The Lone Tree football team was dominant in all three phases during the first half of a 65-14 homecoming win over Tri-County on Friday. 

Offensively, the Lions ran just 14 plays on the way to a 44-0 halftime lead. The Lion defense sent Tri-County to halftime with a rushing total of -12 and  special teams were also superb as Jader Sanchez and Drew Gauley combined to go 6-for-6 on first-half PATs.

Lone Tree’s first two plays gained 13 yards. The next three each went for a touchdown: a 36-yard pass from Ethan Bockelman to Caden Smith came in between 27 and 49-yard touchdown carries from Bockelman. The latter  was set up by a 22-yard punt return from Smith.

“It was just blocking and really making sure we got in the way of their best players, especially (Eli Molyneux),” the Lions’ senior center Mitch Koedam explained. “And then from there, it was just Ethan running the ball, throwing the ball. He did a really good job, worked really hard.”

Lone Tree allowed just 42 yards in the first half and scored on a 64-yard interception return by Sanchez. Senior Andrew Hotz led the Lion defense with four tackles for loss, including two sacks and a safety that put the Lions ahead 9-0 early. 

Hotz said that the Lone Tree coaching staff had the team prepared for what the Trojans wanted to run offensively, which led to the safety. 

“We had our rules and we followed them,” he said. “We had good discipline, I made sure I had the outside contain. That was my job, and I did it.”

Tri-County’s senior quarterback Eli Molyneux threw for 115 yards and a touchdown in the second half, but was limited to just 10 total yards on the ground. He entered Friday’s contest with 337 rushing yards and five touchdowns over three games. 

“Obviously their quarterback was somebody we had to keep under control, and we did for the most part of the game, so I was pleased about that,” Lone Tree coach Joe Donovan said. “Overall, I was pleased to see Jader Sanchez with his pick six at a time when we needed it.”

A 15-yard penalty moved the ball to the Lone Tree 19-yard line late in the first half, but the interception from Sanchez kept the Trojans out of the endzone, extending the Lone Tree lead to 44-0. 

Gauley also had an interception and Joe Boxwell led the Lion defense with seven tackles. 

“That felt really good,” Boxwell said about the early onslaught. “This was one of the first times that we started off really fast. When we came back out of halftime, we were really confident and ready to go.”

The Trojans finished with 27 total rushing yards with 18 of those coming on a fourth-quarter touchdown carry by Molyneux.  

Bockelman completed one of three passes, which all came in the first half. He rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Reece Holbrook rushed for 21 yards and the Lions’ final touchdown. Maddox Jondle carried the ball eight times for 164 yards and four touchdowns. 

“Offensively, it was just nice to see some kids like Maddox Jondle get a lot of yards,” Donovan said. I’m just happy for the kids, now they can go celebrate at the dance and homecoming.”

Lone Tree (3-1) takes a three-game winning streak to Winfield-Mt.Union (3-2) on Friday. The Wolves have scored at least 44 points in every game, and bounced back from back-to-back losses with a 52-12 win over HLV last week. WMU junior Cam Buffington did not play in a 68-52 loss to Iowa Valley on September 2. He rushed for 775 yards and 11 touchdowns in the other four games. 

SCORING SUMMARY

LT: Ethan Bockelman 27 run (Jader Sanchez kick)

LT: Andrew Hotz safety

LT: Caden Smith 36 pass from Bockelman (Drew Gauley kick)

LT: Bockelman 49 run (Sanchez kick)

LT: Maddox Jondle 31 run (Gauley kick)

LT Jondle 20 run (Sanchez kick)

LT: Sanchez 64 interception (Gauley kick)

LT: Jondle 69 run (Barajas kick)

TC: Joshua McCullough 29 pass from Eli Molyneux (kick failed)

LT: Jondle 14 run (Gauley kick)

TC: Molyneux 18 run (Molyneux run)

LT: Reece Holbrook 6 run (Dominic Graap kick)