Falcons’ defensive stands preserve victory
LEAGUE CITY — As potent as Clear Lake’s offense has been this season, its unsung defense deserved the game ball Friday night.
The Falcons stopped Friendswood four times on fourth down in Clear Lake territory, the last time with just less than two minutes remaining to preserve a 14-10 victory to throw the District 24-6A race into a three-way tie for first place.
Falcons coach Larry McRae couldn’t have asked for more from his defensive unit.
“We challenged those guys all week,” McRae said. “I think Greg Tepper (managing editor, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football) fired them up today when he said that we have been giving up 28 points a game.
“I thank Greg Tepper for that. We had a great week of practice preparing for those guys.
“Friendswood is a measuring stick. They’re a great football team.”
Lake took a 14-0 lead into the fourth quarter before Friendswood responded with 10 points and was driving for a third score. But the Falcons forced an incomplete pass on fourth-and-4 to secure the victory.
The outcome left Clear Lake, Clear Springs and Friendswood tied atop the league with 4-1 records with two games remaining. The win represented Lake’s second win this fall over a 24-6A power as it knocked off Dickinson earlier.
Mustangs coach Robert Koopmann was disappointed his offense couldn’t produce more fireworks.
“I think holding Lake to 14 should have been enough to win the game, but we had some issues, offensively, of our own doing,” Koopmann said. “We’ll clean it up. I told the kids I’m done with (the loss) already.
“The best way we can erase this is go beat Clear Springs next week.”
The Mustangs boss said his team failing to find holes in the Lake defense had plenty to do with the Falcons.
“They made the plays and we didn’t,” Koopmann said. “Our goals are still there. If we win the next two, we’re district champs and we’re good.”
Friendswood began its comeback with a 69-yard drive that culminated with Christian Lee’s 5-yard scoring run with 10:38 left in the game to cut the Falcons’ lead to 14-7.
One possession later, the Mustangs trimmed the advantage to 14-10 when Sam Wittman nailed a 33yard field goal with 6:48 showing.
The Mustangs then had a chance to drive for the winning score when Garrett Hurst intercepted a Clear Lake pass at the Falcons’ 49-yard line.
Friendswood drove to the Lake 21-yard line, but on fourth-and-4, quarterback Lee’s pass was just out of the reach of running back Mason Barnes, returning the ball to Lake with 1:58 left.
“Playing this late in the season in a significant game for a young team is big time,” McRae said. “To come out here tonight with the effort the defense had, that was lights out.
“They rose up every time they had to. The kids bounced back from a tough loss last week. The offense did just enough and I couldn’t be any more proud of them.”