Matt Coss

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – The biggest challenge for Lance Pedersen on Friday night was not the opponent.

After Clear Creek Amana throttled Burlington 56-0 in a Class 4A District 3 homecoming tilt, the team urged the Clippers’ first-year head coach to ring the victory bell outside Clipper Field.

“It was kind of intimidating,” Pedersen admitted. “You’re walking (off the field), a huge crowd staring at you and I’ve never rang the bell before.

“It was a great experience and hopefully something we can do a lot more.”

The Clippers (4-2, 2-0 district) faced no resistance in collecting their third consecutive win.

Quarterback Conlan Poynton rushed for four touchdowns, passed for one and compiled 178 total yards. The defense allowed only 70 yards and came up with five takeaways.

Senior Trace Robertson returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.

CCA is feeling quite good about itself heading into a pivotal two-week stretch against perennial powers North Scott and Cedar Rapids Xavier.

“When coach Pedersen got here, before any of the Xs and Os on the white board, it was about culture and bringing that here,” Poynton said. “We’re one as a team right now. We’re done pointing fingers and we’re building each other up.

“I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to do that with.”

That was evident early as Poynton threw an interception on the first play of the game.

“I had to flush it,” he said. “It was either hang my head and be a bad teammate or go out there and lead my teammates. I didn’t want them to see me down on that.”

It was about the only blemish for the Clippers, who busted the contest open with a 28-point second quarter.

The onslaught started when Robertson picked up Aidan Schrock’s punt block and darted 15 yards for his first varsity touchdown.

“I was surprised,” Robertson said. “I didn’t think it was real. It just happened to be on the ground and I happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

Aided by two Burlington turnovers, including an Owen Rosenberg interception, CCA scored three touchdowns in the final 5:17 of the half to make it 35-0.

Poynton had two rushing scores in that span and connected with Cale Berry on a 30-yard touchdown pass.

“The great thing about tonight, I had a lot of feedback from my coaches and players making some adjustments on the fly,” Pedersen said. “(Burlington) brought a lot of pressure and our guys did a nice job of responding and figuring out the weaknesses.”

Set up by a Caden Tonelli interception early in the third quarter, Poynton scampered 54 yards for a touchdown to pad the lead to 42-0.

Poynton finished with 87 rushing yards and completed his last nine passes for 91 yards.

“Any time you can have a dual threat quarterback, it puts so much more pressure on the defense,” Pedersen said. “He does a great job for us.”

CCA limited Burlington’s run-oriented attack to 22 rushing yards on 31 attempts.

The Clippers added to their 4A-leading interception total with 12.

“Our mentality is stop the run,” Robertson said, “and everybody rallies to the ball.”

Robertson was instrumental in the defensive performance.

“Trace is really playing well right now,” Pedersen said. “He’s a great athlete, a tough kid and has a great nose for the football. He’s really flying around.”

Brody Fairholm and Eliyah Kabolo had fumble recoveries for the Clippers.

Backup quarterback Wyatt Key had touchdown passes to Tay Seals and Kasyn Vandeberg in the second half.

The night ended with the players rushing over to ring the bell. Pedersen joined them soon after.

“I got chills running over and hearing that chime of the bell,” Poynton said.

The Clippers will see how much improvement they’ve made the next two weeks since losses to 3A state-ranked Solon and Williamsburg in Weeks 2 and 3.

“I want to take huge strides, but it is a process,” Pedersen said. “We all know that it takes time, but things are headed in a really good direction here.”

                                      BURL             CCA

First downs                7                      13

Rushes-yards             31-22               31-191

Comp-Att-Int            4-12-2             10-12-1

Passing yards             48                    111

Total yards                70                    302

Punts-avg.                  5-22.0              2-39.0

Fumbles-lost              4-3                   0-0

Penalties-yards         6-30                 5-55

Burlington                  0   0    0   0  –   0

Clear Creek Amana  7  28  14  7  –  56

CCA – Conlan Poynton 5 run (Aiden Gross kick)

CCA – Trace Robertson 15 blocked punt return (Gross kick)

CCA – Poynton 7 run (Gross kick)

CCA – Poynton 5 run (Gross kick)

CCA – Cale Berry 30 pass from Poynton (Gross kick)

CCA – Poynton 54 run (Gross kick)

CCA – Tay Seals 13 pass from Wyatt Key (Gross kick)

CCA – Kasyn Vandeberg 18 pass from Key (Gross kick)

Individual Statistics

RUSHING – Burlington: Darius Shealey 8-20, John Phillips 9-17, Kohl Lair 4-11, Caden Zaugg 1-3, Dave Robinson 1-1, Adrian Perez-Hall 1-(-7), Laderrias Shealey 5-(-7), Team 2-(-16). CCA: Conlan Poynton 11-87, Ethan Vice 9-60, Joey Dains 8-41, Wyatt Key 3-3.

PASSING – Burlington: Zaugg 2-3-0 35 Phillips 2-9-2, 13. CCA: Poynton 9-10-1 91; Key 2-3-0 20.

RECEIVING – Burlington: Owen Difederico 3-37, Caleb Bolander 1-11. CCA: Owen Rosenberg 7-61, Cale Berry 1-30, Tay Seals 1-13, Kasyn Vandeberg 1-7.

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