CLEAR LAKE — A nail-biting finish ended with a Cyclone victory Friday night at Cardinal Field.

Clark/Willow Lake (5-1) hung on to stun previously unbeaten Deuel (5-1), 20-14, thanks to a late touchdown snag by senior wideout Emmerson Larson.

“Deuel is a very well coached team,” said CWL head coach Dave Severson. “(Dustin) Hourigan and the crew over there took away what we wanted to do, some things we thought we could do better than we did, but some other aspects opened up too and we were able to come away with the win.”

In a tie ballgame late in the fourth quarter, the Cyclones sat with a fourth and six from the Cardinal 15-yard line. Junior quarterback Joey Ries scrambled right and tossed a jump ball falling away to Emmerson Larson, coming down the go-ahead touchdown grab in double coverage.

“Adrenaline was pumping, got the false start,” Ries said. “Scrambled outside the pocket, threw it deep to Emmerson and he went up and got the ball.”

“It was a botched play,” Larson said. “I had a little out route and then turned it up field, he threw it up field, high-pointed the ball and I went and got it.”

Emmerson Larson goes up for the go-ahead touchdown during Clark-Willow Lake's 20-14 win over Deuel Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Clear Lake. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

With 1:17 to go, Deuel had one last try to tie it, until senior Ky Vandersnick sealed the victory with a game-clinching interception.

“Our offense wasn’t moving the ball as fast, which is alright, but we moved it when it mattered and our defense helped us a lot,” Ries said. “They stopped them from scoring a couple times and did what they did.”

But it was Larson, who finished with two touchdowns, 27 rushing yards and four tackles defensively on the night, who pushed the Cyclones to a big win on the road.

“Emmerson didn’t even see the ball,” Severson said on the final touchdown grab. “Joey threw it up to the corner and Emmerson I know did not see that ball until it was about seven feet from him. He just looked up, boom, there it was. Jumped up, caught the ball contested. That’s just a testament to Emmerson’s athleticism. To be able to go up and get that ball contested in the corner like that, great throw and a great catch.”

CWL had been in control for a good portion of the game leading up to the narrow win. After a scoreless opening quarter, the Cyclones orchestrated a drive ending with a Larson touchdown run from five yards out.

Later in the first half the Cyclone defense forced a Deuel turnover on an Aidan Sievers interception, with Lincoln Reidburn coming down with the football. The turnover set up Ries to senior wideout Cooper Pommer, making multiple guys miss on a 61-yard touchdown reception.

Going up two scores, the CWL offense stalled and couldn’t get points on the board until the final minute of the game.

“I think we just thought we were in the driver's seat and I think we had to get back in our heads,” Ries said of the offensive struggles. “We had a turnover, which happens, and we came back and won the game.”

That was when Deuel started clicking offensively to end the half with Sievers hitting Oliver Fieber on an 18-yard touchdown to cut the lead to six at the halftime break.

Sievers finished with 127 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.

In the fourth quarter it was Deuel with a little magic of its own. On fourth and 11, Sievers hit a wide open Gavin Maaland for a 29-yard touchdown to tie it halfway through the final period.

“We knew that he was a really good passer so we set up heavy for the pass and the backs just had to stop the run when they ran it,” Larson said of Sievers.

Just a few short minutes later, the Cyclones matched the fourth down TD, this time for the win.

Lincoln Reidbaum finished with nine catches for 104 yards while Cooper Pommer hauled in four passes for 88 yards and a score. Jakob Steen led the rushing attack for the Cyclones with 47 yards on 11 carries.

Deuel’s Gavin Kloos controlled the ground attack with 185 rushing yards on 22 carries. Maaland finished with three catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Clark/Willow Lake will take on Class 11B No. 4 Mobridge-Pollock at home next Friday. Deuel hosts Webster Area in its final home game of the regular season.

“We knew it was going to be a battle coming into this and it was a great team win,” Larson said. “Everybody did their part and we came out with the W.”