LONE TREE

A home game after a lopsided loss in the season opener was just what the doctor ordered for the Lions. 

Giving its home faithful plenty to cheer about, Lone Tree put 50 points on the board to secure their first victory of the season. 

“We executed better than last week,” Lone Tree coach Joe Donovan said after the Lions 50-6 win over Meskwaki Settlement last Thursday, “The goal tonight was to get some things on video so we can just evaluate again where we’re at and how we can get better.”

It was all Lone Tree from beginning to end as they put the game effectively out of reach in the first quarter by scoring over 30. Nearly pitching a shutout, Meshwaki’s only score of the day came on a Lone Tree red zone pick-six in the fourth quarter. 

“Sometimes when things come easy, you get a little lackadaisical about it. So, that was a concern of mine,” coach Donovan said. “After last week you think we’d be more workmanlike in what we’re doing. I mean I’m happy, of course you’re always happy with a win, but there’s always things we still need to work on.” 

A key figure in Lone Tree’s fast start was quarterback/defensive back Emmett Burke.

After their first points of the game (a rushing touchdown by Maddox Jondle) Burke leaped high and caught the ball on defense for an interception. Less than two minutes later Burke completed a passing TD to fellow junior Reece Holbrook. 

His highlight plays did not stop there. On Meskwaki’s next possession Burke forced a fumble on a good-looking running play to give the ball back to the Lions. 

“It’s just a heady play by him,” coach Donovan said of Burke’s forced fumble in the first quarter, “Emmet played the first two weeks really well. Last week he played really hard and really good too. Any time he’s on the field and gets his hands on the ball on offense or defense, he just seems to always be around it. Good things happen for us when that happens.”

Now on offense, it didn’t take long for the Lions to greet the end zone yet again. On their first play after the turnover, Jondle broke loose for a 53-yard rushing TD.   

The momentum did not stop there. Burke continued his excellent quarter of play by recovering a fumble by Meskwaki on their next drive. Offense being set up by defense, the Lions scored on their first play after the turnover when Burke sprinted into the endzone for his second rushing TD of the young season. 

Lone Tree’s rushing attack was rolling against Meskwaki, and this served as a good momentum builder going forward for their offensive line. 

“I think our line, we got two new guys up there in Easton and McCoy Boardman, I think they played better tonight. We just need them to keep getting better,” coach Donovan said.

Already leading 28-0, the Lions ended their explosive first quarter with another long TD, but this time it was caught and brought in by Domonic Garcia. A missed PAT gave the Lions a 34-point lead going into the next quarter. 

The scoring flurry came to an end, but the Lions were able to add to their lead with Burke scoring another rushing TD in the second, Brody Magruder forcing a QB out of bounds for a safety in the fourth, and Jondle scoring a second rushing TD with less than a minute left in the game. 

“I really liked how our edge played. I thought having Brody McGruder back this week helped. And I thought Reece Holbrook played a lot better this week than last week at his end,” coach Donovan said. “When they play well, then it makes it easier for the guys inside to play well.”

Coming up next for Lone Tree (1-1) is a road game against the Midland Eagles (1-1) on Sept. 13.

MESKWAKI 6, LONE TREE 50

LONE TREE 34   7    0    9   -- 50

MESKWAKI 0     0    0    6   -- 6