The Lone Tree Lions football team returned to the gridiron Friday trying to put their last minute loss last week to Pekin behind them.The 4-3 Lions traveled to Danville for a district matchup with the 2-5 Bears. Lone Tree kept the ball on the ground for most of the game. Sixty five of the 71 offensive plays the Lions performed Friday night were running plays as Lone Tree ran past Danville 27-9. Lone Tree co head football coach Chad Shield said the victory ended up being a very special one for the program.

“I’d like to congratulate our guys on clinching a Class A playoff berth for the fifth consecutive year.” Shield said, “Puts us with just a handful of other programs in Class A across the state and we are the only team in our district who has accomplished that feat.”

The Lions workhouse on offense was junior running back Jared Hudson. Forty of the 65 carries went to Hudson, who collected 218 yards and two scores in the victory. The win improves Lone Tree to 5-3 overall and 4- 2 in district play. The Lions finish the regular season this Friday at home against New London.