Susan Harman

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – In a district with more teeth than your average shark, Friday’s homecoming game was one that Clear Creek Amana’s football team had to have.

The Clippers didn’t disappoint, devouring Maquoketa 51-0 to the delight of a big, fired-up crowd.

“We came in practice Monday with the mentality to win,” senior Cade Gallagher said. “It was our homecoming. It was a game where we couldn’t take them lightly even though we knew they were (struggling). So we didn’t really know what to expect in this game, but I think we played to our full potential.”

Both teams entered the game 0-3 overall and 0-1 in 3A District 4, a district that includes two teams used to 4A competition, Dubuque Wahlert and Davenport Assumption along with 3A stalwarts West Delaware, Marion and Center Point-Urbana.

It was CCA that took full advantage of the opportunity to right the ship.

“Overall I think that homecoming helped focus us,” coach Gabe Bakker said. “Coming off three losses they were hungry for this.

“If you were just looking at this on paper it was a must-win. And without saying anything, I think our kids understood that.”

The Clippers, after a few early pratfalls, got it together in a big way. Quarterback Ethan Postler blossomed with the kind of protection that can produce big statistics. Postler threw for 244 yards, completing 16-of-19 passes for 244 yards with no interceptions.

“Our receivers ran great routes, and I had a lot of time back there,” Postler said. “Our O-line played great. When they give me time I feel like I can throw the ball pretty well.”

His perfectly delivered 68-yard touchdown pass to a streaking Darius Moore opened the scoring and seemed to light a fire under his team.

“We needed a big play so I just threw it up there and let him run under it,” Postler said. “He did the rest.”

“We needed to get something rolling and once he threw that deep ball and he caught it and got that touchdown, it was just the tip of the iceberg,” senior Matt Brimeyer said. “We were hot and from one play to the next we just couldn’t be stopped.”

The Clippers carved up the Cardinals’ defense with passes to the flat that gave receivers space to exploit the defense. But they also ran the ball hard and effectively behind Ty Wright, Kyle Pitlick, Stone Grell, Jonah Upah and Eric Zierke up front.

“It’s no secret; any successful football, you win up front,” Bakker said. “Our line on both sides of the ball did an excellent job. They continue to get better. I know we lost our first three games, but there was improvement each game.”

Brimeyer, the Homecoming King, rushed for 96 yards and one touchdown in seven carries, all in the first half. Overall the Clippers gained 265 yards on the ground, and that was with a continuous clock and reserves playing the entire second half.

After the long TD to Moore, CCA scored on its six of its next seven first-half possessions to take a 44-0 halftime lead.

“We needed to show other people that we can play and that we’re a contender for the district,” Brimeyer said.

The defense set the offense up in great field position most of the game. Two interceptions by Quentin Gisleson set the offense up at the Clipper 44 and the Cardinals’ 11. Both led to TDs. Another interception set the Clippers up at the Maquoketa 47 and that resulted in a 22-yard field goal by Mitch Evans.

The defense was aggressive and relentless, continually penetrating into the backfield, and held the Cardinals to 42 yards rushing and 68 yards passing. Maquoketa had just seven first downs.

This was Bakker’s first coaching victory at his new school.

“The old saying is it’s hardest to get the first one,” he said. “I just hope it’s the start of a successful second half of the season.”

 

                                    MAQ                    CCA

First Downs                    7                         24

Rushing-Yards             28-42                  33-265

Comp-Att-Int                8-16-3                 16-19-0

Passing-Yards              68                       244

Punts-Avg.                   6-28                     1-32

Fumbles-Lost              1-0                        1-1

Penalties-Yards            3-28                      9-55

Maquoketa                        0      0      0    0  –  0

Clear Creek Amana           20    24     7    0  –  51

CCA – Darius Moore 68 pass from Ethan Postler (Mitch Evans kick)

CCA – Trever Stockman 27 run (kick failed)

CCA – Dylan Sheely 11 pass from Postler (Evans kick)

CCA – Cade Stratton 11 pass from Postler (Evans kick)

CCA – Cade Gallagher 1 run (Evans kick)

CCA – Matt Brimeyer 12 run (Evans kick)

CCA – Evans 22 field goal

CCA – Zach Kabbage 7 run (Evans kick)

Individual Statistics

RUSHING – Maquoketa: Nicholas Ehlinger 9-33, Isaac Crist 5-3, Lucas Brame 1-3, Arvin Nath 1-3, Ryne Gruenwald 12-0; Clear Creek Amana: Matt Brimeyer 7-96, Trever Stockman6-64, Zach Kabbage 9-43, Sam Stevens 2-22, Nick Gerard 3-21, Cade Gallagher 4-15, Dylan Sheely 1-5, Ethan Postler 1-(-1).

PASSING – Maquoketa: Nicholas Ehlinger 8-16-3-68; Clear Creek Amana: Ethan Postler 16-19-0-244.

RECEIVING – Maquoketa: Arvin Neth 4-49, Liam Aunan 2-17, Hunter Crist 1-4, Lucas Brame 1-2; Clear Creek Amana: Darius Moore 5-105, Cade Stratton 2-49, T.J. Bollers 2-22, Matt Brimeyer 1-22, Dylan Sheely 1-11, Cade Gallagher 1-10, Mitch Evans 1-9, Nolan Schwarting 1-9, Tanner Cochran 1-6.