Defense to offense: No. 4 Lisbon scores 3 defensive touchdowns in a 49-0 rout of Starmont

LISBON — Evan Coleman had long visualized scoring a touchdown, and had a good idea how it might end.

“I told (Coach Dylan) Hastings, ‘If it ever happens, there’s going to be a penalty (for unsportsmanlike conduct),’” Coleman said. “I didn’t think I’d be able to control my emotions.”

He was true to his word.

Coleman’s 2-yard fumble return — and the flag that followed (“I threw the ball,” he said) — was one of Lisbon’s three defensive touchdowns, and the fourth-ranked Lions routed Starmont, 49-0, in a Class A first-round playoff football game Friday night at Walmer Field.

“Can’t be mad at him,” Hastings chuckled. “He’s not the biggest defensive lineman on the field, but he’s one of the smartest. He’s such a cerebral player.”

The Lions (9-0) forced five turnovers, all before halftime, and led 42-0 at intermission.

Tiernan Boots returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown. Coleman scooped up his opportunity at the 2 and scored. RIley Stone — another D-lineman — returned a wayward pass after a bad snap in Starmont punt formation, 35 yards for a TD.

It was that kind of night.

“I wanted one of those all season,” Stone said, noting he had scored a 98-yard touchdown in a freshman game for Algona (he moved to Lisbon that next summer). “I just wanted one.”

Lisbon will learn its second-round assignment at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The Lions’ defense did more than simply defend. That’s by design.

“We do turnover drills at least once a week,” Coleman said. “Fumble returns, interception drills ... It seemed like our offense didn’t touch the football for about 20 minutes.”

The teams exchanged punts to start the game. Starmont muffed the ball on its return, and the Lions recovered.

On the next play, Dakota Clark hooked up with Quinn Coleman for a 34-yard touchdown pass, and the Lions were off and rolling.

The Stars (5-4) faced fourth-and-1 at their own 31 on the following possession, called timeout, then called another.

Then they botched the exchange, Boots found the loose ball, then found the end zone.

A sack-and-strip gave Evan Coleman his chance for glory, and it was 21-0.

“I got ankle-bit at the 1 a couple years ago when that happened,” Coleman said. “I couldn’t let that happen again.”

Then it was Boots’ 34-yard TD run and Stone’s interception return for a 35-0 lead. Clark located Grayson Wollum for a 43-yard scoring pass just before halftime.

The entire second half was played with a continuous clock. Clark’s 61-yard touchdown run in the third quarter concluded the scoring.

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Clark ran for 99 yards and passed for 97. Boots added 93 rushing yards.

Starmont’s Avery Vaske rushed 19 times for 127 yards.

Lisbon held the Stars to 0-for-4 in fourth-down conversions.

“These defensive guys bought into the game plan,” Hastings said. “It’s a privilege that I get to call the ‘D’ for these guys.”

Lisbon has allowed 34 points in nine games.

Lisbon 49, Starmont 0

Class A First Round, at Lisbon

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: STAR 7, LIS 11

Rushes-yards: STAR 26-113, LIS 25-191

Passing yards: STAR 38, LIS 97

Passing: STAR 10-19-2, LIS 3-4-1

Total yards: STAR 151, LIS 288

Fumbles-lost: STAR 4-3, LIS 1-0

Punts-average: STAR 3-31.0, LIS 1-31.0

Penalties-yards: STAR 3-36, LIS 1-5

SCORING SUMMARY

Starmont 0 0 0 0 — 0

Lisbon 21 21 7 0 — 49

LIS — Quinn Coleman 34 pass from Dakota Clark (Gage Holub kick)

LIS — Tiernan Boots 28 fumble return (Holub kick)

LIS — Evan Coleman 2 fumble return (Holub kick)

LIS — Boots 34 run (Holub kick)

LIS — Riley Stone 35 interception return (Holub kick)

LIS — Grayson Wollum 43 pass from Clark (Holub kick)

LIS — Clark 61 run (Holub kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Starmont — Avery Vaske 19-127, Jase Tommansin 1-6, Nick Willfong 5-(minus 17), Team 1-(minus 3). Lisbon — Dakota Clark 5-99, Tiernan Boots 19-93.

Passing

Starmont — Willfong 9-17-1-35, Vaske 1-1-0-3, Tommasin 0-1-1-0. Lisbon — Clark 3-4-1-97.

Receiving

Starmont — Ryan Kleinlein 5-22, Hudson Popham 2-4, Vaske 1-7, Willfong 1-3, Tommasin 1-2. Lisbon — Grayson Wollum 1-43, Quinn Coleman 1-34, Gage Holub 1-20.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com