Fall is in the air; football time

Football weather came through for the 2008 season openers for area high school football teams. Grab a sweatshirt, a jacket or stadium blanket and head to your favorite team’s game tonight.
Iola High’s Mustangs are at home. This is a good test to see where the Mustangs are because Columbus High’s Titans are tough.
Both teams run a spread offense but they are different. The Titans have four wide receivers, but don’t expect a lot of Texas Tech style of throwing the football down the field. Oh, the Titans throw the football but more often than not they put receivers in motion to get a running start. When they get the handoff they have a head of steam built up.
Defense, defense, defense. That’s what it comes down to and for the Mustangs, they must tackle. In last year’s Southeast Kansas League opener at Columbus, the Mustang defenders were in position to make plays but failed to wrap up and make the tackle.
The Mustangs should be a much improved squad this season. They have a seasoned lot of seniors, juniors and a couple of sophomores. These guys have been around the Mustang program since their freshman year and now are in their second season under head coach Rick Horton.
It’s time Mustangs. Play the underdog role as cast by the SEK coaches and go out playing hard. Good things will happen

WORE BLUE today. Did you? Not a bad idea on game days to show pride in our high school athletes by wearing blue and gold.
I’d like to see some blue and gold Iola flags flying around town. There used to be some put out by merchants years ago. I’m always struck by the maroon and silver Eagles flags that fly on poles as I drive through Silver Lake, near Topeka. By the way Silver Lake is the hometown of Mustang head coach Horton.
Community support is a big part of how well a school does — whether it is in the athletic arenas or in academic fields.
We really need to wear the blue and gold and go to games, especially at home for the Mustangs and Fillies. Don’t forget the Iola Middle School Pony athletics.
The Fillies have their annual IHS Invitational volleyball tournament coming up on Sept. 13. Then the Mustang and Fillies’ cross country teams will be at home Sept. 25 at Riverside Park running in the Doc Stiles Invitational.