No. 8 Lenox levels Lamoni

LENOX – The No. 8 Tigers only had 28 plays from scrimmage against Lamoni on Friday, however, Lenox totalled 52 points in a first round victory over Lamoni.

With the win, the Tigers improve to 9-0 on the season for the first time since 2015. Also in 2015 was Lenox’s last playoff win, a 60-26 win over Twin Cedars.

“We came in and we haven’t had a playoff win in a long time and it feels really good,” Lenox head coach Cole Bonde said. “Our kids have worked really hard, especially coming off of a good win last week, they really stepped up and played really well.”

Freshman quarterback Gabe Funk connected with Johnathan Weaver for a 67-yard pass to get the Tigers on the scoreboard with 9:39 left in the opening quarter. The 2-point conversion failed.

Lenox’s defense forced a three-and-out and on the Tigers’ first play from scrimmage, Isaac Grundman took a pitch and ran 63 yards up the right side of the field for a touchdown.

“They are very good athletes [Grundman and Funk], they run the ball very hard, Issac is never happy with anything he gets and so he always stays motivated and hungry,” Bonde said.

Samson Adams had a 25-yard touchdown reception and Issac Grundman converted the 2-point conversion which put the Tigers up 22-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Grundman had an eight yard touchdown rush and Weaver caught a pass for the 2-point conversion with 11:55 left in the second quarter.

Lamoni fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Tiger Trenton Beck recovered on the Demon 30.

Keigan Kitzman dashed 30 yards on the first-and-10 and Funk ran for a successful 2-point conversion just 20 seconds after the prior Tiger score.

“[Grundman] Him and Kitzman feed off each other and they both run the ball hard,” Bonde said.

Grundman made sure the Tigers had back to back 22 point quarters when he returned a Demon punt 49 yards for the final Tiger touchdown of the first half.

Grundman opened the second half with a rushing touchdown from the Lamoni 39, he finished with nine rushes for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

Gabe Funk ran in for the 2-point conversion which finalized Lenox’s scoring at 52.

“Gabe is a different type of runner so he’s a good change of pace guy,” Bonde said.

Lamoni got on the board with 4:11 remaining in the game when senior quarterback Javin Stevenson called his own number. Stevenson threw to Brayden Olson for the 2-point conversion.

No. 10 Newell-Fonda (8-1) comes to Lenox for second round action on Friday.

If Lenox wins, they will either face Fremont-Mills for the second time this season or face the CAM Cougars for the first time since 2020.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Grundman 9-206, 3 TDs; Kitzman 4-54, 1 TD; Adamson 4-50; Wardlow 4-28; Martin-England 1(-1).

Passing – Funk, 4-5-0 for 106 yards, 2 TDs; Martin-England for 0 yards 0-1-1.

Receiving – Weaver 1-67, 1 TD; Adams 2-27, 1 TD; Marshall, 1-12.

Tackles(solo) – Weaver 7(3); Miller 5.5(3); D. Kitzman 4.5(2); Bashor 4(2); Cox 3.5(3); Beck 3(1) K. Kitzman 3; Marshall 2.5(1); Marshall 2.5(1); Castor 2(1); Adams 1.5(1); Grundman 1.5(1); Brokaw 1.5(1); David 1; Junker 1; Quintanilla 1; K. Smith 0.5; Whipple 0.5; J. Smith 0.5.

Sacks(TFL) – Cox 2(2); Castor 1(1); Miller 1(1); Quintanilla (1).