***Article by Josh Longstreth
The Clare Pioneers haven’t been in the best of moods the past two weeks. They have went on to knock off their past two opponents by a combined score, 102-0. This week, they came out with that same sense of urgency.
Clare would get things started first on the night. Ryan Louch would haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass Jayden Arthur to grab a 7-0 lead early. The Pioneers defense, who has pitched shutouts on three occasions this season, would pick up a safety of the Mustangs. This gave Clare a 9-0 lead and they weren’t done yet. Louch would find the endzone again in the quarter on a scoring run. It was all Pioneers after one, 16-0.
It wasn’t Sanfords night here in week seven. The Pioneers clearly wanted to put a bad taste in the Mustangs mouths early and often. And they did just that. Louch would pick up his third touchdown of the night. This time Arthur would find him from 35-yards out to give Clare a 23-0 lead. It was a night where the offense and defense might have had their own competition going as to who could score more points on the night. Jake Punches would grab an interception and take it back from 9-yards out. Then it was the offenses turn again on a Ryan Rodenbo 9-yard scamper. To cap off the half, the Pioneers defense found their third score in the game. Sophomore Jacob Halicek returned an interception of his own from 21-yards away. Clare rolls to the half with a 43-0 advantage.
The Pioneers would take their foot off the gas in the second half as it appeared they had this one secure. Aiden Van Bonn would add a 4-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter to end the scoring on the night. Clare rolls big on their Homecoming night, 50-0.
Sanford Meridian will fall to 1-6 on the season. They will take on a Pinconning team who faced Shepherd on Friday night. That one will be a home game for the Mustangs in week eight.
If the Clare coaches could have written it up on how they would have liked this one to play out, they might not have been able to. The Pioneers put together 192 rushing yards on the night and the defense picked up 4 turnovers on the night as both sides were in tune with each other. Clare improves to 5-2 after their third dominant performance in a row. They have a chance to add to that next week against a Shepherd team that has struggled on both sides this season. The Pioneers will welcome them in for their final home game of the season in week eight.
