PACKWOOD – There’s no easy and direct route traversing the two-hour drive from “The Pit” to Tom Stone Field. Pekin quarterback Trever Northup experienced a similar scenario in trying to find an opening through the Rebels’ pass rush. Bringing pressure from all angles, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck defense held Class A’s fourth-ranked scoring offense 41 points below its season average in a 28-6 quarterfinal victory over the Panthers. The third-ranked Rebels (11-1) claimed their 11th straight victory and earned the program’s first trip to the UNI-Dome since 2004’s runner-up squad. Eric Stoakes, the state’s third-leading rusher, scampered for 184 yards and a touchdown, while Camden Kickbush threw for two and ran for another as G-R held the No. 4 Panthers (11-1) scoreless over the final 33 minutes. The Rebels outgained the Panthers 437-176 in total offense, doubled them up in time of possession and stopped them on 11 of 12 third-down situations. Northup finished with negative-33 yards on 12 carries and was dropped behind the line of scrimmage 10 times as the G-R pass rush kept constant pressure on the shifty sophomore signal-caller. “We knew they were going to run outside and we wanted them to go inside,” G-R senior linemen Zach Pierce said. “Eventually we just kind of kept wearing on them on offense and they had to throw a lot towards the end. We just could pin our ears back and go get the quarterback.” “(If) we shut down the run, we get to play to our strengths which is pass rushing, so it’s easier that way for us.” The Rebels advance to the Dome to face district rival Denver (8-4) in a state semifinal next Friday at 10:06 a.m. in Cedar Falls. The Cyclones beat No. 7 Nashua-Plainfield (10-2) by a 27-6 tally in Nashua. Trevor Adams shed a couple Rebel defenders for a 60-yard burst just over 2 minutes into the second quarter, though a missed extra-point attempt allowed G-R to take the lead for good on Kickbush’s 5-yard strike to Cameron Clark on fourth down. It was Clark’s first touchdown of the season and only his second reception, but the 6-foot-4 senior was left wide open with all eyes directed toward Kickbush and Stoakes inside. G-R’s defense forced a three-and-out before the Rebels padded their lead going into the half with Kickbush diving into the end zone on a 4-yard keeper. The senior ran for 76 yards on 17 carries and completed 5-of-10 passes for 133 yards. Kickbush was picked off twice but the G-R defense held its ground both times. Bradon Trepp followed the second one with a fumble recovery on the ensuing play and Kickbush hit Phillip Zimmerman in stride on a 30-yard toss down the right sideline on fourth-and-17 to stretch the lead to 21-6 midway through the fourth. Zimmerman finished with three catches for 126 yards. The Rebels sacked Northup on back-to-back plays to give G-R possession just outside the red zone and Stoakes plunged in from 2 yards out less than 3 minutes later to set the final margin. Pekin averaged just under 47 points during the season and hadn’t been held below 26 during its undefeated run to the quarterfinals. The Panthers picked up just eight first downs while also surrendering 18 points more than its season average on defense. G-R came up just shy of the UNI-Dome last year in a 20-15 loss to Wapsie Valley before breaking through Friday. “It’s just a huge weight lifted off our shoulders,” Kickbush said. “Since we were little, we saw the ’04 team and we wanted to be like them and now we’re here.” Christian Wittrock intercepted Kickbush at the goal line on the Rebels’ opening drive of the game, though G-R dug in to stop the Panthers on five straight plays within its own 10, including a pass interference penalty that moved Pekin to the 4. G-R threatened on its opening possession of the third but was stuffed on fourth-and-1 at the 2. The Panthers couldn’t capitalize and never moved within the red zone in the second half. “We’re a reading defense so it doesn’t really matter what the other team does,” G-R coach John Olson said. “We don’t care if they’re in trips, or I, or power, we just stay straight up and read it up front and react to that kind of stuff. “You have to give a lot of credit to our defensive line because it’s very easy for a defensive line to do their own thing or just try to get through this gap. We really work as a team fundamental.” Notebook G-R blanked Denver 43-0 on Sept. 19 in Gladbrook. The Cyclones have won six straight after starting the season 2-4. … The Panthers led Class A with 18 interceptions and returned eight for touchdowns, best in all classes. … Both teams lost in the quarterfinals last season. The Panthers’ last trip to the Dome came in 2002, while the Rebels advanced two years later, losing the Class 1A title game to Council Bluffs St. Albert.