Malcolm football battled a familiar foe in Lincoln Lutheran Oct. 9 and came home with a 49-13 win.
The teams played twice last season, with Malcolm winning both, Coach Matt Coufal said.
“We’re their state championship,” he said.
The Clippers led 22-0 after the first quarter and 36-0 at halftime. In the first quarter, Malcolm scored on a six-yard pass from Gavin Little to Cade Kobza, a 16-yard run by Little and a seven-yard run by Cooper Vetick.
Isaiah Baeza caught a 27-yard pass from Little and Nolan Duzik hauled in a 33-yard pass, both for second-quarter touchdowns.
Kobza added a 2-yard run in the third quarter, and Keaton Kopecky scored from one-yard out in the fourth period.
Coufal said he was pleased with the team’s execution and with how well they cleaned up their game from last week.
“They were all on the same page,” he said.
The Clippers were without lineman Ethan Hardin, who was injured on the second play of the game. Clement Small came in for him and didn’t miss a beat, Coufal said.
Overall, he said the defense played well. Little and Preston Kucera each intercepted a Warrior pass. Kobza recorded two solo tackles and six assists.
Malcolm finished with 275 yards rushing, led by Gregg Smith with 117 yards on 12 carries. Little completed 10 of 12 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns. Duzik caught four passes for 94 yards, and Baeza had four catches for 62 yards.
“Nolan blocked well and had a couple catches. It was his best game of the year,” Coufal said.
The Clippers (5-2) will host Doniphan-Trumbull (2-5) Friday, Oct. 16, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. DT beat H&H 22-18 last Friday.
“They were a playoff team last year but graduated everyone,” Coufal said.
He said the Cardinals’ defense is similar to Malcolm’s, so the Clippers should know the blocking scheme.
“We just need to worry about us, know our responsibilities and keys,” Coufal said.
