A stout defensive effort and a couple of touchdown passes between Landon Weide and Korbin Cloud paved the way for an Iola victory over Anderson County on Homecoming Friday, 16-6.
Iola (2-2) head coach David Daugharthy was pleased with the result but not the fact that his team let Anderson County score in the final minute of the game.
“We gave up one late, which really makes me mad,” Daugharthy chuckled. “We would have liked the goose egg.”
The Mustang defense stepped up when the team needed it most, including a goal-line fourth down stop on the Bulldogs’ first drive of the game and a blocked punt in the fourth quarter.
After stopping Anderson County on the Mustang’s six-yard line, the Bulldogs returned the favor, halting Iola one yard shy of the end zone to keep the game scoreless.
“We went after them all night,” Daugharthy said. “Being able to get a fourth down stop down at the goal-line, being able to continue to shut their run game down, that’s kudos to our guys.”
The Mustangs hopped on a bad snap by the Bulldogs for a safety midway through the second quarter to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Weide found his receiver, Cloud, open down the Iola sideline for a 13-yard touchdown pass to take a 9-0 lead near the end of the third quarter.
“We have a lot of chemistry, and in practice we’re always working and communicating well, trying to find each other on the field,” said Cloud, who has been playing with Weide since he was in fourth grade. “We have trust in each other, and all the seniors are always together.”
Iola blocked an Anderson County punt, and Korbyn Fountain hopped on it for the Mustangs to take over at the Bulldogs’ seven-yard line, putting the offense in excellent field position.
Only a few plays later, Weide found Cloud again for a three-yard touchdown pass and a 16-0 lead with only two minutes left in the game. 
“Weide and Cloud had a solid connection tonight. Both played really well,” said Daugharthy. “There’s definitely a trust involved. They’ve been playing with each other for a while, and they’re really good friends. Landon actually called that last touchdown to Korbyn.”
The Bulldogs struck with their only score of the game when they rushed in a 10-yard touchdown to cut Iola’s deficit to 16-6 with less than a minute left.
Iola travels to Burlington next Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
