North Tama starting quarterback Kayvin Morris looks to pass early in the first quarter during last Friday’s road clash with No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck in Gladbrook. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GLADBROOK – The No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebel football team mopped the muddy gridiron with the North Tama Redhawks last Friday night in Gladbrook, smoking their fellow 8-Man District 6 competitor, 56-0, to end the regular season undefeated and claim the district title.

The Redhawks’ opening drive hit the skids fairly quickly in a fourth-down punt. In turn, on their own first possession, the Rebels wasted no time as quarterback Bennett Sieh handed off to senior running back Treyvon Herron, who pushed and rambled his way through the Redhawks defense before running in a touchdown on the first play. The extra point was good, and the Rebels led 7-0 barely a minute-and-a-half into the game.

During North Tama’s second drive, starting quarterback Kayvin Morris – who hurt his leg last football season and has been wearing a brace in the ensuing months – limped off the field following the first play. Tight end Griffin Hall and wide receiver Berkley Dvorak took turns taking the snap before Morris came back in to punt, again, on fourth down.

The Rebels encountered a fairly robust Redhawk defense during their second drive, but a clutch 12-yard reception by Chad Gutknecht put G-R in position to score; on the next play, Sieh carried in the 1-yard touchdown himself. Another extra point, and the Rebels moved to 14-0.

With three minutes remaining in the first quarter, North Tama was again forced to punt on fourth down. Nearly two minutes later, Sieh threw a beautiful 31-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Devin Boldt. The first quarter ended with G-R ahead 21-0.

With Redhawk quarterback Kayvin Morris briefly sidelined due to a recurring leg injury, junior tight end Griffin Hall (1) carries the ball against the formidable Rebel defense before being brought down by senior Brayden Utter during the first quarter of last Friday’s 8-Man District 6 clash in Gladbrook. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

In the opening moments of the second quarter, Herron, ever the 8-Man phenom, scored a 20-yard pick six, but the celebration was paused due to a flag on the play. A personal foul was called on the offense, but the penalty was declined. The Rebels scored another extra point to improve to 28-0.

With only 10 seconds passing on the clock, North Tama chose to punt again on fourth down, but another flag was thrown, this time against G-R for roughing up Morris, resulting in a 15-yard penalty. The Redhawks got the ball back at their own 30-yard line.

While attempting a pass, Morris was clobbered late, and a flag was thrown against the Rebels. The penalty gave the Redhawks a first down and positioned them at midfield. Soon after, Morris took another hard hit that appeared to injure his left arm – he subsequently subbed out.

During G-R’s next drive, Herron streaked along the Rebels’ cheering sideline to notch a 44-yard touchdown. With the extra point good, G-R’s lead moved to 35-0.

Morris returned to the game for the next series, while Gladbrook-Reinbeck began to sub in junior varsity players.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

On a bad snap, the Redhawks fumbled the ball, which Rebel senior Cole Gramer recovered. The drive ended in another easy score by Herron – his third rushing touchdown of the night. At halftime, G-R was up 41-0.

G-R took it fairly easy the rest of the game, scoring once more in both quarters to claim the program’s sixth district victory this season and the 8-Man District 6 championship after clinching at least a share of the title last week in the win over Clarksville.

Against the Redhawks, Herron led the Rebel charge with eight carries for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Sieh kept the ball nine times for 73 yards and a touchdown. Dripps carried three times for 31 yards and a touchdown. Gutknecht was good for five carries and 44 yards; sophomore Macklin Clark also had three carries for 21 yards.

Sieh went 5-of-7 passing for 69 yards and one 31-yard touchdown to Boldt.

The G-R defense totaled 41 tackles, led by Boldt with 7.5. Gutknecht had 7 tackles, Herron 5.5, Dripps 4.5, and senior Joshua Utterback 3.5. Both Gutknecht and Gramer recovered one North Tama fumble apiece. Herron notched a 20-yard pick six.

Unable to find a passing lane, Redhawk quarterback Kayvin Morris (4) takes off running as Rebel lineman Cole Gramer (3) begins to bear down on him. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama’s offense was limited to 80 passing yards and 76 yards on the ground. Morris recorded all the passing yardage and was 11-for-22, connecting with four of his receivers, including Maddox Rausch four times for 26 yards. Morris kept the ball a dozen times for 49 yards. Rausch had five carries for 18 yards.

The Redhawk defense totaled 24 tackles, led by Rausch with 7.5 and Berkley Dvorak with 5. Morris punted three times for 84 yards.

North Tama ends the regular season 5-3 overall and third in the conference (4-2), securing a playoff berth after only their second year in 8-Man. The Redhawks will travel to Montezuma (7-1, 6-0) tonight, Friday, Oct. 23, for the postseason first round. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Montezuma High School. The last time the two programs played each other was in 2009, when the Redhawks shut out the Braves, 49-0.

Juggernaut G-R ends the regular season undefeated (8-0, 6-0) and will host Springville (4-5, 4-2) tonight in the postseason first round. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at “The Pit” in Gladbrook.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER