Rebels take Class A state football crown

CEDAR FALLS — On e y e a r ago, Gladbrook-Reinbeck held the lead in the Class A state championship football game with less than a minute left before falling late. This year they did not risk that chance.
The Rebels raced to a 28-point lead in the first quarter last Thursday on their way to their first-ever state title, 52-20 over Akron-Westfield.
Rebel coach John Olson has often said that his team doesn’t talk about championships. This time, however, is an exception.
“We talk about doing things right all the time,” he said. “I told the kids after the game, ‘Now we can start talking about championships.’ We have it, it’s there, we can say we’re the best. Are we the best? I don’t know if we’re the best team in the state, but we’re the best team in this playoff and the best team this year. That feels really good to say that — it’s not being arrogant or anything like that; that’s who we are and that’s what we did this year.”
Read the full article in the November 27 edition of the Register.