First, there was lightning.

Then, Wildcats.

After seeing its first game of the season halted by a lightning storm Aug. 19 at Midland, Lone Tree’s young football team ran into a tough start in its actual season opener last Friday at Central City.

Jayden Hanson, Central City’s junior quarterback, passed for 164 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to a 44-21 victory.

The Wildcats scored 26 consecutive points in the first half, including its first touchdown after Lone Tree fumbled the opening kickoff.

Lone Tree head coach Joe Donovan, who is in his first year at Lone Tree after serving as co-coach at Highland, liked what he saw from the Lions in the second half. Recovering from a 26-point deficit, the Lions scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and another touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“Felt good about the second half, definitely something to build on,” Donovan said. “We played with much more confidence.”

Emmett Burke, a freshman, scored his first high school touchdown on a 48-yard pass catch. Jader Sanchez, a junior, scored on an 18-yard reception and also drilled three extra-point kicks.

Maddox Jondle, a sophomore quarterback playing in his first game, scored on a 4-yard run.

Matt Hemsted, one of a few seniors on the team, had more than 10 tackles on defense.

Lone Tree lost a big senior class to graduation, including a trio of 2022 grads (quarterback Cade Shield, running back Tyler Bell and receiver Cade Patterson) that totaled 30 touchdowns last year. Due to the lack of a preseason scrimmage and a canceled game two weeks ago, Friday’s game was the first action for many of the Lions.

Friday night, Lone Tree hosts district rival English Valleys (0-1) in the Lions’ home opener at 7.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement and hopefully we see that in Week Two,” Donovan said.

Friday’s game begins a string of three consecutive home games for the Lions.