 4-4 while Lewiston-Altura topped visiting Southland 21-14 for a 5-3 regular season.
There was no rest for the district champs as Hermanson and company, starting a new season, went right back to work with a 7:30 a.m. practice on Thursday.
Above: Assistant coach Larry Walechka and the team celebrate the 8-0 regular season. 
Sam Ternes launches a pass under pressure.
Senior David Draheim reaches out for a tackle. 
Senior Caleb Possin breaks away for a big chunk of real estate. 
MCW defenders wrap up Braeden Smith by the ankles.
Carson Lyons moves in to assist a Jackson Shouler tackle.
Braeden Smith reaches up to haul in a perfectly thrown Sam Ternes pass en route to the end zone .
Garrett Heldberg confronts MCW defenders as he returns the second-half kickoff. 
Tanner Simonette sets up to slip around defenders during a long touchdown run.
Jack Mons goes back for a pass. 
Tony Hollerich slips around a defender. 
Nathan Seeman turns downfield after a catch.
Sophomore Owen Lloyd gained 31 yards on the ground. 
Pierce Lyons made his first varsity catch.
Former assistant coach Brady Hahn announced the game. To his right is scoreboard operator Greg Davis. 
The bibs had plenty to cheer about. 
Jack Mons, Jake Mueller, Pierce Lyons, Jeremy Miller, Austin Tarkey, Tony Hollerich and Brayden Seeman pose with scoreboard keeper Greg Davis after the win. (photo courtesy of Katie Mons)