Dreary Fate Befalls Foe Of Mustangs

In Idaho eight-man high school football, it’s called the “Mercy Rule,” installed to allow lesser teams to save face against their high-powered opponents in the wake of a possible 73-3 shellacking. When a team has achieved a 45-point lead, game over.

But among teams in North Idaho who have bravely fought and fallen, it’s just called the “Deary Rule.”

The Deary High School Mustangs continued their stampede toward their third state eight-man football championship in the last five years with a 56-6 trouncing of Clark Fork on Saturday afternoon in the Kibbie Dome, with 8:42 left in the third quarter. Game over.

Deary drew first blood with 11:01 left in the first quarter on a 35-yard Derrick Perezchica pass to Justin Hatley. Perezchica carried the ball in for the conversion, and the Mustangs led 8-0.

Clark Fork then threatened to tie the game on its first possession, moving the ball to the Deary 2-yard line, before penalties and a tough Deary defense stopped the drive on fourth-and-goal at the 5.

“That was a key play for us,” said Deary coach Darrah Eggers. Indeed, the Mustangs took the ball 98 yards, culminating in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Perezchica to Gailen Brown. Deary never looked back.

“We thought they would throw more, and we didn’t defend the run very well,” said Eggers.

The Wampus Cats’ leading receiver was a non-factor. Senior Brent Stevens, who came into the game with 59 receptions for 1,052 yards and 19 touchdowns, was held without a reception. However, Clark Fork did manage to accumulate 189 rushing yards against the Mustang defense. George Klontz led the Wampus Cats with 96 yards.

Deary also ran the ball well, amassing 290 yards. Dan Whitcomb lead all rushers with 158 yards and three touchdowns.

While Clark Fork closes out its season at 5-5, the Mustangs advance to the semifinals next Friday in the Kibbie Dome. In winning its ninth game in as many tries - the team is 31-1 in its past three seasons - Deary has amassed 366 points to its opponents’ 42. It heads into a rematch of last year’s semis against Lakeside of Plummer, which defeated Notus 64-22 in a game played earlier in the Kibbie Dome.

“Lakeside is on a mission,” said Deary’s Eggers. “They are very serious about what they are trying to do. It’s going to be a shootout.”

And the Mustangs intend to show no mercy.

Deary 56, Clark Fork 6

Deary 28 22 6 0 - 56

Clark Fork 0 6 0 0 - 6

Deary - Perezchica 35-yard pass to Hatley (Perezchica run) Deary - Perezchica 27-yard pass to Brown (pass failed) Deary - Whitcomb 40-yard run (Burnette run) Deary - Perezchica 46-yard pass to Brown (pass failed) Deary - Whitcomb 65 yard punt return (Hanson run) Deary - Whitcomb 65 yard run (Hanson run) Clark Fork - Stutzke one yard run (pass failed) Deary - Whitcomb 25-yard run (run failed) Deary - Hanson two-yard run