MT. PLEASANT - Nov. 7, 2009 - Pinconning made its share of big plays in its bid to upset unbeaten Clare in Saturday's Division 5 district championship game.

The Pioneers just kept chipping away, riding their senior-dominated offensive line to a 28-18 victory that sends Clare to next week's regional final and ends Pinny's season.

"Defensively we just couldn't stop them," said Pinconning coach Chip Kleinhans. "Their offensive line was a concern coming in. We have a sophomore and a freshman on our line, and they have all seniors up front. We saw on film how it was going to be an issue."

The Pioneers didn't punt once, turning in four drives of at least 10 plays and playing keep-away from a Pinconning offense that was effective when given the chance.

"We knew we'd be able to move the ball," Kleinhans said. "We just didn't get enough opportunities."

Pinny trailed 14-6 at the half, but hit paydirt on the first play of the third quarter on a 64-yard pass play from Casey Pashak to fullback Lucas Foco. The Spartans, who were unsuccessful on each of their three extra-point attempts, were stopped short on a 2-point run and trailed 14-12.

Clare took the air out of Pinny's momentum balloon an 11-play, 80-yard drive as running backs Travis Smith and Tyler Gillis accounted for all but nine yards on the ground. Smith's touchdown and Kris English's extra point made it a two-possession game, 21-12.

The Pioneers' next drive lasted 13 plays and 82 yards, again nearly all of it on the ground, culminating with Kris English's 22-yard touchdown pass to Matt English for the game-clinching score.

"The English boys (who are cousins) had their connection working," Kleinhans said. "They hurt us with the short stuff; we were late coming up.

"We didn't get the stops on D and didn't get the ball enough."

The Spartans put together a 12-play scoring drive of their own, with Pashak doing the honors from 12 yards out with 2:03 remaining. Matt English knocked the ball out of Samuel Bourcier's hands to foil the Spartans' 2-point conversion attempt that would have made it an eight-point game.

Instead, the Spartans were down 10 and the game was for all intents and purposes over.

Clare opened the game with a six-play, 78-yard drive with Kris English diving in from the 1-yard line for a 7-0 Pioneer lead. Pinny got on the board with a nine-play drive of its own, with Foco bulling his way to 52 of the 78 yards on the drive and Pashak scoring on a 1-yard dive to make it 7-6.

An exchange of turnovers late in the half gave Clare field position at the Pinny 36, and Kris English connected with tight end Zach Jelenek for a 15-yard scoring strike with 1:29 to go.

Pinny nearly scored before the half, using a 30-yard Charles Burch kickoff return and a 38-yard run by Tyler Espitia to get in scoring range. But the Spartans had been forced to use two of their times-out earlier in the half and weren't able to score before the half ran out.

Foco led the Spartans with 103 rushing yards on 11 carries to go with his 64-yard touchdown reception. Espitia added 72 yards on 12 carries while Pashak was 7-of-11 passing for 109 yards.

Smith had 106 yards on 26 carries and Gillis 94 yards on 12 carries for the Pioneers. Kris English completed 11-of-15 passes for 176 yards with one interception and Matt English caught seven passes for 113 yards.

Clare (11-0) heads to Gaylord on Saturday, Nov. 14 to take on Menominee (9-2).

The Spartans (7-4), making their first playoff appearance in Kleinhans' four years as head coach, lose many of their skill players to graduation but half several building blocks in place that he hopes will lead to sustained success.

"We knew this was the year to turn it around," he said. "The kids made a great effort. We had some kids come back to us that hadn't played in a couple years.

"We had a sophomore and freshman on the line, and our starting safety and running back was a sophomore. They're seasoned veterans now and they learned a lot from this season."