The Iola Middle School Mustangs football team took down Anderson County in both their seventh and eighth grade games at Riverside Park on Thursday night.
The seventh-graders stampeded the Bulldogs 40-6. The eighth-graders also won big, 34-12.
Seventh Grade
The seventh grade Mustangs came out firing on all cylinders in the first half, scoring 26 points and holding Anderson County to six points through the whole game. Iola tacked on 14 points in the third quarter for the 40-6 drubbing.
Iola got on the board early with a Kevon Loving 59-yard touchdown rush before he ran in for another score from six yards out. Loving wasn’t done, however, as he ripped off a 36-yard touchdown before scoring his fourth touchdown of the game on the ground on a 90-yarder. Loving was the main contributor for the Mustangs and got the ball moving.
Through regulation, Loving rushed for a whopping 267 yards.
“Kevon Loving ran with a purpose tonight. He hit his holes hard and was able to get outside,” said Iola head coach Scott Ellis. “Defense also played well, only allowing six points. We were very aggressive tonight.”
Quarterback Reed Clift connected with Colton Thompson on a lone touchdown pass which went for 18 yards. Thompson completed two passes against the Bulldogs, also finding Noah Anderson open for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Clift also found success running the football after he rushed in for a one-yard touchdown and ran the ball for a total of 76 yards.
“The boys had a good rebound game tonight. The offensive line blocked well and the running backs ran hard. I am proud of how we responded from last week’s loss. It was a good game to get back going in League play,” said Ellis.
The Mustang defense showed up big when they needed it, allowing only six points through the 36 minutes of regulation. Loving led the defensive effort as well, making 10 tackles, followed by Evan LaCrone’s nine tackles. Reginald Davis III and Clift also were tough on defense making six tackles apiece.
There was a lone fumble recovery for Iola as Anderson came up with a loose ball recovery.
Eighth Grade
The eighth grade Mustangs used a variety of ways to score on Thursday in their 34-12 trouncing.
Jase Herrmann rumbled into the end zone from 45 yards out for the first score of the game. Then Kale Pratt rushed in from 21 yards out for the early 12-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
The Mustangs didn’t slow down as Cadin Peres ran the ball in from only one yard out for another rushing touchdown to help make the score 20-6 heading to the locker room at halftime.
“Several of the boys helped out with the scoring which kept their defense guessing,” said Ellis. “We gave up a couple fourth downs, which we should have stopped them defensively, but overall it was a group effort in the win. They played much better than last week.” 
Coming out of the gates in the second half, Layton Stowell trotted in from 15 yards out for yet another Iola rushing touchdown and the 28-6 advantage. Pratt scored the final touchdown, carrying the ball from three yards out.
