The Lone Tree football team had pride to play for Friday when they traveled to Marengo to meet the Iowa Valley Tigers on their senior night. Despite a late Iowa Valley comeback, Lone Tree was able to take a 42-40 win. The Lions led 14-8 after one quarter and 20-14 at half. The two teams each posted a touchdown and two pointer in the third quarter to leave the score at 28-22, setting up a wild final frame. In the fourth quarter, the Lions posted a pair of touchdowns and built a 42-28 lead in the final minutes of the contest. Iowa Valley made one more push in the last three minutes scoring a pair of touchdowns, but the Lions were able to hold them out of the end zone on the ensuing conversion tries each time. After getting within 42-40, the Tigers attempted an onside kick and recovered it, leaving Lone Tree to make one more defensive stop to secure the win, and they did, at the one yard line. With Iowa Valley on the edge of the red zone, the Tigers completed a pass and Ethan Bockleman made the stop at the one to preserve the victory for the Lions. On Saturday’s KCII radio coaches corner, Lone Tree head coach Aaron Bohr recounted the final minutes of the win. “At the very end we were able to keep them out of the end zone on the very last play of the game and that was the difference. It’s a game of inches and it was there, and several other plays during the game were close, some went our way, some didn’t and we were holding on for dear life at times. But we found a way to come away with it. I’m so proud of our guys. Friday was a gut check and they were able to respond and finish the job.”

Iowa Valley outgained Lone Tree 448 to 418 in total yards including 157 to 110 on the ground. The Lions had a 308 to 291 advantage through the air. Cade Shield was 20 of 38 for 308 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the win. Cade Patterson led the Lions with nine catches for 150 yards and a score. Drew Gauley hauled in seven passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Shield broke the 100 yard mark on the ground with 19 carries for 105 yards and three more touchdowns. Patterson had a team best nine tackles. The Lone Tree defense picked off the Tigers four times with Shield pulling in a pair of Patterson and Gauley each finishing with one interception. The Iowa Valley loss, keeps the Tigers out of the playoffs at 3-5. Lone Tree ends their season at 4-4.