A series of early miscues put Iola High’s Mustangs behind the 8-ball early on Thursday evening.
They never could escape.
The Mustangs turned the ball over four times, all at critical junctures, as visiting Girard took a 20-0 lead into halftime.
Iola began to establish control of the line of scrimmage after the break, but managed only a pair of late scores in a 29-14 defeat.
The loss dropped Iola to 2-7 to wrap up the 2014 season. The loss put the Mustangs at 1-2 in Class 4A-II district play, ending any hopes for a playoff appearance.
The trouble started before most of the crowd had found their seats.
Girard returned the opening kickoff to midfield, where a 9-yard carry preceded Kord Curran’s 38-yard touchdown run less than one minute into the contest.
Junior running back Brice Aiello, who had gone all season without losing a fumble, lost the ball on consecutive possessions, the second of which put Girard at Iola’s 8. Curran scored two plays later for a 13-0 lead.
“Those fumbles were killers,” Mustang head coach Doug Kerr said. “Those were Brice’s first two fumbles of the year. And three of our four fumbles came at the end of long gains.”
The lead ballooned to 20-0 on the Trojans’ next possession, courtesy of a 38-yard touchdown pass from Eric Wilson to Tyler Green with 5:31 left in the half.
Iola’s offense found its footing late in the half.
But a Keenan Badders’ fumble, at the end of a 9-yard run ended one possession. Girard’s Juan Ortiz stopped another by intercepting a Kaden Macha pass at the Trojan goal line.
Another Iola drive stalled at midfield before the Trojans capped a four-play drive with Dylan Paige’s 15-yard touchdown scamper and a 26-0 lead.
“When we took care of the ball, we moved the ball,” Kerr said. “We had a couple of key drops in our passing game, but I was proud of how the kids kept fighting.”
The Mustangs showed some life to start the fourth quarter. Macha’s 39-yard scamper was key in a 12-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Macha’s 3-yard touchdown run.
Kerr threw Girard’s coaches off guard at one point during the drive, lining up for a field goal on fourth-and-3 from the Trojan 10. The ploy worked. The Trojans, expecting Iola to line up in a traditional formation, called timeout.
“I was never going to try a field goal there,” Kerr said.
Girard effectively erased any hopes of a Mustang miracle by chewing up 5 minutes of possession. Ortiz’s 27-yard field goal put the game out of reach.
Macha scored his second touchdown of the game with 45 seconds left on a 5-yard keeper. Shane Walden’s two-point run provided the final margin.
“I was happy with how we responded,” Kerr said. “We started as bad as we possibly could, but we outscored them in the second half.”
The game illustrated Macha’s value to the Mustang program, Kerr said.
“We wanted to get Kaden that last score, and get Shane (Walden, another senior) the conversion,” Kerr said.
Macha rushed for a game-high 106 yards, while completing 4 of 9 passes for 49 more, and racking up 12 tackles on defense, nine solo.
“Since I’ve been here, Kaden has a been an unbelievable team guy. He’s played four linebacker positions and four running back positions at different times for us. What we have to do to grow as a program is produce other kids with champion character.”
Badders chipped in with 76 yards on 11 carries, while Aiello had 38 yards on the ground. Brett Taylor and Aiello had 38 and 37 yards receiving, respectively, with two receptions each.
Chase Regehr and Trea Williams each added six tackles. Aiello had five.
With the season’s conclusion, Kerr has an eye on 2015 and beyond. The Mustangs return 16 starters next season.
“Our young players will be counted on to build us up to be successful next year,” Kerr said. “That starts Monday.”
Curran paced Girard with 81 yards, while Page added 59. Wilson hit 3 of 4 passes for 86 yards.
Girard (4-5 overall; 3-0 in district play) opens the 4A-II playoffs Friday at home.
Girard 7-13-6-3—29
Iola 0-0-0-14—14
Girard — Curran 38 yd run (Ortiz kick)
Girard — Curran 7 yd run (kick blocked)
Girard — Green 38 yd pass from Wilson (Ortiz kick)
Girard — Page 15 yd run (kick failed)
Iola — Macha 3 yd run (kick failed)
Girard — Ortiz 27 yd field goal
Iola — Macha 5 yd run (Walden run)
Girard iola
First Downs 6 14
Rushes-yds 39-183 44-223
Passing yds 86 49
Total Offense 269 272
Passing 3-4-0 5-10-1
Fumbles-lost 0-0 4-3
Punts/avg. 3/39 2/40
Penalties 3-25 0-0
Mustang miscues costly as season ends
