Iola Middle School’s seventh- and eighth-grade football squads were strong early on in their respective contests Thursday, giving them enough cushion to hold off late rallies.
The eighth-graders downed visiting Roosevelt Middle School out of Coffeyville 14-6, while the seventh-graders scored 22 first-half points in a 22-14 win.
The Pony eighth-graders improved to 3-3 with the win. The seventh-graders stand at 4-2.
Both squads will wrap up their 2012 season next Thursday at Parsons.
In the eighth-grade contest, Iola’s Ben Cooper passed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Chase Regehr late in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead. The duo connected again from four yards out for another touchdown with 4:48 in the contest to lead 14-0.
The second touchdown was key because the Coffeyville squad connected on its next play from scrimmage, a 48-yard touchdown pass with 4:36 left in the game.
But the Ponies were able to record three straight first downs to run out the clock without losing possession.
“It was a very good team effort,” Pony head coach Marty Taylor said. “We had three starters ineligible and the kids stepped up and played well. R.J. Holding had his best game of the year on defense along with Trea Mitchell.”
Cooper completed 5 of 11 passes for 50 yards, all of which went to Regehr.
Ethan Scheibmeir rushed 17 times for 57 yards, followed by 11 carries for 47 yards. Cooper had 21 yards on four rushes.
Mitchell and Holding each had four tackles, while Mitchell recovered a fumble. Seth Sanford and Regehr had three stops. Cooper added an interception on defense.
THE PONIES scored two touchdowns in the final 3:10 of the second quarter, including a 30-yard touchdown pass from Evan Sigg to Ethan Holloway with no time on the clock.
The scores pushed an 8-0 cushion to 22-0 at the break.
“We came out and played a very good first half,” Taylor said. “We lost a little bit at halftime but overall, it was a pretty good effort. Nick Peterson was outstanding on defense. Isaac Vink and Drake Sell stepped up and played well.”
Cale Barnhart scored on a two-yard run to open the scoring for IMS. Sigg plunged in on a one-yard quarterback sneak for the Ponies’ second score.
Barnhart rushed for 131 yards on 17 carries. Sigg had six rushes for 11 yards and completed 2 of 3 passes for 56 yards. Vink had the other reception, good for 26 yards.
Matt Komma had 10 tackles on defense, while Barnhart and Nick Vaughn had eight stops apiece. Vaughn also had a fumble recovery.
IMS ponies take home wins
