WELLSVILLE — Iola Middle School’s eighth-graders capped a perfect Pioneer League reign Thursday, doing so in convincing fashion.
The Mustangs rolled to a 40-0 romp over the previously unbeaten Wellsville squad to finish 2020 with a 6-0 record.
“I knew we had to play well against a tough team but didn’t know how we would handle adversity,” IMS head coach Scott Ellis said.
Pretty well, apparently.
“These boys were physically aggressive from start to finish,” Ellis said. “We started out quick and didn’t look back. Shutting them out was huge for us.”
The explosive offense had plenty of contributors.
Cortland Carson rushed for 105 yards, had 18 more receiving and scored four touchdowns. Cole Mathes added 69 yards on the ground, 25 more as a receiver and had four two-point conversions. Kyser Nemecek added 68 yards on seven totes. Jaedon Granere carried five times for 52 yards, with 25 yards receiving and a touchdown. Bryce Walden and Grady Dougherty rushed for 12 and six yards, respectively. Jordan Kaufman added a two-point conversion reception.
Mathes was a monster on defense with nine tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. Carson added seven tackles and a sack. Granere had six stops and a fumble recovery. Demarco ross had three tackles and a sack and recovered a fumble. Everett Glaze had three tackles. Nemecek, Walden Kaufman had one tackle apiece.
“Kyser Nemecek, Lucas Maier, Keith Gomez, Cole Mathes, Cortland Carson, Jaedon Granere, Jordan Kaufman and Dreden Ellis all executed the offense positively, running all routes, and running/passing plays,” Coach Ellis said. “Isaac Hopkins, Grady Dougherty, Shaun McLaughlin, Everett Glaze, Demarco Ross and Bryce Walden kept the holes open throughout the season, knowing the plays and blocking effectively.”
The eighth-graders also rolled through the Pioneer League with a 6-0 record in 2019 as seventh-graders.
“This team is full of coachable unselfish kids who worked hard, did their job and improved throughout the season,” Ellis said.
IOLA’S seventh-grade class ended the season with a 34-6 romp over Wellsville.
Noah Schowngerdt had 179 yards rushing, 89 yards receiving and had two touchdowns.
Tre Wilson rushed nine times for 117 yards, had 35 yards receiving and scored three touchdowns. Nick Bauer had 97 yards passing.Wilson paced the defense with 10 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. Jakolby Hill added seven tackles. Braden Stevens and Easton Weseloh both had four tackles, with Stevens also recording a sack. Bauer had three stops, Schowengerdt two and Hayden Kelly and Jayden Beene with one apiece.
“It is always good to end on a winning note,” Ellis said. “We challenged the kids to finish out with a winning record, and their efforts tonight made them successful. Linemen Braden Stevens, Gannon Hutton, Easton Weseloh, Parker Andres, Jayden Beene, Brent Stevens, Baron Folk, Hayden Kelly and Jakolby Hill, all did a great job tonight blocking and opening up holes for Wilson and Schowengerdt. Nick Bauer, along with Trapper Boren, Henry Whit and Brody Thompson. They all did a good job executing the offense. This was a good win against a tough school.”
The seventh grade ends with a 4-2 record on the year.
