The Lone Tree Lion football team has a dual purpose tonight at home when they take on New London, snapping a two game losing streak and honoring their seniors. The Lions have dropped back to back games to Winfield-Mt. Union and WACO late in the season. Last week’s loss to the No. 7 ranked Warriors came by a 55-22 score, dropping their record to 3-3. On the year, Lone Tree is led individually by Cade Shield through the air at 70 of 119 for 797 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. His favorite target is Cade Patterson with 41 catches for 476 yards and five touchdowns. On the ground, Shield has run the ball 112 times for 509 yards and nine touchdowns. The Lion defense has forced eight turnovers and is paced by Mathew Hemsted with 45 tackles. The Lions average 257 yards per game, 140 of that through the air.

New London is 2-3 on the season. After opening the year with big wins over Calamus Wheatland and Winfield-Mt. Union to move into the 8-man top 10 of the Associated Press poll, the Tigers have fallen on hard times with three straight losses to English Valley’s, WACO and last week Iowa Valley 68-33. For the year, the Tigers are led by Ethan Streeter in the passing game at six of 11 for 133 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. His top receiver is Bowen Glaha with six catches for 183 yards and five touchdowns. The Tiger ground game has rolled up 1,150 yards this season with 11 different players carrying the ball, led by Blaise Porter at 26 carries for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Joel Lacy leads a New London defensive unit that has nine takeaways this year with his 32 tackles.

Lone Tree leads the series as of late between the two schools winning eight of the last 11 matchups, but New London beat the Lions the last time they met 54-26. The Lions will honor four seniors tonight including Cade Patterson, Will Kleckner, Cade Shield, and Tyler Bell. Action starts tonight at 7p.m. at Lone Tree High School.