Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Clear Creek Amana

Head coach: Matt Haddy (2^nd season, 6-4)

Assistant coaches: Jackson Litterer, Matt Casebolt, Ted Haag, Drew Wagner, Evan Schulte, Mikkel Brown, Kyle Stoner, Brandon Clubb, Mickey Hines, Trevor Bollers, Logan Broghammer, Bob Broghammer, ean Keller, Mike DeWaard, Todd Mosier

Last season: 6-4 (Class 4A opening round)

Returning starters: Caleb Allan, Sr., OL; Jack Downes, Sr., OL; Vinny Keller, Soph., OL; Reece Hoffman, Sr., DB/WR; Jack Stevens, Jr., DB/WR; Asher Roehler, Sr., DB; Brody Clubb, Soph., DL/TE; Marcus Lang, Sr., DB; Nick Johnson, Sr., LB; Brock Sherman, Sr., LB

Other returning letterwinners: Jackson Schmidt, Sr., QB; Gabe Borrmann, Sr., RB/K; Sam Schneider, Sr., LB; Andrew Schlemme, Sr., WR

Newcomers to watch: Sam Pettinger, Jr., RB; Cole Smith, Soph., OL; Carson Nash, Jr., OL; Zach Vance, Jr., DL; Carson Fox, Jr., DL; Trace Robertson, Soph., DB; Owen Rosenberg, Soph., WR; Eli Mallicoat, Sr., RB; Logan Johnson, Sr., LB; Mo Bushra, Sr., DB/K

Playoff history: 8 appearances (2008-2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021)

District: Class 4A, District 4

District favorite: Defending 4A runner-up Cedar Rapids Xavier went 11-2 a year ago falling to Council Bluffs Lewis Central in the state title game. The Saints went 5-0 in District 4 play last season winning games by an average of 26.2 points.

Circle the date: September 16 against Liberty High. Last year’s meeting between the two budding rivals was an instant classic won by Clear Creek Amana 31-30 in North Liberty. The Lightning return to Tiffin this season with the Clippers holding a 2-1 edge in the series.

Headliner: Sophomore Brody Clubb has the potential to be a game-changer on both sides of the ball for the Clippers after an impressive debut season a year ago. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Clubb was fourth on the team with 39.5 tackles as a freshman including 3.5 for loss and also caught five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Unsung hero: As the seventh leading tackler on the team there wasn’t a lot of talk surrounding Brock Sherman last season. That will change quickly this fall. Sherman made 33.5 tackles including five for loss from his linebacker spot last season and will be a leader for the Clipper defense this fall.

Keep an eye on: Senior Jackson Schmidt is a first-year starter at quarterback but is no stranger to varsity action after starting at defensive back and receiver last season. An excellent athlete, Schmidt brings a dual threat element to the quarterback spot and will give the Clippers a different dimension under center.

Biggest question: Who picks up the slack at the skill positions? Clear Creek Amana lost its starting quarterback, top three leading rushers and its top two pass catchers from a season ago. That is a lot of production to make up for in 2022. Schmidt slides from receiver to quarterback and is a varsity veteran and will look to junior Jackson Stevens who caught 14 passes for 152 yards and a score last season to step into a larger role as a receiver and the Clippers will look for a stable of running backs to pick up the slack in the backfield.

Quotable: “I really like where we are at defensively, we brought in a new defensive coordinator in Ted Haag and he has brought a really unique, higher level, collegiate type system and has done a fantastic job of molding it so high school kids can pick it up,” Haddy said. “That’s been really fun to see, he’s a high-energy guy and he’s a really smart football guy and he’s done a really good job of getting our guys to buy in to what he wants done defensively.”

2022 Schedule

August 26: Marion

September 2: at Independence

September 9: at Washington

September 16: Liberty High

September 23: at Oskaloosa*

September 30: Cedar Rapids Washington*

October 7: Cedar Rapids Xavier*

October 14: at Pella*

October 21: Newton*

*– District Game

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