Running the football.
Iola High’s Mustangs are concentrating on executing their run game on offense and stopping the running game of opponents. They weren’t able to make the stops last week against Fort Scott.
The Tigers rolled up almost 500 yards on the ground.
“Our next two opponents run similar offenses to Fort Scott. We can’t win if we don’t stop people. We did not make Fort Scott punt last week,” said Rick Horton, Mustang head coach.
Anderson County High’s Bulldogs (4-3) rolled over Prairie View High’s Buffalos 44-27 to go 1-0 in Kansas Class 4A, District 6 action last week. The Mustangs are 0-1 in district action and 1-7 overall.
The Bulldogs come to Iola Friday night led by the senior running back tandem of Thomas Mudd and Seth Bowman. Mudd rushed for 167 yards and Bowman had 94 yards in last week’s win.
Kickoff between the Mustangs and Bulldogs is 7 p.m. at Iola’s Riverside Park football stadium.
“This is a huge game for us. We know we have to win to give ourselves a shot at going to the playoffs,” Horton said. “Anderson County knows if they win they are in the playoffs.”
Anderson County head coach Don Hilliard said the Bulldog offense is run-based.
“Getting the ball in the hands of Thomas and Seth is our plan but we’ll throw the ball down field using play action passes,” Hilliard said. “We rely on Jack to get the ball where we want it. He can run but is more productive passing the ball.”
Rickabaugh had two touchdown passes in last week’s win over Prairie View.
Hilliard said until the last two games, the Bulldog defense was stingy, only giving up six points in a three-game stretch. Bowman is the leading tackler out of his middle linebacker spot.
“If Seth is having a good game, we’re having a good defensive game. He is the heart of our defense,” Hilliard said.
“We know we have to slow down the (Jerrik) Sigg kid, who does a little bit of everything for Iola. Iola’s quarterback (Mason Coons) can throw the ball. We’ve spent time on special teams and defense.”
Anderson County lost a member of its football team in a car accident Oct. 1. Braden Hunt, a junior, of Kincaid, was a wide receiver.
“That was a tough week and it is still tough because he was a part of our team. The kids had a rough first week and we lost to Eudora. Last week we had our best practices and beat Prairie View to open district play,” Hilliard said.
Anderson County players have a No. 7 sticker on their helmets in memory of their teammate.
Horton said the Mustangs have focused on getting better, both offensively and defensively. He said Iola has found something that works pretty well for it on offense — the wildcat with leading rusher and scorer Jerrik Sigg, Jacob Rhoads and John Whitworth in the backfield. Sigg takes the direct snap from center.
“We have added plays to it the past two weeks. It’s been effective,” Horton said. “Defensively, we just have to tackle people. We’re pursuing up field too far and get caught as ball carriers go past us.
“The other thing is we have to have a better start to games. We have not been a very good first-half team. We get ourselves in too big of a hole and can’t work out of it.”
Iola is without freshman inside linebacker Kaden Macha, who has a factured bone in his foot.
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 — Trey Colborn, 5-9, 240, Fr.
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.
Anderson County High Bulldogs
Offense
QB — Jack Rickabaugh, 6-0, 175, Jr.
RB — Seth Bowman, 5-10, 195, Sr.
RB — Thomas Mudd, 5-11, 185, Sr.
WR — Dakota Jumet, 5-8, 145, Sr.
TE — Kyle Rockers, 6-2, 205, Sr.
OL — Wes Wolken, 5-11, 180, Jr.
OL — Jason Read, 6-2, 200, Sr.
OL — Blake Howey, 6-1, 220, Sr.
OL — David Ball, 5-10, 235, Jr.
OL — Braden Weber, 6-1, 215, Sr.
WR — Cody Pretzer, 5-7, 175, Sr.
PK — Dakota Jumet
Defense
DB — Cale Hedges, 5-8, 130, Jr.
DB — Zach Hilliard, 5-10, 170, So.
DB — Dakota Jumet, 5-8, 145, Sr.
DB — Weston Gilbreth, 5-7, 150, Jr.
LB — Jorneau Hoy, 5-9, 165, Sr.
LB — Seth Bowman, 5-10, 195, Sr.
LB — Thomas Mudd, 5-11, 185, Sr.
LB — Kyle Rockers, 6-2, 205, Sr.
DL — Blake Howey, 6-1, 220, Sr.
DL — David Ball, 5-10, 235, Jr.
DL — Braden Weber, 6-1, 215, Sr.
P — Jack Rickabaugh, 6-0, 175, Jr.
