Stop the run.
That has been the focus all week for Iola High’s Mustangs. Teams average 300 yards of rushing yardage against Iola in the first two games of 2010.
“We have to stop the run. Whatever else happens this week, we want to see improvement in our run defense,” said Rick Horton, Mustang head coach.
“We changed our practices this week and went heavy on run defense. It’s a focus for us right now. We have to stop the run.”
The Mustangs travel to Coffeyville Friday to take on the Coffeyville Field Kindley High Golden Tornado. Both teams are 0-2 for the season and in Southeast Kansas League play.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Last week while Parsons was running away from Iola, Coffeyville bounced back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to lose 28-27 to Fort Scott. A two-point conversion play was stopped short of the goal line with no time left in the game.
“Our kids played exceptionally well in the second half. It was their decision to go for the two-point conversion and win instead of trying to tie and go into overtime last week,” said Murray Zogg, Coffeyville’s first-year head coach.
Zogg coached four years as head football coach at Prairie View High School in LaCygne. Before that he was offensive coordinator at Coffeyville Community College.
“When this job came open, I was familiar with the high school and the talent they have here. It was a good fit for me,” Zogg said.
The Golden Tornado offense goes as the big senior offensive line goes in 2010. Coffeyville’s offensive linemen average 270 pounds. Only in the backfield does Coffeyville have players on the field other than seniors on the offensive unit.
Cory Turner, a 5-11, 168-pound sophomore, steps in as the starting quarterback. Zogg said Turner is a dual threat to throw the ball well and run with it.
Sophomore Wesley Collins (5-10, 177) is the tailback in the I-formation running behind the blocking of senior fullback Jordan Fields. Fields also runs with ball. He scored a touchdown for the ’Nado against Fort Scott.
The real dual threat of the Coffeyville offense is senior wide receiver Cameron Craig. Craig caught three touchdown passes against Iola last year. He also hauled in the Coffeyville touchdown pass as time expired at Fort Scott.
“They use him in many ways. With his talent, they want to get him as many touches as they can. They even line him up for a direct snap in the wildcat formation like we do with Jerrik Sigg,” Horton said.
“We have to contain Craig.”
Both coaches talked about their teams being physical and establishing control of the line of scrimmage.
Zogg said the Golden Tornado needed to stop Iola’s passing game.
“They’ve shown they can score points like against Independence. We have to put pressure on the quarterback and keep Iola from getting the passing game untracked,” Zogg said.
Well, that might not be as hard as first thought. Iola will have to have some younger players step up their game this week on both sides of the football.
“We’ve been decimated by injuries this week. We’ve done the best we can in practices,” Horton said.
Starting quarterback Charles Apt and left guard Drew Shepherd are out with concussions. The two seniors also leave voids defensively in the linebacking corps.
So sophomore Mason Coons (6-1, 172) will start as quarterback and at linebacker. Blake Appling, a 6-2, 180-pound junior, steps in as left guard and as a defensive end. Sophomore Devon Burton will miss his second game as defensive end because of an injury.
Another change offensively for the Mustangs is at wide receiver. Zeph Larney, a 5-9, 142-pound sophomore, is expected to start over freshman Jacob Rhoads. Both will be on the defensive unit.
Senior Dylan Allen, a receiver is hampered by a nagging hamstring but will play. Horton said they will use Allen the best they can with his injury.
Defensively, there has been some shifting because of the injuries. Jerrik Sigg moves from free safety to linebacker and Marcus Sullivan moves from cornerback to linebacker.
Braden Larson, a junior, injured his knee in Monday’s junior varsity game and is out. Coons takes his place as a linebacker.
Larney and freshman John Whitworth are slotted as cornerbacks this week. Clint Heffern, a junior, is the free safety.
“Our kids are going to have to step things up. We haven’t been able to run the ball effectively yet. We have to keep working on that,” Horton said.
“From studying film, we think our passing game fits well against Coffeyville. Coffeyville is a very disciplined team so we have to play well to succeed.”
Pregame Outlook — Mustangs face solid Golden Tornado team
