Friday night is a special night for Iola and Humboldt high school football fans, one that should have stands in the two towns filled to the brim. HIGH SCHOOL is a time for students to prep for what lies ahead, college or work-a-day lives, but it also is a time for teenagers to experience all the fun and excitement that stop in life’s journey offers.
The Mustangs and Cubs have broken quickly from the gate, each with two wins and games on the horizon that will be meaningful for each program.
IHS probably has the tougher go, facing a Coffeyville team that not only has won its first two games, but done so in excruciating fashion for opponents. The Golden Tornado whipped cross-county rival Independence 63-20 in its opener and then slam-dunked Parsons 68-0 last week.
The scores may be a little deceiving — Indy and Parsons aren’t the steam-rolling teams they once were — but it’s difficult to dismiss as accidental 131 points in just two games. Some teams don’t score that much in a season.
However, the Mustangs are a mighty fine team this year, one that seemed near mid-season form in whipping up on Osawatomie last Friday night. Iola has good speed and size and, perhaps most importantly, depth on both sides of the ball.
The Mustangs have a stable of running backs who just keep coming, with both power and speed. Their passing game has targets aplenty, sure-handed kids who dart hither and yon.
The swarming defense shut down an Osawatomie attack that had been impressive in victory at Neodesha.
Coffeyville, as highly regarded as it is with lightning-quick backs, may come to town just a little cocky. If the Mustangs are to author a victory, stands crammed full of loud and rowdy fans will be a big help.
At Humboldt, the Cubs will be facing a Neodesha team that probably is better than its 0-2 record.
The Bluestreaks lost a close one to Osawatomie in its opener, 47-36, and then last week were shut out 62-0 by Silver Lake, a perennial power from the north part of the state.
Meanwhile, Humboldt opened with a victory at Arma and then, in a game that statistically didn’t predict such a lopsided score, raced past Jayhawk-Linn 55-2.
The night promises to be of hallmark importance for the Cubs, who will play the first game ever at Humboldt’s new sports complex that features artificial turf and amenities seldom found at high schools several times larger.
A good many Humboldt folks came together, not only to make the complex possible but also to make sure it was ready for the first game Friday.
A suggestion: Show up well ahead of game time (7 p.m.); premium seat-back accommodations will go quickly, as will the rest of the sparkling new aluminum bleacher seating.
High school football and the many other sports are an aside that is most important part of the trek, education itself.
But, it is true that all work and no fun makes Johnny and Jill dull kids.
There won’t be any dull moments in this part of Allen County, when students — from those participating to many on hand to exhibit school spirit — gather under “Friday night lights.”
— Bob Johnson
Have some fun; take in a game Friday night
