The Iola Middle School Mustangs split a couple of home games against Fort Scott on Thursday.
Iola’s eighth grade team squeaked out a 24-22 victory before Fort Scott won the seventh grade contest, 36-14.
The eighth grade Mustangs scored a touchdown in each of the first three quarters and held Fort Scott scoreless in the second. Iola also held the Tigers to six points in the opening quarter due to a failed two-point conversion which ultimately determined the win.
Iola’s seventh-graders didn’t wake up until the second half when they scored all of their points, one touchdown in each of the third and fourth quarters. Fort Scott struck for 24 points before halftime, adding two more in the third quarter for the double-digit lead.
Eighth grade
Iola scored a touchdown and two-point conversion in each of the first two quarters. Reginald Davis rushed for 82 yards and Reed Clift threw for a touchdown pass.
“We battled this game,” Iola head coach Scott Ellis said. “We were up with a nice three-touchdown lead but let them back in it. A couple of pass plays hurt us defensively and an onside kick we weren’t able to come up with. Even so, I am so proud of how we came up with the win.”
Kevon Loving made a 29-yard touchdown, rushed for 53 yards total and recovered a fumble. Clift scampered in for a seven-yard touchdown. Clift’s longest pass went for 38 yards to Davis.
Noah Anderson led the Mustangs on defense with nine tackles, followed by Loving and Clift’s seven tackles apiece. Colton Thompson also made three tackles. Brycen Baker, Anderson and Davis each made one sack.
“Our boys executed well. Great job by our linemen tonight giving us time to pass and opening up the holes for runs,” said Ellis. “Any time you can step outside of the league and get a win with a football powerhouse is huge. Our boys stepped up.”
Seventh grade
Iola’s seventh grade team was shown up when Fort Scott went for 30 points between the second and third quarters in a 36-14 loss for the Mustangs.
Iola’s Emerson Broden ran for a team-high 42 yards followed by Lucas Boeken for 37 yards. Broden threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Henry Kramer as well as an interception to Fort Scott. The Mustangs also fumbled the ball three times, proving costly.
“Defensively, we struggled making any stops. Offensively, we stubbed our toes a couple times in the first half but played much better in the second,” Ellis said. “I’m proud of the boys playing until the end, but we know we need to keep working and improving.”
Boeken also led the charge defensively with a team-high seven tackles and Kramer went for four tackles. Harley Tidd and Broden went for three tackles apiece.
