Seeing Red

Seeing Red:  Clarkson Red Devils
Class D-1 State Semifinal
By Andy Dygert

    CLARKSON - So far this postseason has been a breeze for Clarkson.  The Red Devils (9-2) haven't even been challenged in three blowout victories in which they've given up a total of six points and scored 148.
    "A big part has been that our defense has been playing really well," Clarkson head coach Jim Clarkson said.  "They were flying around, making plays, and then our offense started clicking as well."

Clarkson schedule Aug. 31        Cedar Bluffs    W 72-33            Oct. 12        at St. Francis     L 30-28 Sept. 7                 at Mead     W 52-11           Oct. 18            Humphrey    W 64-6 Sept. 14              at Dodge     L 8-6                Oct. 25            Freeman*     W 64-6 Sept. 21               Leigh        W 78-0            Oct. 31 Bruning-Davenport* W 38-0 Sept. 28    at High Plains      W 58-0             Nov. 5     Humboldt-TRS*   W 46-0 Oct. 5                 Shelby        W 54-16           *plalyoffs

    Unfortunately for the Red Devils, they can't expect the same type of easy game Saturday night at Cornhusker Conference rival Humphrey St. Francis in a Class D-1 semifinal.
    The Flyers also have been rolling, and even more significantly, Clarkson fell to St. Francis at Humphrey earlier in the season.  On Oct. 12 the two teams played a 30-28 thriller the Flyers pulled out with a two-point conversion to win.
    Clarkson said he thinks it will help his team that they were able to absorb the disappointing loss a month ago and got the experience of playing the Flyers.
    "It helps that it's a place we're very familiar with," Clarkson said.  "I don't think that the (earlier loss) will be too much of a negative."
    The Red Devil players actually have been even more pumped up in practice this week because of getting another chance at St. Francis, Clarkson said.
    "They're really excited to play the game," Clarkson said.  "There's no better team to play in the semifinals than St. Francis - a team we've played for many years."
    The one thing Clarkson will have to avoid is having its roller-coaster season take another dip at the wrong time.  The team lost to Dodge in its third game of the season, 8-6, and after three straight wins, it fell again - this time to the Flyers.  Now it is on a four-game winning streak and don't want another disappointment to haunt it Saturday.
    "We've had to make adjustments along the way," Clarkson said.  "But it's been fun.  The community has rallied around us.  Hopefully, it will continue to be fun Saturday, but it's been fun no matter what."
    The fun may continue on the state championship (the next step), as long as the Red Devils can play their game, Clarkson said.  His team's style differs considerably from that of the Flyers, who are a fast and agile team with many playmakers.  Clarkson's team is more of a rugged team, he said, that hopes to contain the middle of the field and win the battle on the line of scrimmage.
    "We've got to get on their guys and block for the ball," Clarkson said.  "Because they do fly to the ball.  Hopefully, muscle beats speed in this game.  I don't know if it will or not, but we'll try.  Anytime you run against a fast team - if we can go at them and not let them go around the side - we can be more effective."
    Though he is positive his team is not looking past such a tough St. Francis team and looking ahead to the state championship in Lincoln, Clarkson admits it would be a big deal for his squad.
    "For any program, getting down to state is the ultimate goal for the season," Clarkson said.  "That's everyone's goal, so we'd love to get down there.  It'd be huge for the community and the program to make it there."
    Mostly, however, his kids are simply longing to play in Saturday's game.
    "Hopefully, it'll be a good football game Saturday," Clarkson said.  "Humphrey St. Francis is really well-coached and a good football team.  We're looking forward to it."


(from Columbus Telegram, 11/9/07)