Clare football suffers road loss at Ogemaw Heights

by BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

Clare ran up against a really, really good football squad at Ogemaw Heights on Friday. The Pioneers hung with the Falcons early on in the Jack Pine Conference game, but eventually saw things slip away into a 41-7 setback.

The Falcons scored early to take a 7-0 lead, but the Pioneers were able to answer quickly; with Dane Alexander firing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Conan Weeks.

The Clare defense got a stop on Ogemaw’s next offensive series, getting the ball back in the hands of their offense. The Pioneers weren’t able to cash in on that though, as they threw an interception returned for a touchdown. Ogemaw also scored on a touchdown run before the end of the quarter, and they led 21-7 after one.

The lone score in the second quarter came on another Ogemaw rushing play, and it was 28-7 at the half. That moved to 41-7 after the third.

The Pioneers had 189 yards of total offense, with Mason Heintz rushing 13 times for 79 yards, Donovan Hoogerhyde ran six times for 26 yards and alexander was seven-of-16 passing for 57 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and he ran for 18 yards as well. Weeks had three receptions for 33 yards and one touchdown, Jacob Halicek had two grabs for 11 yards and Brody Allen had one reception for nine yards.

Looking at the defense, Dylan Kruskamp had 14 tackles, Brenden Burton had 12 tackles, and he blocked an extra point and Cooper Weissend chased down seven tackles.

Clare (3-2 overall, 1-2 JPC) looks to snap their two-game skid on Friday, when they host Standish-Sterling (0-5, 0-3). The Panthers are having some struggles this season, including last week’s loss to Gladwin, which was 35-0.