A senior-heavy Iola football team is coming into the season focused on avenging a lackluster season last year that included a playoff loss.
Iola brings 13 seniors into this season whose histories go all the way back to peewee football.
The seniors have only one team goal this season: win the Pioneer League.
“It’s our last year so we may as well give it everything we’ve got,” said senior Korbin Cloud. “The energy has gotten a lot better since last year. We’re communicating well defensively, yelling coverages and reads across the field and we’re always on the same page.”
The seniors are keyed in on creating an atmosphere of continuous improvement throughout the season. A strong group of freshmen is helping contribute to the competitive atmosphere.
“It’s been a lot more competitive than it was last year,” said senior Landon Weide. “All of us seniors have been stepping up big. Last year was a learning curve. We’ve all been playing with each other since peewee so we know our tendencies, what we’re capable of and how to pick each other up.”
Last season, senior Danny Boeken was tabbed as an All-State Honorable Mention defensive lineman. Draydon Reiter and Ben Kerr each took All-Pioneer League Second Team linebacker honors while Cloud was named an All-Pioneer League Second Team DB.
“I’ll be playing both sides of the ball,” said Boeken. “I started on offense as a freshman so I definitely have more knowledge and a lot of varsity time. I feel like the expectations are set higher for me personally and we want a winning season.”
Senior Kolton Greathouse will also look to make a difference on the line where he racked up eight solo tackles and four tackles for a loss of yards last season. He has signed a letter of intent to play for Friends University in Wichita.
“I’ve put in a lot of work over the offseason with coach Tre Howard and I’ve gotten a lot better since last year,” said Greathouse. “I want to make state honors for defense and All-League for offensive line because last year I didn’t take home any honors.”
Weide returns at quarterback where he completed 49-of-88 passes for 596 yards and eight touchdowns a season ago. Reiter, also a senior, hauled in two touchdowns and 289 yards while making 13 solo tackles and two tackles for a loss last year.
Other key returners for the Mustangs will be seniors Gage Skahan, Mac Leonard, Damian Wacker, Korbyn Fountain and Briggs Michael. Juniors Grady Dougherty and Cortland Carson will also play a lot at linebacker and offensive line, respectively.
Skahan is learning new positions this year, including cornerback where he’s becoming more comfortable in practice.
“Going up against the starting receivers is challenging at cornerback, especially being my first time learning it,” said Skahan. “I feel like it’s one of the hardest positions on the field because you have to cover, run and pass, and be good at block shedding.”
Boeken also mentioned how some of the freshmen skill players like Kale Pratt and Austin Crooks have stepped up in practice and are looking like veterans.
