Marcus Sullivan, Iola High senior tailback, got loose on the third play of the game. He raced 58 yards for the touchdown.
What started out so promising here Thursday night turned into the sixth winless season in Iola High football history.
Prairie View High’s Buffalos did what everyone knew they were going to do — run the ball. They piled up 242 yards on the ground pushing out to a 28-6 halftime lead.
The Buffalos controlled the second half just like the first with their running game and defense. They scored a touchdown in the third quarter and that was all they needed.
Prairie View improved to 5-4 overall for the season and 1-2 in Kansas Class 4A, District 6 play.
The Mustangs ended up 0-9 in 2010. The last time an Iola football team went 0-9 was in 2003 under Dean Taylor.
Iola went 0-6-3 in 1965, 0-8-1 in 1963 and had 0-9 seasons in 1962 and 1956.
“We couldn’t finish drives tonight. We were fourth and goal at the two twice. We were down there and I know three of the four plays we called were power up the middle plays,” said Rick Horton, Mustang head coach.
“We couldn’t get the last couple of yards.”
When Sullivan scored on the opening drive, it was the first time all season, Iola led in a game.
Prairie View had been prone to turn over the football this season. Senior linebacker Drew Shepherd, back after sitting out four games because of a concussion, forced a fumble with 8:48 on the first-quarter clock.
Kyle Heffern, another senior linebacker, recovered the fumble at the Iola 39-yard line.
With runs by junior Jerrik Sigg, Sullivan and senior quarterback Charles Apt, the Mustangs moved the ball. Sigg had a 10-yard run to pick up a first down, then caught a nine-yard pass from Apt.
Sullivan’s 12-yard run put the Mustangs at the Prairie View 10-yard line. Sigg picked up six, then a bad snap cost the Mustangs a yard.
Sigg pushed forward for three yards. But on fourth and goal at the two, Sigg was tackled at the one.
The Buffalos pushed their way out of trouble. Two plays into the second quarter, Stefan Davis capped the 99-yard drive with a 48-yard touchdown run. Matt Ferguson ran in the two-point conversion.
On the ensuing kickoff, Sullivan fumbled.
Prairie View’s Jake Brad-ley made the recovery at Iola’s 12.
Tyler Stillians scored from three yards out a minute later. Davis, who had 95 yards on eight carries for the game, tacked on the two-point conversion.
The Buffalos stopped the Mustangs on the next drive. A high snap sailed over Apt’s head in punt formation.
Apt covered the football but Iola turned the ball over on downs at the Mustang 12-yard line again.
With 7:44 left in the first half, Ferguson kept the football and scored on a two-yard run. The extra-point kick failed but the Buffalos were up 22-6.
Apt connected with Sigg on a 43-yard pass play to put the Mustangs at the Prairie View five-yard line. Again, the Mustangs faced a fourth and goal at the two and Apt only picked up one yard.
Two plays later, Jacob Kelly plowed through Iola’s defense and raced 98 yards to paydirt.
Kelly finished with 157 yards on 12 carries.
Leading 28-6, Prairie View had the football to open the second half. Apt intercepted
Buffalos rush around Mustangs
