The NDCL Lions best football season since 2017 came to an end on Nov. 7 with a 26-6 loss to the Perry Pirates at Alumni Stadium.
Game photos click here.
The NDCL Lions best football season since 2017 came to an end on Nov. 7 with a 26-6 loss to the Perry Pirates at Alumni Stadium.
With the defeat, the Lions finished the season with an 8-4 record in Head Coach Andre Griffin’s second season.
As Coach Griffin has improved the Lions performance the past two seasons, he has emphasized to his players that “attitude is everything” and to “never give up and never give in.”
Against the Pirates, the Lions demonstrated mental toughness by not giving up and not giving in.
After Lions kicker Ryan Cvitkovic knocked the opening kickoff through the back of the endzone, on the Pirates very first play, Carter Hopkins took a toss sweep 80 yards for a touchdown.
Then, on the next play from scrimmage, the Pirates Greg Mechenbier intercepted the football at the Lions 40-yard line.
With a short field, the Pirates quickly took a 13-0 lead on a Hopkins 1-yard touchdown run with 8:58 left to go in the opening quarter.
At that point, the Lions could have called it quits.
However, they didn’t give up and they didn’t give in.
Facing adversity head on and demonstrating a high level of grit and mental toughness, over the next 36 minutes of game time, the Lions held the Pirates scoreless.
A truly remarkable feat!
How did they do it against the number one seeded Div. 4, Region 13, Pirates?
According to senior standout Brendan Hernan, attitude was key.
“(The) mentality (is) never give in, never give up,” Hernan said. “Not even looking at the scoreboard (we) just continue to do what we do and realize that it’s never over until the clock hits zero, and (we) continue to fight no matter what.”
He continued: “Obviously we knew Perry was the number one seed, 8-2. We knew it was going to be a battle, and we knew they were going to get theirs. Their first play, they ripped an 80-yard run, but we knew we had to keep going and not let that get to us. Our backers and corners fought and fought every play like they do.”
Showing resiliency, on their next possession after the Pirates took a 13-0 lead, the Lions methodically drove the ball down the field. However, they were eventually stopped in the red zone at the Pirates ten yard line.
On 4th and 1 the Lions senior standout kicker Ryan Cvitkovic put his team on the scoreboard with a 27-yard field goal to make the score 13-3 with 3:01 left in the first quarter.
Then, in the Pirates next two offensive possessions, the Lions defense stepped up and stopped the Pirates on 4th down in the red zone.
The Lions clearly demonstrated that they had no intention of giving up or giving in.
In addition to the Lions second quarter defensive stops, they had a strong final offensive possession of the half, advancing the ball to the Pirates four-yard line.
With under a minute remaining before intermission, Cvitkovic connected on a 20-yard field goal to make the score 13-6.
After receiving the second half kickoff, the Lions offense continued to fight hard against the number one seeded Pirates.
On their second drive of the third quarter, the Lions moved the ball down the field and into the red zone. However, for the third time in the contest, the Pirates defense stopped the Lions inside the 20-yard line.
The Lions then attempted a third field goal, but the kick was wide right.Heading into the fourth quarter, the Pirates clung to a 13-6 lead as the Lions had held them scoreless since the 8:58 mark of the first quarter.
Perry then effectively put the game out of reach with a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Nate Trefzger to senior wide receiver Justin Costello with 9:19 remaining.
The Pirates added their final 6 points on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Trefzger to Brody Krantz with 2:51 left in the game to make the final score 26-6.
For the second straight playoff game, the Lions were led offensively through the air by junior quarterback Brady Capel, and on the ground by senior running back Dylan Hoenigman.
In the Lions 38-13 victory over the Hubbard Eagles on Oct. 31 at Lions Stadium, Capel accumulated 232 all purpose yards and a touchdown. In addition, Hoenigman had 62 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Hernan and Vance Marut led the Lions defense against the Eagles as they both had eight tackles and a sack.
With an excellent 2025 Football season in which the Lions got their first playoff victory since 2020 and their first home playoff victory since 2017, the Lions earned numerous awards.
In fact, the Lions had six players who earned First Team All North Coast Conference honors including Brady Capel, Ryan Cvitkovic, Brendan Hernan, Caiden Kovacs, Casey McInnerny and Vance Marut.
Earning All-NCC Second Team honors were Nick Barros, Drake Berschig, Rob Bonchak and Blake Dumermuth.
Carmen Cirino, Dylan Hoenigman, Robby Lipowski, Joey Penny and Braeden Ryan all earned All-NCC Honorable Mention.
