The Clarksville football team will battle to stay in contention for a share of 8-Player District 4 title and improve playoff positioning with an upset of #7 (8) Gladbrook-Reinbeck on senior night Friday.
The last meeting between these teams was in the 8-Player quarterfinals last season, a game the Rebels won 32-20 at Clarksville to go to the Dome.
Clarksville (5-2, 3-1 in 8-4) enters on a three game win streak including a 42-12 win at GMG last week. The Indians have kept their offense rolling with 2,010 rushing yards (third most in 8 player). Sophomore Nathan Moon has been heating up as one of the top rushers in the state for the Indians with 1,308 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns (both rank as the fourth most in the state).
Head Coach Darren Bohlen on the journey of seniors to this big game and key factors facing the Rebels.
“Back when they were freshmen, they won one ball game, and to come this far and have a shot at winning two district titles, it says a lot about them and all the hard work they put in the last four years. They’ve really helped turn this program around,” says Bohlen. “We had a bitter taste losing to them on our field in the playoffs. We’re just gonna go into this as another playoff game and that atmosphere, that’s what it’s gonna be. They’re a sound program, they’re a great team this year. We’re going to try to hopefully contain their speed. Offensively hopefully we go toe to toe with them, open some holes and do what we can do best and run the football and make a go at this.”
Gladbrook-Reinbeck (5-1, 4-0 in 8-4) has won five straight games with a 48-6 non-district win over BGM last week. The Rebels have challenged defenses downfield with 946 passing yards (leads the district). Senior Drew Eilers has played at an all-district level for the Rebels with 938 passing yards (leads district), 440 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns (leads district).
Both team’s defenses have a similar resume in district play allowing 20 points or less to three of four district opponents.
Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. in Clarksville.
