HJUMBOLDT — It’s never too early for playoff-type football.

Just ask Class 3A powers Clear Lake and Humboldt. Meeting for the second time in a calendar year and for the fourth time in three seasons, the long-time North Central Conference foes gave a large crowd plenty to keep them on the edge of their seats here Friday.

The visiting Lions got a measure of revenge for the thrilling 2024 playoff battle that went the way of the Wildcats. Trailing 7-6 at halftime, Clear Lake’s defense stopped the home squad at every turn when needed and reeled off 17 straight points for a 23-7 decision.

Humboldt head coach Derrick Elman knew his squad would learn from a hard-nosed loss.

“It’s all about preparing for district play when you’re in your non-district schedule,” he stated. “Each of those four contests gives us a chance to continue to see who we are — setting the two-deep and getting better as a team against quality competition as examples to be ready for those important district games.

“It stings with the outcome like this, but we will continue to work hard moving forward.”

Junior quarterback and safety Jaxson McIntire turned out to be a big part of the second 24-minute difference in moving Clear Lake to 2-0. He rushed for a pair of one-yard touchdowns and picked off a Humboldt pass inside the five-yard-line with the Wildcats driving late in the fourth quarter to try to stay in the contest.

Humboldt’s offense was stalled with an interception near midfield and then fumbled at its own one-yard-line during the visitors’ second half spree. They ended their opportunities with McIntire’s interception in the final two minutes.

“I’m so proud of our guys for the way they showed pride and heart in that last drive,” Elman noted. “It took determination to try and rebound from Clear Lake’s roll, but we kept battling and moving the ball.”

Clear Lake got their offense going early behind the arm and legs of McIntire. He hit on his first seven passes as the visitors reached the end zone on their opening drive.

The Lions got going again in the second quarter but an interception near midfeld sent the home crowd into a frenzy, setting up Humboldt inside the 45-yard line.

Senior signal caller Jackson Flaherty guided the Wildcats for six with a three-yard toss to fellow senior Chase Flaherty. Humboldt kept the one-point lead into halftime.

Flaherty threw for 107 yards and the touchdown, with junior wide receiver Cash McIntire begin his top target with six catches for 52 yards.

Clear Lake’s quarterback turned in 109 yards through the air and rushed for seventy yards to lead the Lions.

Humboldt, dipping to 1-1, begins two in a row on the road Friday at Carroll for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

CL H

First downs 15 12

Rushes-yds. 40-199 20-15

Passing yds. 109 107

Total yds. 308 122

Return yds. 70 106

Penalties-yds. 8-75 3-20

Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-1

Punts-avg. 3-31.3 5-34.2

Score by Quarters

CL 6 0 3 14 — 23

HHS 0 7 0 0 – 7

Scoring Summary

CL – Jaxson McIntire 6-yard pass to Maddon McIntire (Dunning kick failed)

HHS – Jackson Flaherty three-yard pass to Chase Flaherty (Karson Rubel kick)

CL – Dunning 22-yard field goal

CL – Jaxson McIntire one-yard run (Dunning kick)

CL – Jaxson McIntire one-yard run (Dunning kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing – Clear Lake: Sam Dodge 15-60; Jaxson McIntire 20-70; Carson Riser 3-21; Kolby Hodnefield 3-40; Humboldt: Cash McIntire 8-20; Jack Flaherty 12-(-13); Broedy Hendricks 1-1; Jaxson Kirchhoff 1-7

Passing – Clear Lake: Jaxson McIntire 11-15, one interception, one touchdown, 109 yards; Humboldt: Jackson Flaherty 14-24, one interception, one touchdown, 107 yards

Receiving– Clear Lake: Trevor Theobald 1-24; Kolby Hodnefield 5-25; Keeton Jeppeson 5-51; Humboldt: Valley Davis 3-25; Braiden Swanson 3-27; Cash McIntire 6-52; Chase Flaherty 1-3; Karson Rubel 3-22.