GILBERTVILLE — Close again, but still not close enough.

The No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck football team fell just shy of its first win in four tries against Don Bosco, falling 35-32 to the third-ranked Dons in Friday’s showdown between unbeaten 8-Man District 4 squads.

The Rebels (6-1, 3-1) led 26-21 at halftime but didn’t score again until the fourth quarter as the Dons (7-0, 5-0) rebounded for a 35-24 advantage. Isaac Clark connected with Hudson Clark for a 25-yard touchdown pass to bring the Rebels back within a score, but Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s final possession ended with an interception.

Don Bosco narrowly outgained the Rebels, 348-327, but committed two turnovers to G-R’s one. The Rebels were just 1-of-8 on third-down conversions, however, and suffered their closest defeat in four tries against the Dons.

Isaac Clark finished 9-for-20 passing for 162 yards with two touchdowns, both to Hudson Clark, who finished with three brags for 89 yards. Luke Riffey added two grabs for 53 yards.

Austin Vaverka rushed seven times for 91 yards and two touchdowns to lead Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

Don Bosco’s Myles McMahon piled up 243 yards rushing on 37 carries with three touchdowns. Quarterback Ty Purdy had 11 carries for 48 yards and one touchdown, and he was 8-for-12 passing for 52 yards and another score.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck closes the regular season next Friday night against Collins-Maxwell at Colo-NESCO High School in Colo.