GARNETT — After a convincing 42-13 win over Anderson County, Iola High’s football team is one week away from possibly making it to the Class 4A Division-II State Football Playoffs for the first time since 2008. “What I really liked that we did the best was they made some adjustments, and we picked them up for the first time in a long time,” head coach Doug Kerr said. “We made them pay for it in the third quarter because we were able to adjust and make it worse for them.” The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead with 3:08 left in the first quarter. Chase Ratliff dodged Iola tackles and took the ball 74 yards for the score. That was Anderson County’s only lead, and it lasted all of 87 seconds. Iola’s offense answered immediately, starting off with great field position at the Bulldog 47. Shane Walden had an 11-yard rush and Keanen Badders had a 19-yard. Walden scored on a 5-yard scamper into the end zone to tie the score, 7-7. Iola’s defense gave the Mustangs a lead they wouldn’t give up 13 seconds into the second quarter. Blayke Reynolds picked up a Ratliff fumble and took it 63 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead. A 14-yard Ethan Scheibmeir rush, accompanied with a personal foul penalty, set up Macha for a 2-yard scoring run. An onside kick further turned the tide in Iola’s favor. Kicker Mason Key blasted the football off of a Bulldog blocker on the front line. Key dove on the ball and recovered his own onside kick. After a 2-yard run by Brice Aiello, Scheibmeir rushed for 23 yards and a first down. Aiello followed with his own rush for 12 yards. Badders finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. Macha hit Walden for the two-point conversion for a 28-7 halftime lead. Macha took his passing game into the third quarter. After picking up two first downs via the run, Macha tossed a pass to Aiello for a 36-yard touchdown three minutes into the half. The Bulldog offense was stopped again. On second and 10 on Iola’s 47, the Mustangs’ Chase Regehr came up big with a sack. Iola’s Reynolds then deflected the ball on third and long. On Iola’s next drive, Macha finished it off with a 1-yard quarterback sneak.
Mustangs gallop to first district win of season
