Osage gets payback, redemption
By Kristi Nixon
CLEAR LAKE — Osage let it all out on the field after a tumultuous week in which it learned the Green Devils had to forfeit last week’s win over MFL MarMac for using a player for too many quarters.
Coach Torian Wolf and his Green Devils (2-2, 1-0) left it all behind and avenged last year’s loss to Clear Lake by building a 31-14 second half lead and holding on for the 31-28 Class 2A District 3 opening victory, all while foiling the Lions’ homecoming game.
“I think we’re focused on what we’re doing right now and in the future,” Wolf said. “We learned from that mistake. I think it brought the team together, actually, a little bit. We’re super-motivated, want to win the district and go undefeated in the district. This was our first goal, so goal number one achieved.”
Two kickoff returns for touchdowns by a nearly 100 percent Brayden Onken and four forced Clear Lake second half turnovers turned a 14-14 halftime score into a three-score advantage for Osage, and it needed all of it with a late Lion rally.
“We were pretty motivated. We got told Tuesday after practice, and we just knew that if we want a good seed, we’ve got to bounce back this week,” Onken said. “Other than that, it was pretty disappointing, but we can’t think about it and keep going.”
Fumble recoveries by Barrett Muller and Cole Jeffries, along with interceptions by Drew Tusler and Quinn Street, the latter, a 46-yard intereption return, made the score 31-14 with 10 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the game.
“Defense was huge,” Wolf said. “We were a little worried about them being one of the teams that we see that spreads it out, passes it. We haven’t seen a team like that yet, so game-planning for that, (assistant coach Chris) Kyhl always does a great job. Obviously, they got us a little early, but second half we came out and locked down a little bit more. They’re a good team – to beat a good team feels good.”
The full story is available in the Sept. 21 print and online editions of the Enterprise Journal.
