ROLL BOATS ROLL

With a long season finally concluding, the Clippers ended their season 6-4 with a devastating loss 7-34 to the Pella Dutch who are currently number 2 in class 4A. With Junior #13 Conlan Poynton throwing for 109 yards with 2 interceptions, Junior #16 Wyatt Key throwing our only touchdown to Senior #1 Cale Nash on the goal line, Senior #10 Owen Rosenberg having 8 receptions for 63 yards, and Senior #9 Cale Berry having 5 receptions for 61 yards. The Clippers finished 10th in class 4A and went 4-1 in conference play with a 4-1 record on the road and 2-3 record at home. 

CCA'S FOOTBALL TEAM CELEBRATING A TOUCHDOWN; PHOTO BY SAVANNAH BLAKE

The Clippers went up against the #7 ranked Xavier Saints week 8 desperately needing a win to get them in a good position to play in the postseason. The Clippers trailed 7-17 at halftime however after some phenomenal defense up front, a blocked and recovered punt in the endzone would set the game at 14-17 with Owen Rosenberg intercepting the ball at the goal line to end the third quarter. After some back and forth action CCA would receive the ball with 3:42 left on the clock trailing 21-24, where Poynton would march the offense down the field and secure the Clipper lead with an 11 yard touchdown pass to Cale Berry making the game 28-24 with 1:02 left on the clock. With the Saints having possession, they drive down the field and eventually throw it up in a last ditch effort but it’s intercepted by Rosenberg close to the goal line and securing the upset. With the big win, the Clippers needed a huge week where they went and put on a show week #9 against the Clinton River Kings winning 56-22 with Conlan Poynton completing 19/22 passes with 3 of those being touchdowns and Owen Rosenberg having 7 receptions for 135 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception, securing their spot in the playoffs. 

The Pella vs CCA game marked the first time CCA has been to the playoffs since 2021 with that team going 6-4 as well losing in the first round of playoffs to then ranked #5 Winterset in a tough battle 17-24. The Clipper football program did a full 180 flipping last year's record completely which was 3-6, this success has to do a lot with Head Coach Lance Pedersen who this year was inducted into the Cedar County Hall of Fame and in 2023 was named IFCA 3A State Coach of the Year along with coaching 2 NFL players, Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jack Cochrane throughout their time in high school at Mount Vernon. With a great group of young men and an outstanding coaching staff, our community is more than ready to see what the 2025 season has in store.