Redhawk junior tight end Brayton Cibula (5) carries the ball Friday evening on Dennis Field as rain pelts down early in the first quarter against the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels. North Tama’s starting quarterback, Kayvin Morris was out for the Week 8 game due to injury. Cibula carried five times for five yards and was 1-for-1 passing for four yards. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER — The North Tama football team was unable to close their inaugural 8-player season with a win, falling 55-2 to undefeated District 6 foe Gladbrook-Reinbeck in last Friday’s Week 8 finale played in front of a hometown crowd.

Dennis Field took quite the beating that evening between the third-ranked Rebel train and repeated downpours – rain so intense at one point, it was like an outdoor spigot had been wrenched wide open. By the time the game finished, the grassy gridiron was waterlogged and soupy, making it hard to discern the Redhawks’ black numbers across their mudcaked red jerseys while the Rebels’ white uniforms had turned begrimed and gray.

To compound matters for North Tama, starting quarterback Kayvin Morris was out due to an injury sustained during the Week 7 district road game against Collins-Maxwell. Morris’ older brother, wide receiver Kayler Morris was announced as quarterback ahead of the game; Kayler, junior Brayton Cibula, sophomore Griffin Hall, and senior Clayton Williams shared signal caller duties.

North Tama’s only points came roughly halfway through the first quarter by way of a safety after Rebel quarterback Trevor Mathern fumbled the snap from roughly his own 5-yard line. The wet ball seemed to slip through his hands and over his head. And while he immediately turned and attempted to recover the ball, it kept slipping away further, closer and closer to the goal line. He was tackled by several Redhawk defenders including Hall who ultimately got hold of it in the endzone.

In total, the Redhawks passed for a mere 26 yards and rushed for 49 with Hall tallying most of it, finishing with 15 carries for 31 yards; Williams added eight carries for 13 yards. Hall was also 4-for-9 passing for 14 yards and an interception.

North Tama tight end Brayton Cibula (5) works to retain possession of the ball while being swarmed — and eventually brought down — by the Gladbrook-Reinbeck defense Friday evening in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Kayler Morris paced North Tama’s defense with 5.5 tackles (three solo) and an interception in the endzone for a touchback in the third quarter. Senior Bryce Dostal added five stops (three solo) and Williams finished with 4.5 (three solo).

Following the game, Gladbrook-Reinbeck (8-0, 6-0) was crowned the 8-Player District 6 champions. The Rebels rushed for 191 yards and five touchdowns, while passing for 78 yards and a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, G-R replaced much of their offensive line, including subbing in backup signal caller sophomore Bennett Sieh for Mathern. The Rebels scored no points in the final period.

North Tama defenders Kayler Morris, left, Braydon Stickles (10) and Bryce Dostal, bottom, bring down Gladbrook-Reinbeck receiver Hudson Clark (3) during last Friday night’s game in Traer. Morris had a team-high 5.5 tackles. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Wet conditions on the field led to several fumbles Friday evening. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Senior Kayler Morris (2) intercepts a pass in the endzone meant for Rebel senior Dreyson Morgan (10) during the third quarter of Friday’s Week 8 game in Traer. Morris led North Tama’s defense against the No. 3 Rebels. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Spectators huddle under umbrellas while seated on the Redhawk bleachers during the height of a downpour Friday evening. The rain made for seriously slippery conditions on the gridiron, leading to buttefingers at times on the part of both North Tama and the visiting Rebels. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The North Tama dance team performs at halftime last Friday evening as part of the Redhawks final football game of the season. The dance team is coached this year by Amber Monat. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Members of the North Tama pep band under the direction of Channing Halstead perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Dennis Field ahead of the Friday, Oct. 17, football game against Gladbrook-Reinbeck. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER