After a long stretch through Illinois to play Parkview Christian for a week 0 matchup, the Lone Tree Lions made a triumphant return home to face the Iowa Valley Tigers. 

The mark of hometown football, light the notorious ‘Friday Night Lights.’ 

These two teams’ last matchup ended in a 22-0 Lion victory. This year, the tides changed. 

The Tigers roared louder with a 60-14 win by way of dominant defense and a run game that could not be contained. 

Iowa Valley moves to 2-0 on the young season. Lone Tree drops to 1-1. Lone Tree will have some time to regroup as they do not have a game this coming Friday. Instead, the Lions will next play on Friday, Sept. 8, against Midland in Lone Tree. 

Against Iowa Valley, the scoring came on quickly. The Tigers received the opening kickoff and exacted a scoring drive, finishing with a passing touchdown from freshman Nolan Kriegel to junior Caleb Haack. 

Kriegel would rush straight up the middle for a two-point conversion untouched.

Six-foot-nine Haack was a problem for Lion defensive backs all night long. Haack caught all three of Kriegel’s completions for 71 yards with one touchdown.

The Lions first drive was a gutsy one as they moved down the field methodically, hoping to tie the game and swing back momentum. 

They reached a fourth down and utility man Emmett Burke faked the punt, rushing to his right to pick up the first down. The next fourth down was too long to fake however, forcing the Lions to give the ball back to the Tigers.

By halftime, the score was 38-0. The Tigers scored five touchdowns, botching one two-point conversion attempt. 

Lone Tree received the second half kickoff and went three and out. The only penalty of the game, a false start, would further push the Lions back for the punt attempt.

This gave the Tigers another chance to strike. They would score once more in the third quarter, botching another two-point conversion, giving them a 44-0 lead. 

When the fourth quarter started, the Lions were marching. And with just over 11 minutes left, senior Ethan Bockelman scored on a three-yard touchdown rush. 

Bockelman continued to be the focal point of the Lion offense, passing for 23 yards and rushing for another 67. Everything started with Bockelman.

The Tigers would answer with another touchdown and two-point conversion combo. This led the Lions to pull starters, bringing in junior Maddox Jondle at quarterback in relief of Bockelman. On his first series, Jondle would throw an interception, the only turnover of the game, leading to the final Iowa Valley score. 

In Jondle’s next series, he showcased his speed. 

Jondle would break through the middle of the field, shaking off defenders on his way to the endzone. Another successful PAT from senior Jader Sanchez made the score 60-14 with 1:58 remaining on the clock.

Iowa Valley would assume victory formation to close the game. 

GAME SUMMARY

IOWA VALLEY 60, LONE TREE 14

Iowa Valley   16   22   6   16    --   60

Lone Tree       0 0    0   14   --   14