Dons hold off Rebels in 8-player battle

GILBERTVILLE – For a second-consecutive season, Don Bosco held off Gladbrook-Reinbeck in an 8-player clash for the district title, this time at Don Bosco High School on Friday in a 35-32 triumph for the Dons.

It’s G-R’s first loss of the season, falling to 6-1. The Dons start the last week of the season ranked third in 8-player by Radio Iowa; G-R is rated fifth. The Rebels will take on Collins-Maxwell in Colo on Friday for the regular-season finale and then await their postseason fate, with a playoff spot clinched.

G-R led 26-21 at halftime, scoring 12 points in the last 2:26 of the half on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Isaac Clark to Hudson Clark, and then a 1-yard touchdown run for Isaac Clark after the Rebels quickly got the ball back on a Dons turnover on downs.

To start the second half, Don Bosco struck back with 14 consecutive points in the third to jump ahead 35-26. Midway through the fourth quarter, Hudson Clark hauled in another touchdown pass from Isaac to get with 35-32. G-R was able to get a stop to get a chance at taking the lead, but Ty Purdy secured an interception for Don Bosco and after the Dons got one more first down, they were able to kneel out the victory.

Don Bosco similarly snuck past G-R last season in Gladbrook, 42-36.

Isaac Clark finished with 162 yards passing on 9-20 passing and two touchdowns with one interception. Hudson Clark made three catches for 89 yards and two scores and Luke Riffey added a couple grabs for 53 yards.

In the ground game, Austin Vaverka rushed seven times for 91 yards and two scores and Isaac Clark added a score with 11 totes for 22 yards.

Defensively, Caleb Egesdal made 12 total tackles for the Rebels and Drew Eilers added nine total stops, including 2.5 for a loss. Vaverka added eight tackles and 1.5 for a loss. 

G-R stats

Rushing–Austin Vaverka 7-91, 2 TD; Hudson Clark 2-39; Isaac Clark 11-22, TD; Luke Riffey 2-13.

Passing–I. Clark 9-20-1, 162 yards, 2 TD.

Receiving–H. Clark 3-89, 2 TD; Riffey 2-53; Vaverka 1-9; Drew Eilers 2-8; Caleb Egesdal 1-3.

Tackles (solo-total)–Caleb Egesdal 10-12; Drew Eilers 6-9; Austin Vaverka 4-8; Isaac Clark 4-7; Luke Sienknecht 2-6.5; Logan Giesking 2-6; Hudson Clark 2-3.5; Luke Riffey 1-3; Kadyn Schick 1-1.5; Michael Boyd 0-0.5; Henry Mussig 0-0.5. TFL–Eilers 2.5, Vaverka 1.5, Sienknecht 1, I. Clark, Giesking 0.5.