Newell Fonda scored 35 unanswered points in the 2nd half on their way to a 35-10 win over Don Bosco in Gilbertville in an Eight-Player 2nd round playoff game.
Ryan Greenfield recovered a Don Bosco fumble on the 2nd offense play of the game, which gave the Mustangs the ball at the Dons 25 yard line. Newell Fonda got close, but Don Bosco made a great goal line stand, including three consecutive stops at their one yard line. On Don Bosco’s 3rd possession, they went 58 yards in four plays as a 17 yard touchdown pass from Ty Purdy to Dawson Youngblut gave the Dons a 7-0 lead following the point after.
Newell Fonda got another takeaway mid way through the 2nd quarter on a Mason Dicks interception at mid field, but the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs. Don Bosco’s next drive ended in a punt, giving the Mustangs the ball at their own 33 yard line with 24 seconds left in the half. After taking the ball into Dons territory, Don Bosco forced a fumble which was recovered by the Dons and returned to the Mustangs five yard line with two seconds left. A 22 yard field goal made it 10-0 at halftime.
The Mustangs marched to a touchdown on the opening drive of the 2nd half, which lasted nine plays, 57 yards, in 4:07. An 18 yard touchdown pass from Dicks to Greenfield, followed by Pedro Patricio’s PAT closed the gap to 10-7.
Don Bosco fumbled on their next drive, which was recovered by Zach Mercer at the Dons ten yard line. Two plays later, a Greenfield five yard run to the end zone made it 14-10. A sack by Braden Wells crushed the Dons next drive, and after a punt, Dicks ran a 69 yard touchdown on the next play to up the lead to 21-10 with 20 seconds left in the 3rd.
Four series later, Newell Fonda scored on a four play, 65 yard drive that was capped by a 51 yard Ryan Greenfield touchdown run. After Dicks intercepted another pass, a 63 yard drive that took over four minutes resulted in a one yard touchdown run by Wyatt Kreft.
Newell Fonda relied on their running game, as they piled up 302 rushing yards on 40 attempts. They had 58 passing yards, as Dicks completed five of nine for 58 yards. Mason rushed for 123 yards on 12 carries, and Greenfield ran 14 times for 88.
Don Bosco had 269 yards offensively, but they struggled running the ball as they rushed 22 times for only 19 yards.
Newell Fonda will host Gladbrook Reinbeck in the state quarterfinals next Thursday, November 3rd at 7pm with a trip to the UNI-Dome on the line. Both teams are 9-1. Gladbrook Reinbeck defeated Turkey Valley 30-28. The game Thursday will be broadcast on Mix 101.7FM.
