Gladbrook-Reinbeck quarterback Drew Eilers throws a 6-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Clark in the second quarter of last Thursday’s (Nov. 7) state football quarterfinal game in Gilbertville. PHOTO COURTESY JOHN JENSEN/MID-AMERICA PUBLISHING

GILBERTVILLE — Gladbrook-Reinbeck held Don Bosco’s offense out of the end zone on a two-point conversion try, denying the Dons the go-ahead score for a 34-33 victory in double-overtime in last Thursday’s (Nov. 7) 8-Player state football playoff game.

The Rebels (10-1) had an opportunity to win with an extra-point kick at the end of the first overtime, but the try sailed just wide. Locked at 27-all, Gladbrook-Reinbeck eventually prevailed.

Drew Eilers scored on a 9-yard touchdown run on second down, and Brayden Utter’s kick was good for a 34-27 lead. Don Bosco’s Kyler Knaack scored a 2-yard touchdown on fourth down, but his conversion run was stopped short by Eilers.

Eilers finished 17-for-29 passing for 189 yards with three touchdowns. He connected with Hudson Clark for a 6-yard score and Michael Boyd on a 21-yard touchdown, both in the second quarter, and he hooked up with Trevor Mathern for the tying 14-yard touchdown in the first overtime. Eilers also rushed 23 times for 112 yards and two TDs.

Knaack rushed 41 times for 193 yards and three TDs for Don Bosco (10-1), and he scored the other TD on a fumble recovery.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck was scheduled to face Lenox (11-0) in the state semifinals this past Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The Sun Courier will feature coverage from that game in next week’s edition.

State Football Playoffs

8-PLAYER/Quarterfinal Round/Thursday, Nov. 7

Algona Garrigan 51, Edgewood-Colesburg 36

Gladbrook-Reinbeck 34, Don Bosco 33, 2OT

Lenox 62, Montezuma 20

Remsen-St. Mary’s 61, Audubon 20

Semifinals

Wednesday, Nov. 13

Remsen-St. Mary’s (11-0) vs. Algona Garrigan (11-0), 10 a.m.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck (10-1) vs. Lenox (11-0), 1 p.m.