WELLSVILLE — A rain-soaked field was no problem for Wellsville High as they beat Iola 42-0 Friday night. The Mustang offense wasn’t able to sustain any type of drive the entire night.
“Hats off to them, their defense was great,” assistant coach Dana Daugharthy said. “They stopped us pretty much all night and we couldn’t take advantage.”
Daugharthy was calling the shots on offense as head coach Doug Kerr sustained a concussion Friday morning and wasn’t able to attend the game.
The Mustangs started with the ball with a three-and-out. Brice Aiello’s innocuous 5-yard gain during the series proved to be Iola longest play of the night.
The Eagles took over on their own 47 yard line. After getting a first down after a couple runs from running back Brett Osbern, quarterback Cole Silsby connected with Josh Bertoncino for a 20-yard catch and first down. A few plays later, Daryon Winton ran in an 11-yard touchdown. After the two-point conversion, Wellsville led 8-0.
Iola’s first play of the second quarter ended in disaster. The Eagles recovered a fumbled handoff at the Mustang 3. Osbern scored on the next play. Wellsville led 14-0.
After another three-and-out by the Mustang offense, the Eagles scored when Silsby again hit Josh Bertoncino, this time for a 24-yard touchdown.
The Mustangs offense couldn’t get a first down on their next drive, or the rest of the half. On the Eagles’ next possession, penalties negated two touchdowns. Osbern ran for a 75-yard touchdown, but an illegal block brought that back 40 yards. Silsby ran in a quarterback keeper for 43-yards, but a holding call brought it back, too.
A few plays later, the Mustang defense recovered a fumble.
It proved to be only a reprieve.
The Eagles struck quickly on the second-half kickoff on a 90-yard kick return by Brody Young.
While Iola’s offense was stuck in neutral, the Mustangs’ Gus Hopkins and Keanen Badders ended each of Wellsville’s possessions with fumble recoveries. ‘
Iola got its first — and only — first down of the game with a facemask penalty on a Badders carry.
The Eagles scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Osbern scored on a 1-yard rush and Young scored on a 13-yard run.
Iola’s offense will want to forget this game. Out of 28 carries, the running game netted 14 yards. Badders led the team with 15 carries and 10 rushing yards. Macha was 0-for-7 passing with two interceptions.
“Part of the problem was that we weren’t maintaining blocks on offense,” Daugharthy said. “I don’t know how much of problem that is on a wet field or dry field.”
The Mustangs (1-5) start district play next Friday with a home game against Burlington at 7 p.m.
Iola offense stuck in the mud
