Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – When Lance Pedersen took over the Clear Creek Amana football program last spring something quickly stood out to the veteran coach about the group of returning players.

The Clippers want to win and they want to win now.

Coming off back-to-back 3-6 seasons Clear Creek Amana is seeking a bounce back in its first season under Pedersen arrives from Mount Vernon after leading the Mustangs to 21 wins over the past two seasons.

“There is a significant amount of returning players for sure but yet they are hungry, they are sick of losing,” Pedersen said. “They want to be that group that changes things around.”

Pedersen has a history of building programs.

And winning.

He is the winningest coach in Wilton history, taking the Beavers to the playoffs eight times in 10 seasons before taking over at Mount Vernon.

Pedersen was 79-29 in 10 seasons at Mount Vernon leading the Mustangs to a pair of state runner-up finishes.

Over the past 20 seasons Pedersen’s teams have a winning percentage of 71 percent.

“I know for myself my aspirations have always been to win and not only does coach Pedersen want to change the football but the first thing he talked about is changing the culture,” Clear Creek Amana senior Brody Clubb said. “Things are going in the right direction for sure.

With all the changes Pedersen is implementing in his first season the long-time coach has the advantage of a veteran squad returning.

A list of 13 returning starters for Clear Creek Amana includes the top receiver from last season, five of the top seven leading tacklers from a year ago and six senior linemen with starting experience.

“I am confident that our guys are working extremely hard, they are very coachable and they are buying in to a lot of the different things that we are doing,” Pedersen said. “Our offensive system, our defensive system and our special teams everything is brand new this year.”

Both the offensive and defensive lines should be major strengths for the Clippers this season.

Clubb (6-4, 255) and fellow senior Vinnie Keller (6-0, 270) are both four-year starters that have played on both the offensive and defensive lines.

A North Dakota State recruit, Clubb has 99.5 career tackles with 15.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks.  Keller was a first-team all-district pick last season as a defensive lineman after ranking fifth on the team with 31.5 tackles with six for loss.

Seniors Cole Smith (6-1, 270), Kevin Howe (6-0, 210), Jacek Wauers (6-3, 210) and Justin Jiras (6-1, 240) all return with starting experience on the offensive line.

“We have all five returning on the offensive line and coach Pedersen is pushing the agenda that we are going to be strong up front,” Keller said. “We think that can be the strength of this team.”

Expect Clear Creek Amana to rely on that offensive line early in the season at it breaks in a new quarterback and running back.

The Clippers do return talent at receiver in seniors Cale Berry (6-3, 165) and Owen Rosenberg (6-2, 180) junior Aren Schlemme (6-1, 160).

Rosenberg led the Clippers with 26 receptions for 339 yards and a touchdown last season while Berry caught eight passes for 70 yards and two scores and Schlemme had two receptions for 82 yards.

“It always takes offense longer to get going than defense, our offensive line is critical and that will be a key to our success,” Pedersen said. “We have some very good skill positions and we have some very good offensive linemen and now we just have to put it all together.”

Led by its line Clear Creek Amana should be stout on defense.
The Clippers return a strong group of linebackers led by last year’s leading tackler Ben Haughey (5-10, 175) who had 56 stops a year ago.

Senior Trace Robertson (6-0, 170) was third on the team with 42.5 stops last season while senior defensive back Nolan Howell (5-10, 165) had 30 tackles and Schlemme had 20.

Junior Ethan Vice (6-0, 170) also returns with starting experience in the secondary.

“One of the things that we are working on now is developing depth,” Pedersen said. “We feel like we can put a good 11 guys on the field but now we are looking at 12, 13 and 14. Because in the game of football you are going to use 12, 13 and 14 so it’s about developing some depth.”

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