CHANUTE The Iola Mustang offense was non-existent on Friday in Chanute. Ty Bowman and the Blue Comets cruised past the Mustangs early on, and didnt look back.
After a quarter of play, the Mustangs found themselves in a three-score hole, and were shut out 42-0 to make the losing streak 31 consecutive games against their rival.
The Blue Comets started with the football, but Iolas defense stood firm to prevent Chanute from getting into the end zone. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, they were backed up inside their own 5-yard line. After an Iola three and out, Chanute quickly got on the scoreboard to take an early 7-0 lead.
After another Mustang three and out, Chanute scored again with Briley Peavy earning his second rushing touchdown of the game to put the Blue Comets up 14-0. On the Mustangs next possession, quarterback Casen Barker was intercepted by Curtis Harris who ran it back for six, making the score 21-0.
They had a short field the entire first half, head coach David Daugharthy said. Offensively we couldnt move the ball to get ourselves out of a hole. But I think defensively we played pretty well. We missed some tackles on a few big plays, but for the most part our defense showed a lot of promise.
Chanute closed the half with another touchdown when quarterback Ty Bowman scrambled for 50 yards to make it 28-0. Iola nearly got on the scoreboard after Trent Jones broke free for a 70-yard run, but was hawked down at the 2-yard line. The Blue Comet defense held firm to prevent the Mustangs from finding the end zone.
The only bright spot in the second half was an interception by cornerback Carson Sigg, but not even a turnover could spark the Mustang offense. Bowman added to Chanutes lead in the third with a 10-yard touchdown run, and Peavy capped the scoring to make the deficit 42-0.
Offensively, we are going to have to revamp everything it seems like, Daugharthy said. We have to go back to the drawing board, and will be experimenting.
Trent Jones led the Mustangs on the ground with 16 carries for 100 yards rushing, and Isaac Badders finished as the Mustangs second leading rusher with 27 yards on 14 carries.
Barker finished with a team high 7 tackles, along with Badders and Logan Brown chipping in 4 a piece.
The Mustangs are back at home next week to play Anderson County. The Bulldogs are 1-2 on the season, losing their matchup Friday to Sante Fe Trail 43-26.
They are going to be a good football team, Daugharthy said. Their quarterback ran all over us last year, and last week I saw him have like 325 yards rushing. He is elusive, and if we tackle like we have the last couple of week, we could be in trouble.
