While Iola High’s varsity team remains sidelined because of a COVID-19 quarantine, the Mustang C team was back in action Thursday with a home game against Burlington.
The two teams provided one of the most entertaining games you’ll see, at any level, with Burlington escaping with a 34-32 victory.
Iola was denied a shot at overtime after Iola quarterback Landon Weide — who deftly guided the Mustangs down the field twice for scores to end each half — tossed a 2-yard scoring pass to Kyler Mittelmeier with 25 seconds left in the game.
The score pulled Iola within two points, but Weide was gang-tackled at the 1-yard line on the subsequent conversion attempt.
Burlington recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
Iola’s Landon Weide throws a pass.
Weide completed several long passes throughout the contest, while Burlington was effective on end-around runs and reverses, accounting for several long runs.
The Mustangs lost a shot at scoring on their first possession after losing a fumble deep in Burlington territory, but the Wildcats fumbled the ball right back on their first play from scrimmage.
That set up a 1-yard run from Briggs Michael to give the Mustangs a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
Burlington scored on consecutive possessions before Weide scored on a keeper with 4:14 left in the half to tie the score at 14-14.
Then, after Burlington’s next drive stalled, Weide keyed a quick scoring drive with long passes to Mittelmeier and Mac Leonard before connecting with Leonard on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1.2 seconds left on the clock.
Burlington knotted the score early in the third quarter, which led to Weide finding Mittlemeier on a 65-yard touchdown pass to give Iola a 26-20 lead.
The Mustang offense stalled from there, and Burlington took advantage with touchdown runs covering 72 and 69 yards on consecutive possessions to take a 34-26 lead with under 5 minutes left, setting up the late theatrics.
IOLA’S junior varsity will be at home Monday to take on Anderson County’s JV.
The varsity squad returns to action Oct. 12 at Prairie View and Oct. 17 at home against Girard.
