Clarkson wants title after stadium pit stop

Clarkson wants title after stadium pit stop
BY MIKE PATTERSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

    Driving home from a playoff victory early last week, the Clarkson football team made a short stop in Lincoln before returning home.
    The Red Devils paid a visit to Memorial Stadium, where they hoped to play in the Eight Man-1 final.  And after Saturday's 22-20 overtime win over Humphrey St. Francis, that's just where Clarkson will be tonight.
    "It was about 11 at night, and we wanted to just stop by and see the place," said Jim Clarkson, the aptly named head coach.  "Somebody actually let us in, so we got to walk around and imagine what it would be like to play there."
    The 10-2 Red Devils won't have to imagine it any longer.  They'll be playing undefeated Elgin Pope John at 7 p.m. with a first state championship for either school on the line.
    Clarkson came up short the past two years in its quest to reach the final, losing in the second playoff round in 2005 and the third round in 2006.  Coach Clarkson said the 38-36 setback against Bancroft-Rosalie that ended last year's season at 10-1 has served as major incentive this season.
    "We talked about it a lot during the summer," he said.  "It definitely made our guys work that much harder."
    The Red Devils average 48.3 points and surrender an average of 10.8.  They also have shown an ability to get nasty, such as after an 8-6 loss to Dodge in the third game of the season.
    "That brought us back down to earth," Coach Clarkson said.  "We came out and played a lot better after that."
    Clarkson defeated Leigh 78-0 the following week before winning 58-0 at High Plains - a team that was rated ahead of the Red Devils at the time.  A 30-28 loss at Humphrey St. Francis two weeks later has been followed by five straight wins, including Saturday's overtime victory over the Flyers.
    In that win, Clarkson broke up a two-point conversion attempt in overtime to advance to the final.  It was a similar two-point try the Red Devils missed last year that ended their season.
    The team has a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Michael Konicek (1,346 yards, 19 touchdowns) and Eric Brabec (1,047 yards, 16 TDs).  Brandon Dinslage has rushed for 451 yards and seven touchdowns.
    The trio has shifted backfield positions during the season - Brabec moved from fullback to quarterback, Konicek went from tailback to fullback and Dinslage moved from quarterback to tailback.
    "They've done a great job, no matter where we've put them," Coach Clarkson said.
    He added that it will be nice to go back to Memorial Stadium, but this time as more than just visitors.
    "Being the first time in the final for both teams, I expect some jitters," he said.  "But it's great to get this far and play in that stadium."