STATE 5A FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: Clive's moment at Corbit ... Hobbs makes key defensive play late as Hawks advance to semis for first time since 2007

By JASON ELLIOTT 

Sports writer 

RATHDRUM — “It’s the most exciting thing I’ve seen in all my years at Lakeland.” 

Well, so far. 

With one swing of Lakeland senior linebacker Clive Hobbs’ hand, the Hawks kept their season alive. 

Hobbs deflected a Vallivue pass on 4th and 10 deep in Lakeland territory, preserving the Hawks' 28-21 win over the Falcons in a state 5A football playoff quarterfinal game at Corbit Field on Friday. 

Lakeland (9-2), the third seed, advances and will travel to face second-seeded Hillcrest (8-3), a 35-7 winner over Blackfoot, next weekend in the semifinals in eastern Idaho.

“Clive’s a great kid and been in the program for the last three years,” Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. “He’s one of those guys that had a game with a lot of ups and downs. He had a penalty on him and might have missed a tackle. Offensively, he did some things and played much better in the second half.” 

Sixth-seeded Vallivue of Caldwell, which scored on a 76-yard touchdown pass with 5:55 remaining, drove to the 10-yard line in the closing seconds. Hobbs stepped in front of a pass intended for Vallivue’s Ryker Oswald at the 5-yard line to force a turnover on downs. 

“I knew I had to get out to the flat and just started flying over there,” Hobbs said. “I knew I had to get to a spot where I didn’t allow anything. I just swatted the ball because I didn’t want to fumble it and risk anything.” 

Lakeland posted a 42-14 win over Shelley last Friday in the first round. Lakeland allowed more than 14 points only twice this season, against Post Falls (Sept. 20) and Weiser (Sept. 6). 

“Defensively, we’ve been playing great, really all year,” Schroeder said. “Tonight, I feel like we gave that one at the end that really hurt us because we had the momentum going into halftime. And then we gave up another, and we’ve got some things obviously we can tweak. But overall, I give the defense a lot of credit. We kept them to 21 (points). I can deal with that.” 

Lakeland chewed up clock in the first quarter, driving down the field and scoring on a 4-yard run by senior Lovie Weil on a drive that lasted nearly nine minutes. 

“I was really trying to score on that run,” Weil said. “This means so much to me. We’ve got a hell of a team and think we’re going to go far. We can’t wait for Hillcrest next week.” 

Weil, who finished with 158 yards and three touchdowns, also had a 68-yard run to set up another score in the second quarter. 

“Us seniors really wanted this bad,” Weil said. “We all came together as one and got it done.” 

Weil, who has played running back all year, was on the field at linebacker for the fourth-down play. 

“It was probably the most exciting thing I’ve seen in all my years at Lakeland,” Weil said. “It was an amazing play by (Hobbs).” 

“He’s just a hard-nosed runner,” Vallivue coach Shea McClellin said of Weil. “He took some shots from us and just got back up, and that shows what kind of a kid he is. He’s a tough runner and their offensive line opened some things for him.” 

Lakeland senior quarterback Haydon Benson rushed for 62 yards, including a 1-yard run to give the Hawks a 28-14 lead with 2:04 remaining in the third. 

“We’ve got the ability to move quickly and throw the ball,” Schroeder said. “And we’ve got the ability to have those nine-minute drives. That’s why we’re going to be where we’re going to be, in the semis. It’s a credit to the coaches and players. They’ve done a great job and the players have done a great job of buying into what we’re selling.” 

Benson also completed 9 of 12 passes for 96 yards, 58 going to junior Jace Taylor. 

“We’ve relied on him to run the offense all year, and there’s a lot of things he’s got to do within that offense,” Schroeder said. “With coach (Tony) Porter as the offensive coordinator. There’s a lot of decisions he’s got to make and he’s pretty good at all of them. And at the end of the game, that’s who we want making the decisions.” 

It is Lakeland’s first trip to the semifinals since 2007. 

“It’s been a great season, and we’ve been playing well so far,” Schroeder said. “At a school where we’re trying to change some things and expectations, we’re trying to set that standard. The kids are elated, but there’s more to come. It’s great to see when kids want to continue to play football, and it’s great to see.” 

“They’re a tough team on both sides of the ball,” said McClellin, the former Boise State and Chicago Bear linebacker from Marsing High. “We knew it was going to be a dogfight coming in. They’re just a tough team and we knew that coming in. They're just an all-around good team.” 

Vallivue        0    14    0    7    —    21 

Lakeland    7    14    7    0    —    28 

First quarter 

LL — Lovie Weil 4 run (Parker Sterling kick), 3:36 

Second quarter 

LL — Weil 1 run (Sterling kick), 8:54 

Vall — Isaac Moore 60 run (Conner Blaisdell kick), 5:03 

LL — Weil 4 run (Sterling kick), 2:07 

Vall — Mason Enochson 32 pass from Moore (Blaisdell kick), :05 

Third quarter 

LL — Haydon Benson 2 run (Sterling kick), 2:04 

Fourth quarter 

Vall — Austin Belnap 76 pass from Moore (Blaisdell kick), 5:55. 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Vall, Carson 11-40, I. Moore 11-160, Oswald 1-5. LL, Weil 28-158, Taylor 3-21, Benson 14-62, Hobbs 1-2, Sardinha 1-2. 

PASSING — Vall, I. Moore, 10-17-0-165. LL, Benson, 9-12-0-96. 

RECEIVING — Vall, Marler 4-38, Enochson 2-37, L. Davis 1-4, Belnap 2-82, Oswald 1-4. LL, Taylor 6-58, Hillman 1-17, Lund 1-6, Scott 1-15. 

    JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Lakeland junior wide receiver Jace Taylor attempts to cut upfield as Vallivue linebacker Tyler Buckley brings him down during the third quarter of Friday's state 5A football quarterfinal game at Corbit Field in Rathdrum.