Mustangs amped for Tornado’s challenges

While Iola High has rolled to a 2-0 record, outscoring its opponents by a collective 68-21, head coach Doug Kerr realizes Friday’s challenge will be the team’s toughest yet — perhaps the toughest they’ll face all season.
Visiting Field Kindley High of Coffeyville — the highest scoring team in the state — rolls into Riverside Park Friday evening.
Oozing with talent at every position, the Golden Tornado has averaged 65 points over its first two games in lop-sided wins over Independence and Parsons, and hasn’t had to punt yet in 2013.
“There’s not much about that team that isn’t very good,” Kerr said.
Most coaches would approach Friday with a sense of concern, perhaps dread even.
Not so with Kerr.
“I look at this is a real positive challenge,” Kerr said. “This is a non-league, non-district game, and it’s one of the five best Class 4A teams in the state. The kids are excited for the opportunity to see how we compare to a team like this. We know we’re improving, but we know we’re not where we want to be yet.”
If those sentiments sound familiar, that’s because they’re almost identical to what Kerr voiced prior to their 2012 matchup. In that one, Iola outgained Field Kindley by 100 yards, and dominated the time of possession — the Mustangs ran an astonishing 87 plays from scrimmage — but still came out on the short end of 40-20 setback.
“Last year was a weird game,” Coffeyville head coach Murray Zogg recalled. “We scored on big plays, and they held the ball for long drives. We couldn’t get them off the field.”
The keys to this week’s game will be similar, the coaches agreed.
For Iola, patience will be key, both on offense and defense.
The Mustangs must remain assignment-sound on defense to prevent Coffeyville’s big plays.
Headlined by receivers James Newton and Darron Deffebaugh — part of Field Kindley’s state champion sprint relay team in track — the Golden Tornado is capable of scoring from anywhere on the field.
Quarterback Nathan Finley has thrown for four touchdowns without an interception.
A powerful line sets up Coffeyville’s potent running attack headlined by LaDarrius Johnson, who touched the ball three times against Parsons, scoring on long touchdown runs all three times. As a team, the Golden Tornado has racked more than 700 rushing yards in two games, averaging 11 yards per attempt.
“Their line looks like it could suit up for a college team right now,” Kerr said.
On offense, Iola must be patient, Kerr said, and avoid third-and-long.
“One of the reasons we were successful last year was because we were in third and short a lot,” he said. “It’s hard to be productive at third-and-nine.”
Iola’s offense has some firepower of its own, behind the running of Jacob Rhoads and John Whitworth. Whitworth left Iola’s victory over Osawatomie with an injury, however, and will be a game-time decision, as will sophomore running back Keenan Badders.
“I was proud of how Jacob ran last week, and I thought (fullback) Shane Walden really stepped up for us,” Kerr said. “He had an 18-yard touchdown called back on a penalty, or he would have had 100 yards rushing to go with his first varsity touchdown.”
Meanwhile, quarterback Tyler McIntosh has thrown for four touchdowns this season without an interception, to four different receivers.
“We’ll have to be patient with our passing game, because they have a ball-hawking defense that loves to go for the interception,” Kerr said.
Zogg said stopping Iola’s offense will be predicated on not being confused by Iola’s presnap motion.
“They use a lot of misdirection, which is hard to keep up with if you’re not careful,” he said.
Both coaches have similar goals.
“Our goal is to win league, to win our district and to win a state championship,” Zogg said. “We also want to be one of the highest scoring offenses in the state and in SEK history. Our defense has a goal to be the strongest defense we have every had.”
“It’s important for us to remember that, as important as this game is, we have much more important games the following week, and the week after that,” Kerr said. “We want to win our conference and our district and make it to postseason play. Playing a team like Coffeyville gives is a good measuring stick to see if we can do that.”