Clare has no problem with Beaverton in JPC football crossover

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

The Clare football team had zero trouble in their Jack Pine Conference crossover game on Friday. The Pioneers were hosting Beaverton, and they handled the Beavers, getting some big plays on both offense and defense, to the tune of a 54-0 victory.

“Happy with the way that this was a whole team contribution,” head coach Steven Spranger said. “We had 10 different players in the scoring column, and everyone contributed to the shut-out. Coach Haggart devised a great defensive game plan and the whole team contributed and executed. Shutouts are great because it requires contributions from everyone. This week was all about us as a team. We played as a team, pulled for one another, and had a great senior night all around.”

Clare got going with two touchdowns in the opening quarter, starting with a 15-yard touchdown run by Mason Heintz. The Pioneer defense got in on the act next, as they forced a fumble, which Dylan Kruskamp scooped up and returned 56 yards for a touchdown at 14-0 advantage.

In the second quarter, they put in three more scores. Hunter Smith broke free for a four-yard touchdown run, and it was a 20-0 Clare lead. The defense struck again after this, as Brody Allen tracked down an interception and returned it 80 yards for another exciting defensive score.

Ryder Drinkwine closed out the half with a five-yard touchdown run and the Pioneers led 34-0 at the break.

Clare had a pair of long touchdown runs in the third quarter. Dane Alexander and Donavan Hoogerhyde ran for one score each, going for 30 and 50 yards respectively, and Clare led 47-0 entering the fourth.

The final tally came in that frame, with Trent Francisco rushing in to find paydirt from 25 yards away.

The Pioneers had Alexander finish two-of-five passing for 52 yards and added another 76 yards and one touchdown on nine rushing attempts. Heintz ran eight times for 103 yards and one score, Hoogerhyde carried it three times for 87 yards and a touchdown and Kruskamp ran for 28 yards on three rush attempts. Francisco had the 25-yard touchdown run and Jacob Halicek ran twice for 22 yards. Halicek had one catch for 29 yards, Alexander had one grab for 27 yards and Donavan Hoogerhyde had one reception for 23 yards. Brody Allen also had one completion for 27 yards.

Looking at the defense, Kruskamp had 13 tackles, three for a loss and two sacks. Gunner West had seven tackles, Andrew Moreno and Brendan Burton (one sack) had six tackles each, while tracking down four apiece was Luke Gyulveszi, Halicek and Smith. Allen, Hoogerhyde, Talan Heard, Marek Michalski and Heintz had three tackles apiece, as did Preston Tait and Marshal Strouse.

Clare (6-2 overall) finishes up the season on Friday at Petoskey (4-4). The Northmen area a quality Division 3 team, and had a victory over Sault Ste. Marie last week, 42-0. They’ve also topped Alpena, Cadillac and Greenville so far this fall.

“Petoskey is a really well coached football team,” Spranger said. “They play a really tough schedule, and they've been in every single game this season. We will have to match their level of intensity for their senior night in order to have success. There's a lot of playoff implications for both teams this week, so we need to focus throughout the week and execute come Friday.”