New faces, same old results for North Tama defense

They're at it again.

Despite losing nine defensive starters to graduation, the North Tama Redhawks keep churning out shutouts.

The defending Class A state champion, North Tama posted its 18th consecutive victory Friday night, blanking Colo-Nesco, 56-0.

It was the Redhawks' fourth consecutive whitewashing this season and its 35th in a 55-game span since 2007, a run that has netted a 51-4 record.

North Tama is the state's lone unscored-upon team in 2011.

"It's nice with the system we've got, that we're able to stay true to who we are," said Redhawks Coach Brent Thoren of his team's basic 4-4 set. "We lost a lot of great players from last year's team, but we thought we had some nice kids behind them that were waiting their turn.

"The fact that we've been able to deep the in the playoffs the last few years, it's allowed the kids to get a lot of extra practice time -- some valuable varsity experience."

Nick Whannel (a senior linebacker) and Jacob Wrage (a junior cornerback) started on last year's team. And that's it.

"We kind of have a no-name defense," Thoren said. "We're pretty balanced. We had a game in which 24 different kids had at least one tackle."

The Redhawks have outscored their first four opponents by a 203-0 margin, though Thoren was quick to point out that the competition has a combined record of 2-16. North Tama is at Valley Community (0-4) next Friday.

Birthday boy, Mister Touchdown

Colton Storla's end-zone capers earned him more than a school record at Marion High School.

It put him high on the state list for single-game scoring.

Storla rushed for seven touchdowns in the Indians' 58-35 defeat of Anamosa on Friday at Thomas Park Field. He did so on his 18th birthday.

"It was an outstanding night for Colton, and it was an outstanding night by our line," said Marion Coach Tony Perkins. "They came a long way in a week."

Storla carried the ball 23 times for 265 yards. The seven TDs tied the school record set by Carey Bender, established in 1989 against Vinton.

"We got a lot more meanness in us this week," Storla said. "The line was doing great, making huge holes."

Storla and Bender are two of 28 Iowa high school backs to score seven touchdowns in a game. Jason Scales of West Des Moines Valley scored nine against Mason City in 2003. Four have reached the end zone eight times in a contest.

Tack on a pair of two-point conversions, and Storla finished with 46 points, a tally that ranks ninth all-time in Iowa.

A step toward respectability

The first signs came in close defeats against Marion and Williamsburg. The first visible step came Friday.

Mount Vernon snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 20-12 victory over South Tama. The Mustangs' previous win was a 49-25 triumph over Anamosa on Oct. 23, 2009.

A proud program through the years, Mount Vernon bottomed out last year at 0-9.

"We've had a really rough go of it the last couple years," said Mustangs Coach Duane Orr. "This group has risen to the challenge and invested the work it takes to be competitive."

Connett Croghan rushed for 135 yards as Mount Vernon improved to 1-3 overall, 1-1 in Class 3A District 6. The Mustangs face archrival Solon next week.

"Our first step, we wanted to compete," Orr said. "The second step, we wanted to get a win. Now we want to go out and beat somebody that people don't think we should."

Quick slants

* Marshalltown's Blake Gimbel set an Iowa single-game passing record Thursday, throwing for 567 yards and five touchdowns in a 63-41 win over Sioux City East. Gimbel completed 42 of 62 passes, eclipsing the previous record of 542 yards by D.J. Freesmeier of Central Lee, set in 2007.

* Cedar Rapids Xavier Athletics Director Mike Winker told SourceMedia Group News Friday that he cast a vote against district football in Class 4A. Xavier joins the remainder of Metro and Iowa City 4A schools voting no to districts.

* Small-school Lions continue to roar. Lisbon and Lone Tree moved to 4-0 with Class A routs; Lisbon smoked previously unbeaten Danville, 80-0, while Lone Tree whipped New London, 68-0. Lisbon has outscored its four opponents by a combined 173-8; Lone Tree's season tally is 207-19.