MARENGO 

Lone Tree was unable to match the high-powered offense of Iowa Valley in a 70-12 loss on Friday, but a pair of late touchdown drives gave the Lions a little momentum to build off of moving forward. 

“We don’t have an identity yet offensively, and we’re still looking for that,” Lone Tree head coach Joe Donovan said. “At the end there, when you get some success, it’s good to get it on videotape so you can reinforce what they can do. That’s what you use those moments for.”

Junior quarterback Emmett Burke scored the first touchdown of the season for the Lions with a 16-yard carry in the fourth quarter. Burke completed 8-of-16 passes for 108 yards and added 42 more on the ground. 

Senior Maddox Jondle ran through the Tiger defense for a 52-yard touchdown run on the following possession. Jondle picked up 106 yards on 15 carries and caught three passes for 32 yards. 

“I think it was huge for us just to get the kids to see how to execute a few plays,” Donovan said. “When you can have some success, those kids are going to remember that. And I think now some of the upperclassmen are realizing, after tonight, that they’ve got to practice a little better too.”

Lone Tree trailed 22-0 with three minutes left in the second quarter when Iowa Valley took control of the game. A Lions turnover allowed the Tigers to score twice before halftime. Sophomore Dane Smith scored on a 57-yard carry to put the Tigers up 46-0 with the first play of the second half. 

It was another big offensive night for Iowa Valley (2-0), who opened the season with a 76-67 win over BGM. Quarterback Nolan Kriegel carried the ball for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Lions after rushing for 304 yards and eight scores in the season opener. 

The Lions were out rushed 343-148 by the Tigers, who provided a tough opening day test for Lone Tree on both sides of the ball.  

“We have two new guys up there, it’s not that they didn’t play last year, they haven’t played in years,” Donovan said. “And you’re asking them to do it against a pretty good football team. So you’re asking them to do something that not a lot of kids want to do or can do. So I’m just glad they’re here. I’m glad they’re playing. I think they’re going to get better from this. All these kids are going to get better.”

Jondle led the Lone Tree defense with 10 tackles, including five solo stops. Burke had nine tackles, including two tackles for loss. Domonic Garcia made seven tackles and Jack Patterson had seven. 

Garcia also had three catches for 24 yards while Reece Holbrook made three catches for 52 yards. 

“I’m proud of the kids,” Donovan said. “They don’t want this to happen, you know. It’s a learning lesson. Adversity can make you better, can make you worse, and we as coaches just have to make sure we’re getting better.”