Horseshoe Bend breaks Clark Fork

CLARK FORK, Idaho – It’s said that football games are decided in the trenches. That holds true even in 8-man contests.

The Clark Fork Wampus Cats couldn’t gain any leverage against the Horseshoe Bend Mustangs’ agile defensive front. While the visitors owned the trenches, their ball-control offense also ultimately took a toll on Clark Fork.

Horseshoe Bend pulled away in the second half for a 36-6 win in a State 1A Division II 8-man semifinal Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs (10-1) will take on perennial small-ball power Mackay (10-0) Friday at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena in the state final.

Clark Fork’s season ended at 8-1. The Wampus Cats were trying to advance to a state title game for the second time in three years.

Wampus Cats senior quarterback Clayton Hewitt started in the state final two years ago when Castleford defeated the Wampus Cats 54-14.

“I wish we could have ended on a better note, but we came a long ways,” Hewitt said. “I wanted that state championship bad. And to come out here and have my worst game – my last game as a senior – it kills any college chance.”

That was more of the emotion talking. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Hewitt who is a nephew of former NFL player and coach Paul Wiggin, will likely play somewhere in college.

The Mustangs held Clark Fork to its lowest point and yardage totals this season.

“They just tore our line apart. There was no chance,” Hewitt said. “They were like a beehive, they just swarmed and swarmed.”

After the Mustangs scored first, Clark Fork answered and answered quickly. But it came on a strange broken play.

Hewitt lined up under center and went through his signals. But the ball was snapped late. For some reason, though, the players on both teams were frozen, as if the video-cassette player had been put on pause. Then Hewitt took the ball and bolted downfield for a 60-yard touchdown to even the score at 6 with 3 minutes, 3 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The Mustangs added a second-quarter TD for a 12-6 lead at halftime. But Clark Fork couldn’t manage to sustain another drive thereafter.

“We were conservative. We were trying to figure out their 5-3 (front),” Hewitt said. “It’s the first time we had ever played against anything like that. We couldn’t scramble, we couldn’t pass, we couldn’t do anything.”

The Mustangs took an 18-6 lead into the fourth quarter before adding three more TDs.

Hewitt had 120 yards rushing on 21 carries. He also passed for 95 yards.

Mustangs running back Nathan Shepherd finished with 228 yards on 21 attempts.

“It took us a while to get him outside,” Mustangs coach Chris Chesnut said. “They’re (Clark Fork) here for a reason. They’re an excellent ball club, undefeated coming in. They also have athletes. But when we get Nathan outside he can go, he’s quick.”

Clark Fork coach Frank Hammersley knew his team would struggle against the Mustangs’ defensive front.

“We knew that they would be a swarming defense,” Hammersley said. “We tried everything we could to try to get the holes open. We couldn’t find anything that would work. I’m amazed how they can run a five-man line and cover (passes).”

Hammersley, 65, plans to retire from coaching and teaching at the end of the school year.

“I’m proud of our kids. We came a long, long way from last year,” Hammersley said.

“For them to pick up a couple of state trophies the last three years I think is commendable.”