Tigers gear up for Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Playoff football is one day away for the New London Tigers. New London will travel to Gladbrook to take on Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the Class 8-Man quarterfinals on Friday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.

The Tigers come into the game with an 8-1 record, getting into the playoffs via their RPI after finishing second in District 4. G-R won District 5 after falling in their first two games, and will come into the game with a 7-2 mark.

The Tigers are led by a balanced offense that has ran through the majority of their district teams, but their biggest threat this season has been their ground game. Keontae Luckett is up to 926 yards on the ground and 14 touchdowns, and Isaac McSorley has scrambled for 815 yards and 18 scores. Jordan Johnson is having a good season as well, running for 420 yards and six scores.

McSorley has slung the ball around pretty well, throwing for 1,040 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. Mason Porter has 20 catches for 321 yards and nine touchdowns. Darius Whaley has 14 catches for 292 yards and six touchdowns, and Luckett has caught 14 passes for 240 yards and three scores.

The Tigers won by at least 45 points in all eight of their victories. Their only stumble was at Iowa Valley on Oct. 5, falling 22-12 in muddy conditions in a defacto District title game.

'It was a reality check,” said Whaley on Monday after practice. 'We can't make excuses just because of the weather. We've gotta keep working hard and know that there are teams out there that are good as us, and if we don't work hard, they'll beat us.”

The Tigers could get their shot at revenge against IV if both teams win this Friday. If New London wins and Wyoming Midland upsets IV, the Tigers would host in the second round.

But first, New London has to get past a Gladbrook-Reinbeck team that has won all of their last seven games by at least 25 points. G-R gave up a maximum of 19 points over their district play. Their closest game was a 44-19 at AGWSR Ackley.

Before those seven games, the Rebels struggled. G-R lost their season opener at Don Bosco 50-6, and fell 48-12 in their home opener against Turkey Valley. Both Don Bosco and Turkey Valley are in the Class 8-Man playoff field as well.

G-R is more of a run-oriented team. The Rebels are led by senior Colton Clark, who has run for 757 yards and 17 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jackson Kiburis has ran for 498 yards and six touchdowns. The Rebels have 11 different players who have ran for touchdowns.

Kiburis is 21-38 throwing the ball this season, going for 545 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception. Clark has been his favorite receiver, catching 11 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Eli Thede has caught six passes for 208 yards and three scores.

The weather should be chilly but fair on Friday night, which might assist an electric Tiger running game, but it might give Clark and the Rebels a little boost as well. The winner will play one week from Friday, on Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.