Eric Medina

TAMA — The South Tama football team snapped a 25-game losing streak by stifling Vinton-Shellsburg for a 20-8 victory in Friday night’s season opener.

The Trojans, who hadn’t won since beating Saydel 53-0 on Sept. 2, 2022, handed the visiting Vikings their 22nd consecutive loss. STC held Vinton-Shellsburg to 164 yards of offense and forced three turnovers.

South Tama got 173 of its 179 yards of offense on the ground, with Eric Medina rushing 14 times for 80 yards and a touchdown. Izak Schroeder had 10 carries for 41 yards and a score. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Brant was 3-for-3 passing for six yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Nick Upah.

Junior linebacker Kyle Youngbear had a team-leading 8.5 tackles, while Drew Mellies and Manuel Cervantes had four apiece. Brant and Upah both recovered fumbles, and Michael Henry had an interception.

Spartans score 40th consecutive football win

GRUNDY CENTER — The Grundy Center football program logged its 40th consecutive victory with a 35-13 triumph over Aplington-Parkersburg on Friday night at Spartan Stadium.

It marked the 36th-straight home-field win for the Spartans, who have won three state titles in a row and haven’t lost since the 2021 state championship game.

Senior quarterback Judd Jirovsky was 6-for-10 passing for 122 yards with two touchdowns, hitting Devin Hinders for a 62-yard strike and Brayden Davie for a 19-yard score. Hinders had two catches for 75 yards and Davie made three grabs for 42 yards.

Pete Lebo led GC on the ground with 11 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, while Jirovsky had 40 yards and another score.

Lebo led the defense as well with 7.5 tackles. Aiden Betts, Cooper Keller and Hayden Geerdes had six tackles each. Eli Wegmann had a 15-yard fumble return for touchdown, and Keller added an interception.

Rebels run around visiting Janesville, 55-0

GLADBROOK — The Gladbrook-Reinbeck football team started the season strong with a 55-0 romp over Janesville on Friday night at “The Pit.”

The Rebels held Janesville to 75 yards of total offense, forcing three turnovers, while totaling 353 yards of offense themselves.

Quarterback Trevor Mathern was 10-for-12 passing for 137 yards and three touchdowns, and he rushed four times for 49 yards and another score. Four others — Treyvon Herron, Chad Gutknecht, Kael Blohm and Jude Larson — rushed for a touchdown.

Hudson Clark finished with four receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown, while Herron had three grabs for 46 yards and two scores.

Defensively, Clark led the way with 6.5 tackles and an interception. Herron had six tackles, Mathern added an interception, and Blohm recovered a fumble.

North Tama knocked off in 8-Man debut

TRAER — English Valleys erupted for eight touchdowns over the final three quarters for a 56-26 victory over North Tama in Thursday’s season-opening football game and 8-Man debut for the hometown Redhawks.

The visiting Bears scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull away at Dennis Field.

Braydon Anderson rushed 23 times for 205 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Drew Fisher carried 19 times for 119 yards and four scores. Fisher also completed 6-of-12 pass attempts for 122 yards with two touchdowns. Everett Bender made three catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns, and also had two interceptions on defense.

North Tama’s offense was balanced in its 8-Man opener, getting 126 yards rushing and 152 passing. Junior quarterback Kayvin Morris was 15-for-26 for 131 yards with two touchdowns — one each to Brayton Cibula and Griffin Hall. Clayton Williams finished with six catches for 67 yards.

Williams led the running backs with 44 yards on the ground, Maddux Rausch got 38 and Morris had 35. Williams also paced the defense with 9.5 tackles, while Rausch had 7.5 stops.