New London’s championship defense ends

GILBERTVILLE - The New London football team ran into a juggernaut on Friday night.

The Tigers, who didn't score under 50 in the entire month of October, were held to just one offensive touchdown in a 72-12 loss against No. 1 Don Bosco, the favorites to win it all in Class 8-Player.

'Regardless of how the game turned out tonight, I'm still proud of these guys and the work they put in all season,” said head coach Mark McSorley. 'They've come a long way.”

The Dons got the ball first, and they capped their first drive off with a score. Quarterback Cael Frost scampered into the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was good, and it was 8-0 early.

New London's biggest play of the game came on the ensuing kickoff. Shae Summerfield received the kick at the 10-yard line and brought it back 70 yards past the Don defense for a 70-yard return touchdown. The conversion attempt was no good, but the Tigers had punched right back.

'He's been a huge part of our team this year,” Coach McSorley said. 'I know the hard work and dedication it took him to rebound from his injury that he had last year. I'm super proud of him for all of that, and he'll be greatly missed next year for sure.”

Summerfield's touchdown came with 9:29 left in the first quarter. That two-point deficit was as close as the Tigers would come all night.

Don Bosco flexed its top-ranked muscle over the next three quarters. The Dons scored the next 64 points of the game, including three passing touchdowns and two more rushing touchdowns from Frost, and two rushing scores from Thomas Even.

The Tigers did score one final touchdown in the final four minutes of the game. After a long scramble by Ethan Streeter, Dom Lopez scored on a four-yard quarterback sneak to cut the lead to 72-12. The conversion attempt failed.

Summerfield finished with 47 yards rushing to lead the team. Cameron Raines ran for 31 yards. Streeter ran for 27. Lopez had four yards and a score on the ground.

A three-yard pass from Lopez to Streeter was the only positive play through the air. Lopez finished 1-4 with an interception.

Caydin Wahls led the team with 6.5 total tackles. Currey Jacobs had 5.5 tackles, and Boden Pickle had five.

New London finished the season 3-7. It was the third-straight playoff year for the Tigers, with a staet championship sandwiched in between two first-round exits.

'It shows the tenacity of our kids,” Coach McSorley said. 'I feel like we are moving in the right direction. I feel like the seniors that are leaving this year have been a big part of establishing that tradition. Hopefully moving forward, the younger guys take the leadership role. It's going to be somebody else's turn.”

Don Bosco will take on an Easton Valley team that crushed Gladbrook-Reinbeck 55-6 in the second round later this week.