Tigers rip Rebels in playoff opener

GLADBROOK - New London football flexed all over Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the first round of the Class 8-Man playoffs on Friday night. The Tiger defense overcame a slow start, and the offense was unstoppable in a 60-12 route.

G-R scored first on a three-yard touchdown run by Colton Clark midway through the first quarter, but New London marched right back on their opening drive to take a 7-6 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Keontae Luckett and a PAT from Roberto Carrill. G-R scored six more on another short touchdown run by Clark on their next possession, but a big kick-return by Luckett led to a 27-yard touchdown run by Jordan Johnson on the first play of the second quarter. The kick was good and New London had a lead they wouldn't relinquish, at 14-12.

'It seems to be, we get off to a slow start, especially when we start on defense,” said head coach Mark McSorley. 'We normally want the ball first. We feel like it gets us going a little bit. The first couple of drives we were freaking out maybe a little bit, but after that our defense adjusted and we started playing hard.”

The rest of the game was all New London. The Tigers stuffed G-R on defense again and again, and Luckett and Johnson ran all over the Rebel defense.

It was a 47-yard touchdown play-action pass from Isaac McSorley to Mason Porter that gave the Tigers a little seperation. The two-point try was no good, but New London led 20-12 with 9:04 left in the half.

The Tigers got the ball back quickly on a three-and-out, and Luckett busted a run up the sideline on the very next play, weaving through Rebel defenders for the score. The PAT was good, and New London held a 27-12 advantage.

Just two-and-a-half minutes later, it was Luckett again. He danced around the defense for a 45-yard touchdown run with 4:35 left, and the game began to get out of hand for the hosting G-R squad, as New London led 34-12 with 4:35 remaining in the second quarter.

The Tigers missed a field goal at the end of the first half, but marched up the field on the first possession of the third quarter. McSorley punched in a one-yard touchdown run and despite a botched PAT, New London led 40-12.

A 59-yard run by Johnson led to another short Luckett touchdown on the Tigers' next drive. A missed PAT kept the score at 46-12 with 7:18 left in the third, but three minutes later McSorley scrambled around and hit Johnson for a 12-yard touchdown pass to start up the running block. The Tigers led 53-12 after the third period.

G-R botched a punt in the fourth quarter, which led to the final Tiger score. Johnson ran it in from six yards out, and the PAT stopped the scoring at 60-12 with six minutes left.

'We came out a little slow, like we do once in a while, but once our offense started scoring points and our defense started getting big stops, the points started coming,” said senior quarterback I. McSorley after the game. 'It just started piling up from there.”

Luckett had another huge day, running for 176 yards and four touchdowns in the win, and also caught two passes for 41 yards.

'I gotta credit my blockers,” said Luckett after the game. 'As long as they do their job and I do my job, good things should happen.”

Johnson had a monster game as well, running for 191 yards and two touchdowns, and adding a 22-yard touchdown catch through the air.

'He did outstanding,” Coach McSorley said about his junior back. 'He's been a go-to guy all season, and tonight we fed him the ball a little more than what we normally do. He always runs the ball hard, and he's an outstanding downfield blocker. He's played that way for us all year, it just really showed out tonight.”

The Tiger passing game went for 110 yards and two touchdowns. McSorley finished 4-7, and the teams only giveaway was an interception thrown by Jaxon Allen on a trick play attempt. Porter's one catch for a 47-yard touchdown led the receivers.

Darius Whaley had 11.5 tackles on the day to lead the defense. Luckett, Johnson, Cade Wahls and Gavin Holmes had 8.5 tackles apiece. Porter had the team's only takeaway, on an interception in the end zone.

New London will take on district-rival Iowa Valley in Marengo for a spot at the UNI-dome. IV defeated Midland 92-46 in their game. The quarterfinal matchup will be on Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.