Playoffs in 2011 are out of the question for Iola High’s Mustangs and Prairie View High’s Buffalos. So what’s on the line in Thursday’s football season finale?
“We’ve talked to our kids about playing for pride but also here is an opportunity to establish that we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Pioneer League,” said Rick Horton, Mustang head coach.
Since Iola announced it would leave the Southeast Kansas League and join the Pioneer League in 2012, the Mustangs have been manhandled by two of the Pioneer League football teams. Anderson County and Prairie View handily dispatched Iola in Kansas Class 4A, District 6 play last year.
The Mustangs are coming off a 62-30 loss to Anderson County. The Buffalos were shut out by Fort Scott High’s Tigers — an SEK team — 53-0 last Friday night.
“Prairie View is a team that is right in the middle of the Pioneer League and we want to make a statement with this game,” Horton said.
Prairie View head coach Doug Whitcraft has a Buffalo team “riddled with injuries and we’re trying to regroup to get a win Thursday against Iola.” The Buffalos have lost three straight games and are 4-4 overall but also 0-2 in 4A district play.
Kickoff at PVHS at LaCygne is 7 p.m. Thursday.
Iola goes in with a 1-7 overall mark and 0-2 in 4A district play.
Also on the line for Iola is getting senior tailback Jerrik Sigg in the 1,000-yard single-season club for IHS.
According to Iola Register records, the Mustangs have had five players rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. The last player to do it is IHS all-time career rusher Webb Mechling in 1992.
Mechling set the single-season mark of 1,286 yards on 225 carries in nine games. Mechling had two 1,000-yard seasons and has 3,156 yards as Iola’s career rushing leader.
Sigg, 6-1 and 172 pounds, has 947 yards on 164 carries this season. That puts him sixth on the single-season list. Next is Matt McIntosh at 1,029 yards in 1984.
“It’s not just an individual goal for Jerrik. It’s a team goal for the guys blocking up front. They really want to do this for Jerrik,” Horton said.
Others on the 1,000-yard list for a single season are Peda Samuel-1,250 in 1983, Tim Wools-1,060 in 1986. Mechling had 1,058 yards in 1990.
The Buffalos know who is going to get the football.
“The key is to stop No. 21 (Sigg). He is a stud and we have to limit him because he makes their offense go,” said Whitcraft.
Both teams struggle defensively. Horton and Whitcraft talked about their teams’ inability to stop opponents.
“We have to tackle people,” Horton said. “Prairie View runs a lot of options and we have to be assignment sound in tackling everybody coming out of the backfield.”
Shae Spears is the Buffalo quarterback directing the Prairie View wishbone offense. Senior Tyler Stillians is the fullback but also the workhorse out of the backfield. He had 64 yards rushing on 15 carries last week against Fort Scott.
They also have senior Jacob Kelly and junior Jake Bradley as running backs.
“Our offensive line is where we’ve been hit hard with injuries and we’re pretty small up front,” Whitcraft said.
Horton pointed out Thursday’s game will be the first one all season that Iola is considered the “bigger” team up front.
“We have to go in and keep our focus and composure against a team we’re going to go up against year after year starting next season,” Horton said.
“We’ve talked to our kids that it is important to our underclassmen to establish something right now for the future of our program. Plus we want to send our seniors out with a victory.”
Iola will be without starting lineman Trey Colborn, a freshman, because of a knee injury. Junior Eli Grover will start in Colborn’s place along the defensive line this week.
Still gone is Kaden Macha, freshman inside linebacker, with a foot injury.
Probable Starters
Iola High Mustangs
Offense
QB — Mason Coons, 6-1, 176, Jr.
TB — Jerrik Sigg, 6-1, 172, Sr.
FB — Devin Culler, 6-1, 182, Sr.
WR — Clint Heffern, 5-10, 165, Sr.
TE — Corey Taylor, 6-3, 151, Sr.
LT — Eli Grover, 6-0, 225, Jr.
LG — Brad Bazo, 5-11, 241, Sr.
C — Zach Crawford, 5-9, 171, Sr.
RG — Blake Appling, 5-11, 192, Sr.
RT — Kris Collins, 6-4, 324, Sr.
WR — Devon Conner, 6-0, 153, Sr.
PK — Isaias Macias, 5-7, 152, So
Defense
E — Bryce Misenhelter, 6-3, 178, So.
L — Eli Grover, 6-0, 225, Jr.
L — Eric Maxwell, 6-1, 185, So.
E — Devin Culler, 6-1, 182, Sr.
LB — Eric Heffern, 5-11, 159, Jr.
LB — Derrick Weir, 5-8, 161, So.
LB — Zach Crawford, 5-9, 171, Sr.
LB — Jacob Rhoads, 5-8, 160, So.
CB — John Whitworth, 5-9, 160, So.
CB — Gavin Wilson, 5-9, 149, Sr.
FS — Clint Heffern, 5-10, 165, Sr.
P — Devon Conner, 6-0, 153, Sr.
Prairie View High’s Buffalos
Offense
QB — Shey Spears, So.
FB — Tyler Stillians, Sr.
RB — Jacob Kelly, Sr.
RB — Jake Bradley, Jr.
WR — Dalton Stockton, Sr.
RT — Trevor Lewis, Sr.
RG — Matt Kellerman, Jr.
C — John Green, Sr.
LG — Brad Owens, Jr.
LT — Preston Roedel, Jr.
TE — Drew Feldman, Sr.
PK — Jake Bradley
Defense
DE — Matt Kellerman, Jr.
NG — John Green, Sr.
DT — Preston Roedel, Jr.
DE — Jordan Halaquist, Sr.
LB — Levi Clark, So.
LB — Jake Bradley, Jr.
LB — Trevor Lewis, Sr.
LB — Jake Bradley, Jr.
CB — Stephen Brintnall, Sr.
FS — Dalton Stockton, Sr.
CB — Luke Miller, Jr.
P — Jordan Halaquist, Sr.
Mustangs, Buffalos playing a pride game
