Slow start dooms Clare football in playoff opener at Swan Valley

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

Host Swan Valley scored the first three touchdowns. Clare could never quite get all the way back into the game. The Pioneers saw their season ended as a result, falling to the Vikings 38-20 in their Division 5 district semi-final on Friday.

“We couldn't fully recover after digging ourselves too much of a hole early on to a really good football team,” head coach Steven Spranger said. “Proud of the guys for the way they continued to keep grinding and making it a game.”

The Vikings scored twice in the opening quarter, getting a two-yard touchdown run and an 18-yard touchdown on a pass play, and they led 14-0 after one.

In the second, Swan Valley extended their lead to 21-0, getting a 23-yard touchdown run. The Pioneers wrapped up the scoring in the first half, getting a nine-yard touchdown pass from Dane Alexander to Parker Smith. A Brayden Humphrey extra point made it 21-7 at the break.

To start the third quarter, Swan Valley broke off a 40-yard touchdown on a pass play, putting their lead back to three scores at 28-7.

Clare struck back with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Alexander to Brody Allen, with another extra point by Humphrey making it 28-14. Swan Valley followed with a 28-yard field goal, while the Pioneers were able to close out the third with a one-yard touchdown run from Alexander. A failed attempt at a two-pointer left the Pioneers behind 31-20 entering the fourth. Swan Valley had the only points of the final frame, getting a five-yard touchdown run.

The Viking offense proved tough to stop, as they had 530 total yards, getting 354 rushing and 161 passing. Clare conversely had 106 yards on the ground and 132 through the air for a total of 267.

Alexander was nine-of-20 passing for 161 yards and two touchdowns and he also ran 15 times for 64 yards and one touchdown. Mason Heintz ran 12 times for 45 yards while Allen had two receptions for 51 yards and one touchdown. Donavan Hoogerhyde had one grab for 40 yards; Conan Weeks had three receptions for 26 yards and Parker Smith had one touchdown and 14 yards on two catches.

Looking at the defense, Dylan Kruskamp and Andrew Moreno both had a team high eight tackles, Brendan Burton tracked down six tackles, and Smith was able to get five tackles and he also hauled in one interception.

Clare finishes the season 6-4 overall and went 3-2 in the Jack Pine Conference Division 2, taking third place. Their league wins came over Bullock Creek, Standish-Sterling and Shepherd; and they also defeated Beaverton in their JPC crossover.

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