Tigers inconsistent in semifinals loss

CEDAR FALLS — The Lenox Tigers suffered their first loss of the season Wednesday in the 8-man semifinals against Gladbrook-Reinbeck at the UNI-Dome.

Though Lenox started strong at the beginning of both halves, the Rebels forced the Tigers out of rhythm, and they struggled to get back to regular gameplay.

The Tigers made a late comeback effort, closing the score to 29-27 to start the fourth quarter, but Gladbrook-Reinbeck scored twice more to win the matchup 43-27.

“It stings, it really does,” co-head coach Michael Nardini said. “You get that far and you have high goals for yourself. When you come up short, it’s always going to hurt.”

Early scoring

Though the first quarter ended in a 14-14 tie, the Tigers showed offensive dominance, finding two scores in five plays.

The Rebels scored first on the game-opening drive with a 4-yard touchdown by quarterback Drew Eilers.

Senior quarterback Gabe Funk quickly set the stage for the Tigers, taking their first play out for a 50-yard touchdown.

“The first play, you don’t expect to take it to the house, but we did.” Funk said. “It was very surreal.”

The Tigers defense, coached by co-head coach Cole Bonde, held the Rebels to a three-and-out, forcing a punt on the next drive.

Funk and the offense took over at the 38-yard line. Senior running back JJ Martin-England scampered for 24 yards on second-and-3 to set up a first-and-goal at the 10.

Junior Kolben Robinson stretched for the touchdown on second-and-7, giving the Tigers their only lead of the game — 14-7.

Rebel takeover

Gladbrook-Reinbeck recovered from their three-and-out with help from a defensive pass interference call against the Tigers.

The call moved the ball to the Lenox 32-yard line where sophomore Treyvon Herron escaped for the game-tying score.

Nardini said the next drive was really the start of the Tigers downfall.

The drive started deep in Lenox territory. Martin-England converted one first down, but then the Tigers got stuck at fourth-and-3, unable to convert. The Rebels got the ball at their own 32-yard line.

Senior Owen Grundman had a nice tackle for loss on the ensuing drive, setting up third-and-6, but Herron converted for the Rebels on a 13-yard run. Eilers ran it in from the 4-yard line, but the Rebels missed the point after attempt, taking a 20-14 lead.

“We didn’t get a first down on the third drive, and then they went down and punched it in,” Nardini said. “Now we’re getting into a little bit of a pressure situation. We just couldn’t get ourselves over the hump. We had some positive yard plays, but then we just couldn’t get ourselves into the end zone with it.”

Funk aired out several deep balls throughout the game, none finding their target. He finished 11 of 19 for 64 yards.

The Tigers were outscored 15-0 in the second quarter as the Rebels went on to score another touchdown and kick a 22-yard field goal. Lenox trailed 29-14 at the half.

Comeback attempt

When the Tigers came back after the half, they were ready to cut into the 15-point lead.

Funk pitched a couple short passes out to Martin-England and Robinson, one resulting in bringing out the sticks for a measurement. The Tigers converted and eventually Funk took it in for a 5-yard score.

“We were getting back to stuff we trusted, back to offense we know how to do,” Nardini said. “We just need to focus on getting the first down rather than looking for the big play.”

The Tigers went for two after the touchdown, but were unable to convert.

A stellar defensive stand included a sack from senior Chase England with help from Caden Kaufman, putting the Rebels in a third-and-20. Lenox got the ball back without allowing a score.

Martin-England had a great run on that drive, handing the ball to teammate Grundman who ran the ball into the endzone. The handoff was ruled a forward pass and was called back.

But Martin-England made those yards back up quickly, setting up Funk for a 1-yard QB score, putting the Tigers down only two points.

Though this looked to be the tides turning for the Tigers, Gladbrook-Reinbeck shut them out the remainder of the game, putting up two more scores of their own.

“Our kids and our community have nothing to hang their heads about,” Nardini said. “We’re very proud of what we accomplished even if the end result wasn’t what we wanted.”

Funk finished with 21 carries for 182 yards and three touchdowns while Martin-England had 106 yards on 14 carries.

The two also led the defense in tackles: Funk with nine total and eight solo and Martin-England with 8.5 total and four solo. Senior Brody Brokaw logged 8.5 total and three solo.

Seniors

Lenox graduates nine seniors including their three team captains.

“Brody, JJ and Gabe had to step into the role of captains this year, and they did just a tremendous job leading the kids,” Nardini commented. “They really worked hard to get to who they are as football players.”

Funk was the only starter Wednesday who also started two years ago in the semifinals loss to Remsen St. Mary’s, but he said the experiences were very different.

“Two years ago, I was a follower, listening to those seniors,” he said. “This year as a senior, I’m kind of taking command and leading the underclassmen.”

Nardini added that seniors Grundman and England both grew into great linemen for the team.

“You can’t speak enough about those guys and the hard work they put in and the attitude they brought,” he said.

The other seniors are Daysen Gregg, Patton Adams, Simon Privett and Andy Flah.

Despite the loss, Funk said he felt the whole team played well. “It was a good team effort, we just got punched in the mouth early and couldn’t quite come back,” he said. “Only four 8-man teams get to come here and perform and it’s a blessing to be one of them.”

The Rebels face Remsen St. Marys in the finals next week.

STATISTICS

Gladbrook-Reinbeck 43, Lenox 27

Points by quarter

G-R 14 15 0 14— 43

Len 14 0 6 7— 27

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

G-R — Drew Eilers 4 run (Brayden Utter kick), 8:39

Len — Gabe Funk 50 run (Funk kick), 8:31

Len — Kolben Robinson 7 run (Funk kick), 6:30

G-R — Treyvon Herron 32 run (Utter kick), 5:38

Second Quarter

G-R — Eilers 4 run (kick failed), 11:56

G-R — Utter 21 FG, 7:04

G-R — Eilers 5 run (kick failed), 1:00

Third Quarter

Len — Funk 5 run (kick failed), 6:16

Fourth Quarter

Len — Funk 2 run (Funk kick), 11:56

G-R — Herron 5 run (Utter kick), 9:46

G-R — Eilers 2 run (Utter kick), 5:15

—————

TEAM STATISTICS

G-R Len

First downs 17 18

Rushes-yards 47-233 39-306

Passing 8-12-0 11-22-1

Passing yards 99 64

Total yards 332 370

Punts-avg. 2-24.0 1-35

Return yards 103 86

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — G-R: Drew Eilers 31-146, 4 TD; Treyvon Herron 11-75, 2 TD; Hudson Clark 1-8; Kael Blohm 1-5. Len: Gabe Funk 21-182 3 TD; Jordan Martin-England 14-106; Kolben Robinson 4-21, 1 TD.

PASSING — G-R: Eilers 8-12-0 for 99 yards. Len: Funk 11-19-1 for 64 yards.

RECEIVING — G-R: Herron 4-54, Clark 2-38, Michael Boyd 1-7, Kael Blohm 1-0. Len: Laramie Stoaks 6-25, Martin-England 3-20, Jack Reed 1-13, Robinson 1-6.

TACKLE LEADERS (total-solo) — G-R: Trevor Mathern 8.5 (5), Hudson Clark 8.0 (5), Drew Eilers 6.5 (5), Treyvon Herron 6.0 (2), Drew Stanek 5.5 (3), MIchael Boyd 5.0 (2). Len: Funk 9.0 (8), Martin-England 8.5 (4), Brody Brokaw 8.5 (3), Chase England 7.0 (5), Stoaks 7.0 (4), Owen Grundman 2.5 (1), Reed 2.5, Jordan Castor 2.0 (1), Robinson 1.5 (1), Wylie Brokaw 1.5 (1), Caden Kaufman 1.5.

INTERCEPTIONS — G-R: Mathern 1.

TACKLES FOR LOSS — G-R: Boyd 1.0, Herron 0.5, Hunter Roberts 0.5. Len: England 1.0, Stoaks 1.0, Reed 1.0, Grundman 0.5, Caden Kaufman 0.5.

SACKS — Len: England 0.5, Kaufman 0.5.