Above: The junior high Clippers gather around the “Boarder Battle” trophy, a traveling award concocted by coach Rich Kern (left). At right is head coach Tray Jones.
Continuing with their undefeated season, the junior high gridders downed visiting Nicollet 38-16 on Thursday.
The win earned them the right to keep the “Boarder Battle” trophy, a 2x6 hunk of wood that reminisced of the traveling award given to the varsity Nicollet-Cleveland winner until the Clippers went to 11-man three seasons ago.
For this game, the Clipper offense was 11-man while the Raider offense was 9-man.
“Every game they get a little bit better focusing,” said head coach Tray Jones. “They’ve come a long ways since the first game. Now they understand what it takes to win, and I am proud of them.”
Pulling out the razzle-dazzle, the Clippers scored their fourth touchdown late in the second half on a flea flicker. Seventh grader quarterback Carson Lyons handed off to Caleb Possin before taking the toss back and chucking it downfield to Nathan Seeman. Seeman ran the rest of the way to the end zone.
“Rich (assistant coach Rich Kern) calls the plays, and I bring in my high school experience and do the yelling,” said Jones, a paraprofessional at Cleveland, who, as a senior, was a starting running back on the 2015 state champion Mankato West team.
Throwing on the run, Lyons hooked up with Caleb Connor in the left side of the end zone for an ensuing 2-point conversion that put the Clippers up 30-0.
In the second half, the Clippers turned the ball over on a fumble, but on a Raider pass play after, Tanner Simonette batted the ball into the waiting hands of Possin, who took the interception 45-yards to the end zone. Lyons connected with Connor again for the two-point pass, and the Clippers were up decisively 38-0.
Lyons returned a kickoff for the Clipper’s first touchdown. They were stopped on the 2-point conversion. Lyons connected with Simonette for a 60-yard catch and run and the Clippers’ second TD. Possin ran in the PAT. Possin hauled in a 20-yard Lyons pass for the Clippers’ third trip into the end zone. Simonette ran in the PAT.
As younger players took the field in the fourth quarter, the Clippers gave up a couple of touchdowns and ensuing points after, but the Raiders were never much of a threat.
After leading 32-0 at the break, the Clippers downed host JWP 32-28 the Tuesday prior.
“They fought hard. I think we kind of let it loose a little bit,” Jones said.
Before that, the the junior high Clippers beat host USC, the visiting Mankato East seventh graders and Lester Prairie. They opened their season with a win at Waterville.
The Clippers close out their season on Tuesday when they host Alden-Conger/Glenville Emmons in a 5:00 contest.
Carson Lyons throws on the run.
Nathan Seeman caught this pass just before he was on the receiving end of a flea flicker that was good for a touchdown.
Tanner Simonette sprints down field after a catch.
Caleb Possin on the run.
Caleb Connor on the carry. Beside him is Mason Kluntz.