It’s tradition that high schools resent being tabbed as the opponent for an opposing school’s homecoming.
Doug Kerr is an exception.
The Iola High head coach noted Iola’s matchup last season against Prairie View was the Mustangs’ homecoming. It took a while for the Mustangs to clear away the cobwebs from the series of distractions associated with such an occasion.
“We had several guys in the homecoming court, we had to practice on another field, and we were discombobulated for quite a while,” Kerr recalled. “It took us a while to get settled down.”
Iola trailed, 8-7, at halftime before scoring three second-half touchdowns in a 27-16 victory.
Kerr is thankful Iola has no such distractions this time around when Iola visits Prairie View on Friday.
“Actually, I kind of hope it’s their homecoming,” Kerr joked.
No such luck. Prairie View’s is next week.
In any regard, Friday’s matchup is a crucial one, Kerr said, if Iola hopes to stay at the top of the Pioneer League standings.
The Mustangs must also rid themselves of the remnants of last week’s game, a 40-10 loss to Field Kindley of Coffeyville.
“We have to rebound from a tough loss in which we couldn’t get their offense off the field, and we couldn’t put it in the end zone,” Kerr said. “And we have to do it against one of the top teams in the conference.”
Conversely, Prairie View head coach Doug Whitcraft has plenty of concerns for his Buffalos.
One concern rises above all others — and it’s not the Mustangs.
“But if we don’t take care of the ball, it’s not going to matter,” Whitcraft said, noting the Buffalos average more than four turnovers a game. “We have to worry about stopping our turnovers and other mistakes before we even think about what we’re trying to do.
“Iola is a well-coached team with good athletes,” Whitcraft continued. “They run a lot of misdirection, so we have to be fundamentally sound on defense.”
