Howells-Dodge knocks off Clarkson/Leigh in regular season finale

The Howells-Dodge Jaguars capped off a 6-2 regular season with a 58-34 win at home over Clarkson/Leigh Friday night.

The Jaguars doubled up the Patriots 12-6 in the first quarter, and won the second quarter 22-20 to go up 34-26 at halftime.

Howells-Dodge blanked Clarkson/Leigh 12-0 in the third quarter to lead 46-26 at the end of three.

The Jaguars outscored the Patriots 12-8 in the fourth quarter.

Dax VanLengen was 6-7 passing for 159 yards with a touchdown.

Zach Bayer caught a 65-yard touchdown pass.

Jordan Brichacek had 171 yards rushing on 31 carries, including four touchdowns.

Tanner Coufal had 10 tackles while Kade Hegemann totaled 8. Brichacek and Ryan Macholan totaled 7 apiece.

Here is the scoring summary for the game:

First Quarter

Howells-Dodge 7:55 #4 Dax VanLengen runs for 23 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #23 Jordon Brichacek no good)

Clarkson-Leigh High School 04:40 #32 Jacob Gall runs for 3 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #55 Anthony Bruhn to Team no good)

Howells-Dodge 03:45 #4 Dax VanLengen pass complete to #37 Zach Bayer for 65 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #4 Dax VanLengen no good)

Second Quarter

Howells-Dodge 09:58 #4 Dax VanLengen runs for 1 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #4 Dax VanLengen to Team no good)

Clarkson-Leigh High School 09:45 Kickoff by #43 Brett Fiala to the 21 yard line. #42 Hector Mendoza return for 79 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #55 Anthony Bruhn to Team no good)

Howells-Dodge 06:02 #23 Jordon Brichacek runs for 5 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #4 Dax VanLengen to #37 Zach Bayer good)

Clarkson-Leigh High School 02:03 #32 Jacob Gall runs for 6 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #9 Bradley Bunner good)

Howells-Dodge 01:50 Kickoff by #6 Blake Paprocki to the 26 yard line. #23 Jordon Brichacek return for 74 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #4 Dax VanLengen to #22 Jon Yosten good)

Clarkson-Leigh High School 00:29 #55 Anthony Bruhn pass complete to #9 Bradley Bunner for 15 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #55 Anthony Bruhn no good)
Third Quarter

Howells-Dodge 06:31 #23 Jordon Brichacek runs for 2 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #4 Dax VanLengen to Team no good)

Howells-Dodge 02:25 #4 Dax VanLengen runs for 1 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #4 Dax VanLengen to Team no good)

Fourth Quarter

Howells-Dodge 11:32 #23 Jordon Brichacek runs for 5 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #23 Jordon Brichacek no good)

Howells-Dodge 08:16 #23 Jordon Brichacek runs for 1 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #5 Connor Blum no good)

Clarkson-Leigh High School 02:57 #23 Isaak Wiese runs for 54 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #24 Derek Gurnsey good)

Head Coach Mike Speirs says his team played better in the second half than the first half.

"We were able to make some adjustments on defense that put us in better positions to make plays. I felt like a little bit of the 2nd half was we were able to wear them down some also."

Speirs adds a 6-2 regular season is a credit to the players.

"I think it says a lot about our kids. They started out 2-2 and had lost 2 games to good teams, but they never doubted themselves. Our kids do a great job of preparing for each opponent and this is just the pay off for all that work."

Howells-Dodge hosts Johnson-Brock (5-3) in the opening round of the playoffs Thursday evening.

The Jaguars and Eagles have one common opponent in East Butler, who Howells-Dodge beat 18-6, and Johnson-Brock lost to 50-40.

The Eagles appear to be more of a passing team than a running team as QB Cole Fossenbarger has 922 yards passing and 12 TD passes on the season.

Devon Clark is the team's leading rusher with 458 yards on the ground and 7 TD's.

Speirs says the Eagles are tough.

"They are a very athletic team and they run a lot of formations."

Speirs says his team can get the job done if they play a good game.

"I think we have a good chance to be successful if our kids continue to prepare as they have been. Johnson-Brock will present some unique challenges to our defense so our level of success is dependent on our kids understanding what they need to do and where they need to be. We have to establish something offensively to help us out on defense also."

I think it's going to be important for Howells-Dodge to be able to both run and pass the ball.

Johnson-Brock will no doubt test the Jaguars' defense so the offense has to keep making plays.

Howells-Dodge has to try and keep everything in front of them on defense and not give up the big play.

The Jaguars must also get after Fossenbarger with the blitz and things of that sort.

The Eagles are a quality team, and Howells-Dodge has to be ready to play.

With that said, Johnson-Brock didn't beat a team with a record above .500 in the regular season, and I don't see the Eagles picking up their first win over a team above .500 in the playoffs.

I look for the Jaguars to win and advance to the second round.

Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. in Howells.