Past season image of a Redhawks helmet resting on the field. TAMA-GRUNDY FILE PHOTO

NORTH ENGLISH — In its season debut, the North Tama football team fell, 48-32, to host English Valleys despite dominating the Bears throughout the first half of the 8-Man, non-district clash played last Friday, Aug. 28.

The Redhawks led 26-14 following the first quarter and 32-28 heading into halftime, but North Tama did not score again the rest of the game. In the third quarter, English Valleys managed a single touchdown to pull ahead, 34-32, before the final 12 minutes. The Bears scored twice more in the fourth quarter, notching a 48-32 victory over North Tama.

Redhawk senior quarterback Kayvin Morris went 20-for-34, passing for 207 yards with one touchdown pass to Brayton Cibula and two interceptions. North Tama rushed for 90 yards led by junior Maddox Rausch with a 22-yard touchdown. Morris ran in two touchdowns and accounted for the team’s only successful 2-point conversion.

The Redhawk defense amassed 43 tackles led by Rausch with 9 1/2 (five solo) and junior Berkley Dvorak with 6 1/2 (four solo).

Junior Griffin Hall recovered one fumble for a 35-yard touchdown.

English Valleys rushed for all of its 430 yards and six touchdowns, led by Braydon Anderson’s 17 carries for 244 yards and four scores. Anderson was the Class 1A state track and field runner-up in the 200- and 400-meter sprints.

Bears quarterback Jack Osborn added 15 carries for 130 yards and a TD.

North Tama (0-1) will play its home opener tonight, Friday, Sept. 4, hosting Tripoli (0-1) in another non-district 8-Man clash.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Dennis Field in Traer.