Only 12 football teams had games on their schedule last week. The Lone Tree Lions (1-0 overall) opened the season last Friday, hosting the Central City Wildcats (0-1 overall) in their inaugural 8-man football game. The Lions scored the first 49 points of the contest, and walked away with a 63-22 victory.

A factor in Lone Tree’s success was their play in the trenches. The Lions’ offense line blocked for 30 rushing attempts, resulting in 309 yards and seven touchdowns. Lone Tree leads the state in rushing by 77 yards entering week one of the regular season. The HLV Warriors (1-0 overall) have the second most rushing yards, racking up 232 rushing yards in Thursday’s 28-13 victory over the WACO Warriors (0-1 overall).

Senior Drake Hotz led the Lions with 88 yards rushing on five attempts, scoring a pair of touchdowns. Senior Jovonte Squiers carried the ball twice for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Sam Fuhrmeister collected 48 rushing yards in five carries, finding the endzone once. Four other Lone Tree running backs accumulated 15 or more yards rushing including freshman Harmon Miller (27 yards, TD), sophomore Bryce Houser (17 yards, TD), senior Garrett Boxwell (17 yards), and senior Trey Pierson (15 yards).

Defensively, Lone Tree’s four interceptions are two more than any other team in the state.

The Lions will stay in Lone Tree Friday, hosting the Tri-County Trojans (0-0 overall) in a non-district matchup. This is the first game of the season for the Trojans.