Rebels running back Treyvon Herron (9) streaks across the field on his way to a touchdown against the North Tama Redhawks at Dennis Field in Traer last Friday evening. Herron carried the ball seven times for 70 yards and two touchdowns against North Tama. He also managed a 17-yard touchdown on an interception. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER — The gridiron at Dennis Field in Traer took quite the drubbing last Friday night as the repeated torrents of rain and the juggernaut Rebel train sunk the Redhawks, 55-2, to close out the regular season with a perfect record (8-0) and the 8-Player District 6 title before moving on to the state playoffs which begin tonight, Friday, Oct. 24, in Gladbrook.

“Friday was a great way to end the regular season, it was a muddy game so we had to make some adjustments but a lot of fun for the kids,” G-R head coach John Olson told the newspaper in an email.

The rain was so intense at times Friday evening, it was as if an outdoor spigot had been wrenched wide open. By the time the game finished, the grassy gridiron was waterlogged and soupy, making it hard to discern the Redhawks’ black numbers across their mudcaked red jerseys while the Rebels’ white uniforms had turned begrimed and gray. But even the rain could not stop the Rebels who pounced almost immediately after kickoff. On the first snap, the Redhawks fumbled and G-R jumped on it, putting the Rebels at roughly North Tama’s 9-yard line. On third and goal, junior running back Treyvon Herron took a short toss from senior signal caller Trevor Mathern to run in the first touchdown. Extra point was good; score 7-0 seconds into the game.

After the Redhawks quickly turned it over on downs, the Rebels scored again on a quarterback keeper by Mathern who ran in a 46-yard touchdown, seemingly no one able to touch him.

Redhawks turned over on downs a second time, putting the Rebels at their own 5-yard line. On the first play, Mathern fumbled the snap, the wet ball slipping through his hands and over his head. And while he immediately turned and attempted to recover the ball, it kept slipping away further, closer and closer to the goal line. Mathern was tackled by several Redhawk defenders who ultimately got hold of it in the end zone for a safety, scoring North Tama’s only points of the night.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck running back Treyvon Herron (9) takes the handoff from quarterback Trevor Mathern early in the first quarter of last Friday’s game against North Tama in Traer. Herron would go on to score the evening’s first touchdown as part of the drive. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Following a third turnover, G-R senior wide receiver Hudson Clark took the handoff from Mathern to run in a 9-yard strike without a single defender touching him. The extra point was good. Ninety seconds later, the first quarter ended with G-R ahead 21-2.

Shortly after the second quarter opened, a deluge poured down making it somehow even wetter on the field. At one point, Mathern took the snap and slipped. Both teams suffered butterfingers off and on throughout the game due to the slippery conditions. Herron notched two more touchdowns in the second quarter while Clark added another to end the first half 41-2 Rebels.

“Hudson Clark is a tremendous wide receiver,” Olson told the newspaper following the game, “probably the best we have ever had at G-R and that is saying a lot as we have had some great [wide receivers]. Hudson is a great route runner, great hands and also tremendous athleticism.”

Olson also commented on Herron, a state track qualifier who has the most rushing yards per carry in 8-Player with 14.1 – No. 2 across all classes.

“Herron is not only fast – 4.55 (seconds) forty-timed at camps – but tough as nails and fast on the football field. He runs track and plays soccer at the same time (and) is also great at baseball. On the football field he is versatile and can play [wide receiver] and [running back] which allows us to do about anything we want schematically.”

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

In terms of his starting QB, Olson said sometimes Mathern’s abilities can get overlooked due to the sheer power of Clark and Herron despite his laser-like passing and similar overall athleticism. Following Week 8, Mathern was No. 3 in 8-Player passing quarterback rating – No. 5 across all classes.

“Mathern is a very accurate thrower and has a strong arm and is very athletic. Sometimes his athleticism is overshadowed because we have Herron and Clark on our team. He is more than a facilitator of our offense because we ask a lot of our QB with the amount of plays, combinations, formations, motions and he handles it perfectly.”

In the second half of Friday’s game in Traer, Herron intercepted a pass to score a 17-yard touchdown some two minutes into the third quarter. Later, senior Garrett Gebel subbed in at shotgun and carried in a 1-yard touchdown. Senior Gavin Blakesley then successfully fielded a two-point conversion. The third quarter ended 55-2.

In the final quarter, G-R replaced much of their lines, including subbing in backup signal caller sophomore Bennett Sieh for Mathern. Neither team scored in the final period.

Against North Tama, the Rebels rushed for 191 yards and five touchdowns. Mathern was 4-for-7 passing for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Amidst a downpour, Rebels quarterback Trevor Mathern carries in his team’s second touchdown of the game against the North Tama Redhawks on Friday, Oct. 17, at Dennis Field in Traer. Mathern carried the ball five times for 47 yards and one touchdown that evening. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Junior Brayden Utter led the Rebel defensive wall with seven tackles (one solo) including two for loss and 1.5 sacks. Senior Kael Blohm recorded 6.5 tackles (four solo) including two for loss and half a sack. Herron had five and junior Joshua Utterback had 4.5. Blohm, Herron, and sophomore Cooper Dodd each recovered one Redhawk fumble apiece.

Following the game, G-R was one (1) of only seven 8-Player teams with a perfect regular season record this year. Olson said the Rebels equally went undefeated in the 2016 regular season when they won the Class A (11-Player) state championship (13-0) after first winning the title in 2015. In 2020, during the pandemic, the team also finished the regular season undefeated before losing in the playoffs (9-1).

“We knew it was possible as a coaching staff to have a chance to win all our games [this season], but we respect everyone and really focus,” he said.

In total, the Redhawks — playing without their starting quarterback who was injured during the Week 7 game — passed for a mere 26 yards and rushed for 49 against G-R. North Tama finished their inaugural 8-Player season 4-4. Olson also commented on North Tama head coach Andrew Knaack and assistant coach Tom McDermott – a legendary past Redhawk head coach in addition to being superintendent of North Tama prior to his retirement.

“l have known McDermott for a lot of years as he is well respected as a coach and for his time in administration. James Weida is our [defensive back] coach and played for McDermott and I would have coached against McDermott in 2001, ’12, ’13, ’16, ’17, I think. Just recently in the past [five to six] years I have gotten to know Coach Knaack and really enjoyed talking to him about football and life. He has earned my respect (for) the way he runs his program.”

Rebels offensive lineman Garrett Gebel (35) congratulates his quarterback, fellow senior Trevor Mathern (13) in the end zone after the senior signal caller carried in the second touchdown of the game for the team early in the first quarter against North Tama last Friday evening in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

This Friday, G-R will host the first round of playoffs. They will face Ar-We-Va (5-3). Olson characterized the Rockets as a “tough team” with “one really great athlete” and “a solid group of players around him.” He also said the team is well organized and “coached well.” Rockets senior Wyatt Ragaller is currently one of the best running backs in the state with 28 rushing touchdowns (No. 5 across all classes) and the most all purpose yards with 2,395.

In rounding out his comments to the newspaper, Olson mused on his program’s continued success – a success which some in the surrounding communities have jokingly attributed to there being ‘something in the water’ – and the hard work it has required to get to this point.

“I do think we are fortunate to have some really good talent over the past 25 years. I also know we have had strong support from our administration to keep all of our athletics successful. We have a very strong Booster Club, but, specifically in football, we strive as a coaching staff to get kids out for football at all grades. (For example), we had 77 kids play flag football this year in grades K-4 along with 32 coaches! … (We believe) football can be for everyone and we make a spot for everyone! … Our [high school] staff has nine coaches; one (coach) has been here for two years, but coached youth for eight years; [Weida has coached] for 11 years; [all other coaches] have coached and/or played for G-R for the past 20+ years. So lots of experience and we try to make it fun for everyone.”

The kickoff against Ar-We-Va is set for 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, Oct. 24, at “The Pit” in Gladbrook.

G-R quarterback Trevor Mathern passes against the North Tama Redhawks on Friday, Oct. 17, at Dennis Field in Traer. Mathern led his team to a Week 8 triumph, 55-2, over the Redhawks, wrapping up a perfect regular season (8-0) and claiming the 8-Player District 6 championship. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

With rain pelting down on them, G-R offensive lineman Garrett Gebel, left, and Treyvon Herron, right, celebrate in the North Tama end zone Herron’s touchdown in the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 17, in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Gladbrook-Reinbeck running back Treyvon Herron (9) makes his way back to the line of scrimmage through sheets of rain after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the North Tama Redhawks on Oct. 17 in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Rebels senior wide receiver Hudson Clark lifts offensive lineman Garrett Gebel (35) into the air in jubilation after Gebel carried in a 1-yard touchdown against North Tama while subbing for starting quarterback Trevor Mathern in the third quarter of last Friday’s game in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER