Offensive lineman Garrett Gebel (35) tosses his teammate, wide receiver Hudson Clark (3) high in the air in celebration after Clark scored the first of his two second-quarter touchdowns during the Friday, Oct. 24, first round playoff game against Ar-We-Va at “The Pit” in Gladbrook. Also pictured, quarterback Trevor Mathern (13) and wide receiver Kael Blohm. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GLADBROOK – Unbeaten Gladbrook-Reinbeck (9-0) handily shred 56-7 the Ar-We-Va Rockets (5-4) on Friday, Oct. 24, at “The Pit” in Gladbrook during the opening round of the 8-man state football playoffs and thereby moving on to the round of 16 set for Halloween night. Getting this far in the postseason has been a process, head coach John Olson said – one that started months ago.

“We work really hard as a team and coaching staff to focus on the process. We try to win games in January, February in the weight room and we try to beat teams in the preparation of practice on Monday through Thursday – so when we get to a game we feel prepared and just go out and play. The more prepared we are, the better we feel and don’t have pressure. [It’s less about] trying to win as much as just playing good,” Olson told the newspaper following the game.

For those watching from the sidelines Friday night – and not privy to the Rebel playbook – it may have appeared as if Ar-We-Va’s defense was squashing G-R’s usually explosive first-quarter action that more often than not sees both running back Treyvon Herron and wide receiver Hudson Clark streaking across the field on multiple touchdown runs. But, according to Olson, that early-game performance Friday evening was not necessarily unexpected.

“We have a very strong [offensive line] and they have been doing great all year, but it isn’t a surprise that Herron and Clark get the ball a lot and for them to get the ball we need [quarterback] Trevor [Mathern] to be able to handle a lot of things – pre-snap, post-snap and make adjustments; however, going into this game we thought it would be a big game for Trevor to run the ball with other teams focused on Herron and Clark. Trevor did a great job.”

Mathern was certainly the game MVP Friday evening which opened with both teams turning it over on their initial drives beginning with the Rebels who did so on downs to put the Rockets at their own 30-yard line. On the third play, Ar-We-Va fumbled the snap which G-R recovered to set themselves up near the line of scrimmage.

Catch him if you can! Rebel running back Treyvon Herron (9) successfully shakes off and escapes the final of several attempted takedowns by the defense while on his way to G-R’s first touchdown during the first quarter of last Friday’s first round playoff victory over Ar-We-Va in Gladbrook. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The Rebels’ second possession eventually led to a touchdown run for Mathern but it was negated on a holding call. Starting over, Mathern took the ball to the 15-yard line on the subsequent second play, setting up Herron for the rushing touchdown past the six-minute mark of the first quarter.

It would take the Rockets more than four minutes of subsequent play to convert the next drive into a touchdown; the extra point was good, giving Ar-We-Va their only points of the game.

Under two minutes to go in the quarter, the Rebels took over at their own 15-yard line. On the third play, Mathern kept the ball and exploded downfield, running in a 33-yard touchdown with just seconds remaining. The first quarter ended 12-7.

In the second quarter, the Rebels hit their stride, scoring 30 unanswered points including another carry by Mathern right down the gridiron artery – not a single Rocket defender touching him – for the first touchdown of the quarter at roughly the eight-minute mark. He followed that up with a successful two-point conversion.

The Rockets turned over again on downs. On their next drive, G-R took a timeout on fourth down; when they came back, Ar-We-Va was hit with an offside call, putting the Rebels on the Rockets’ 24-yard line. Mathern successfully threw to Hudson Clark, jostling with an Ar-We-Va defender, in the end zone for the touchdown. The extra point was good: 27-7 with three minutes to go in the first half.

Rebels starting quarterback Trevor Mathern reads the Ar-We-Va Rockets defense halfway through the first quarter of the opening round playoff game in Gladbrook on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Again the Rockets turned over on downs. Not wanting to waste a moment of the 1:30 remaining, Herron ran it right up the middle for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was good; 34-7 and still 1:24 to play.

Nine seconds left on the clock, G-R sacked Ar-We-Va’s quarterback on fourth down.

Hudson Clark took a deep pass to put the Rebels six yards from goal. With only two seconds left, Olson called a timeout. Upon return, Mathern again threw to Hudson Clark who scored a buzzer beater. The extra point was good and the half ended 42-7. It was a phenomenal quarter of play for the Rebels, earned through strategic adjustments to make it one of Olson’s favorite parts of the game.

“[Our players] were very prepared when Plan A didn’t go perfect, and so adjusting to what Ar-We-Va did against us on their defense by our [offensive line] and OL Coach Babinat was outstanding,” he said. “Really, the last two minutes or so of the first half – as it went from what felt like one score to three to four scores – was big.”

With the clock running continuously, G-R notched one additional touchdown per quarter in the second half to claim victory over the Rockets.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck quarterback Trevor Mathern carries the ball with a contingent of Ar-We-Va defenders hot on his trail Friday night in Gladbrook. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Against Ar-We-Va, Mathern carried the ball seven times for 158 yards and two touchdowns; Herron racked up 11 carries for 126 yards and three TDs. Kael Blohm added a 29-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as the Rebels ran for 310 of their 394 yards of total offense.

Mathern finished 8-for-12 passing for 84 yards and two scores, with Hudson Clark reeling in both. He had five grabs for 65 yards.

Ar-We-Va quarterback Johnathan Riesselman scored a 1-yard touchdown run for the visiting Rockets (5-4), who had 278 yards of offense. Riesselman was 13-of-23 passing for 101 yards, while running back Wyatt Ragaller had 20 carries for 126 yards.

Hudson Clark led G-R with 12 tackles while Herron had 9.5 stops. Brayden Utter and Chad Gutknecht both had 8.5 tackles, including a quarterback sack for Utter.

The Rebels will now face Easton Valley (8-1) tonight, Friday, Oct. 31, at home on Halloween. According to recent reporting, the Easton Valley River Hawks have been playing this season with just 11 ‘healthy players.’ Their starting signal caller, senior Keagan Lee is No. 1 this season across all classes for touchdowns with 53; No. 2 for passing TDs (35). River Hawks wide receiver Callan Messerich is No. 1 for receiving TDs (20) and No. 2 for receiving yardage with 1,191. Easton Valley’s only loss this year has been to Edgewood-Colesburg (9-0).

Gladbrook-Reinbeck quarterback Trevor Mathern (13) hands off the ball to running back Treyvon Herron (9) on what would become G-R’s first touchdown drive during the first quarter of last Friday’s first round playoff game against the Ar-We-Va Rockets in Gladbrook. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“They don’t have many [players] but what they have is very, very good,” Olson said of Easton Valley. “[Their quarterback] is great and [wide receiver] has the most yards in a career of any receiver in the history of 8-man.”

When asked about playing on Halloween, Olson said he was looking forward to it, lightheartedly replying, “My favorite holiday since candy is one of my food groups!”

Kickoff against the River Hawks in the round of 16 is set for 7 p.m. at “The Pit” in Gladbrook.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Rebel quarterback Trevor Mathern carries in the second touchdown of the game against the Ar-We-Va Rockets last Friday evening in Gladbrook. Mathern carried the ball seven times for 158 yards and two touchdowns. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

While carrying in the second touchdown of the game against the Ar-We-Va Rockets last Friday evening in Gladbrook, Rebel quarterback Trevor Mathern (13) glances back at his teammates, including offensive lineman Garrett Gebel (35) as he flashes No.1 with his right hand. Mathern carried the ball seven times for 158 yards and two touchdowns. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Right up against the clock, G-R wide receiver Hudson Clark (3) successfully fields a deep pass in the first half against Ar-We-Va on Friday, Oct. 24 in Gladbrook. On the following play, with two seconds remaining on the clock, Clark ran in a buzzer beater. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER