Blink, and you would’ve missed Lone Tree’s quick 10-0 start.

​Lone Tree’s homecoming matchup was slated against the Edgewood-Colesburg Vikings on Friday, Sept. 22. Here, the Lions won 39-22. 

“We have limited numbers and we’re playing hard and playing good. We’re doing what we have to do to win,” head coach Joe Donovan said. “We had to be in really good shape and we really worked them hard and it’s paying off.”

That 10-0 lead was built upon a great opening drive from the Lions. 

The three-minute drive finished with senior Ethan Bockelman scrambling, drawing the defense in while leaving senior Domonic Graap wide open for the easy 15-yard touchdown connection.

​Bockelman, who was named Homecoming King, had a day. He went 6/8 through the air for 80 yards and a touchdown. He ran for another 140 yards with three additional scores. 

“We just poked and prodded until we found something that worked. It doesn’t always have to be Maddox [or Ethan]. The defense can take those two out but obviously we have other weapons,” Donovan said about the ups and downs from this game.

After the touchdown, the Vikings offense fumbled on their very first play. Senior Harry Brenneman recovered the fumble, setting up Lone Tree in the red zone. The Lions picked up one first down off a pass interference call but faltered. 

This led to senior Jader Sanchez lining up for the 27-yard field goal, banking it. Sanchez made all four of his PATs and converted a two-pointer from a fake PAT.

“It makes me sleep better at night having Jader. Being able to put the ball in the endzone gives me a lot of peace knowing that [Jader can hit the extra point],” Donovan said. “He’s got a great leg; I really appreciate what he brings.”

Edgewood-Colesburg’s Carter Oberbroeckling would open the Viking’s scoring in the second quarter on a fourth and goal run from the three-yard line. A successful two-pointer made it 10-8. 

Lone Tree answered with a 50-yard touchdown run by Bockelman after faking it to junior Maddox Jondle, making it 18-8.

Jondle is second in team rushing behind Bockelman. He only mustered 54 yards with a touchdown in this game but had a 37-yard touchdown run negated due to a penalty.

Jondle was instrumental on defense. He piled up 10 tackles, the most on either team. He is Lone Tree’s leading tackler.

“Maddox, tough sledding on running the ball but boy did he sure bring the stick tonight,” Donovan said. “He hit some kids hard, got himself some opportunities and caused some turnovers.”

Lone Tree held a 18-14 halftime lead. The Vikings started the third with a long, methodical drive, threatening to take the lead. The clock bled for over eight minutes before the offense misfired, fumbling on a pitch, watching sophomore Emmett Burke recover.

Burke would finish the night with a great stat line. He recovered one fumble, intercepted a pass, recorded 7.5 tackles and was the team’s leading receiver with four catches for 42 yards.

Lone Tree truly sealed the deal with a big fourth quarter. Entering, the score was still 18-14. Bockelman started the fourth with a 23-yard connection with Sanchez before a quarterback sneak for the two-yard touchdown. 

Bockelman then rushed for a 36-yard touchdown directly up the gut to give the Lions a comfortable 32-14 lead. 

Jondle notched his only touchdown of the night with 3:14 remaining. The quarter was an explosive one for the Lions.

The Vikings followed the Jondle touchdown for the final score of the night, a 49-yard touchdown run followed by a two-point conversion. 

The Lions kneeled to end the game. They’ll take on Calamus-Wheatland on Friday, Sept. 29 on the road next.

GAME SUMMARY

EDGEWOOD-COLESBURG 22, LONE TREE 39

E-C​ --  0  --  14  --  0  --  8  --  ​22

LT​   -- 10  --  ​8  --   0  --  ​21 -- ​39

LT: Graap 15 pass from Bockelman (Sanchez kick)

LT: Sanchez 27 field goal 

E-C: Oberbroeckling 3 run (2pt good)

LT: Bockelman 50 run (Sanchez run)

E-C: Oberbroeckling 13 run (2pt no good)

LT: Bockelman 2 run (Sanchez kick)

LT: Bockelman 36 run (Sanchez kick)

LT: Jondle 11 run (Sanchez kick)

E-C: Ingles 49 run (Oberbroeckling run)

GAME STATS

PASSING: Lone Tree, Bockelman, 6-8-80, 1 TD; Edgewood-Colesburg, Ingles, 4-11-29, 1 INT. 

RUSHING: Lone Tree, Bockelman, 14-140, 3 TD; Lone Tree, Jondle, 20-54, 1 TD; Edgewood-Colesburg, Ingles, 27-202, 1 TD, Edgewood-Colesburg, Oberbroeckling, 11-57, 2 TD.

RECEIVING: Lone Tree, Burke, 4-42; Lone Tree, Graap, 1-15, 1 TD; Lone Tree Sanchez, 1-23; Edgewood-Colesburg, Lange, 2-20.

LEADING TACKLERS: Lone Tree Jondle, 10; Lone Tree Burke, 7.5; Lone Tree, Bockelman, 7.5; Lone Tree, Jack Patterson, 7; Lone Tree, Brody Magruder, 6; Edgewood-Colesburg, Oberbroeckling, 7, Edgewood-Colesburg, Steger, 5, Edgewood-Colesburg, Gaul, 4.5, Edgewood-Colesburg, Cole, 4.5.