JOLIET, Ill.

Following a trip of more than three hours for a season-opening game in another state, the Lone Tree Lions warmed up their running legs quickly last Friday night.

An 8-yard scoring run by junior running back Maddox Jondle on Lone Tree’s first offensive possession, less than four minutes into the game, jump-started the Lions toward a dominating 54-16 victory over Parkview Christian.

Lone Tree senior quarterback Ethan Bockelman, who set up the opening touchdown with a long run to the Parkview 8-yard line, had a career night at Joliet Memorial Stadium. He ran for five touchdowns and passed for another in the Lions’ highest offensive output since a 65-16 win over Tri-County in September 2022.

One of Bockelman’s TD runs covered 59 yards and three of them were 39 yards or more on a field that was set up for 100 yards instead of the normal 80 yards used in eight-man games.

“I was a little more tired at the end,” Bockelman said with a laugh after the game.

He rushed for more than 200 yards behind an offensive line featuring senior center Cole Abbott, and guards Harry Brenneman and Jack Patterson.

“The guys up front. Cole Abbott did a great job snapping and blocking tonight,” Lions head coach Joe Donovan said. “And then, you’ve got Harry Brenneman at right guard and Jack Patterson at left guard.”

“The blocks really came together tonight,” Bockelman said. “Holes opened up really nice tonight. It was nice to see that work.”

The Lions scored three times in the first half to take a 20-0 lead, then went ahead 27-0 on a 9-yard run by Bockelman to open the third quarter. They scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, including a 52-yard TD pass from Bockelman to Emmett Burke with 3:23 left in the quarter.

“I was pleased offensively with the output, obviously scoring the points,” Donovan said. “It wasn’t as easy as the score maybe indicated. They were a good team. They kept us on our toes all night and made some great plays.”

Parkview Christian struck twice for long passes over the middle for touchdowns in the third quarter. Falcons quarterback Christian Mulder hit scoring passes of 19 and 40 yards to Justin Morris.

Other than those plays, and a Parkview drive in the final quarter, the Lions shut down the Falcons on defense.

“I thought, defensively, Emmett Burke really played a good game on defense,” Donovan said. “Him and Maddox together on the linebacker position really communicate well. They just know how to adjust to things.”

Dominic Graap, a senior, led Lone Tree in tackles.

“A good way to start the year for him,” Donovan said.

The Lions (1-0) host Iowa Valley (1-0) in their home opener Friday at 7 p.m. The Tigers opened their season last Friday with a 48-30 win over BGM.

GAME SUMMARY

LONE TREE 54, PARKVIEW CHRISTIAN 16

Lone Tree      7    13     21    13  --  54

Parkview       0      0      16      0  --  16

LT: Maddox Jondle 8 run (Jader Sanchez kick)

LT: Ethan Bockelman 2 run (run failed)

LT: Bockelman 39 run (Sanchez kick)

LT: Bockelman 9 run (Sanchez kick)

PC: Justin Morris 19 pass from Christian Mulder (Morris run)

LT: Bockelman 47 run (Sanchez kick)

LT: Emmett Burke 52 pass from Bockelman (Sanchez kick)

PC: Morris 40 pass from Mulder (Morris run)

LT: Bockelman 59 run (kick failed)

LT: Sanchez 17 run (Kaden Sojka kick)