Going into district play on the heels of a victory gives football teams momentum.
Iola High’s Mustangs and Labette County High’s Grizzlies know what is at stake Friday. Both Southeast Kansas League teams are 0-5 overall and in league play. One will get the much needed win before Class 4A district play begins next week.
“Both of us want to go into district with a win. In the previous four years, this game with Labette County has been a dog fight,” said Rick Horton, Mustang head coach.
“We are in the same boat. We want the win to get the momentum going into district,” said Shane Holtzman, LCHS head coach. “We had a heck of a game down here (Altamont) last year. Our kids are going to be focused.”
It’s homecoming for IHS Friday. Crowning of the 2011 IHS Fall Homecoming king and queen is before the game with the ceremony beginning at 6:15 p.m. Kickoff for the game between the Mustangs and Grizzlies is 7 p.m. at Riverside Park’s football stadium.
Iola went 1-1 in close games at Altamont in 2009 and 2010. The Mustangs beat the Grizzlies 17-13 in a second-half surge two years ago then lost 27-21 last year.
The Mustangs are coming off a 67-19 loss at Chanute and the Grizzlies lost 48-0 to Pittsburg.
“We were in the games with Chanute and Parsons in week two and three. We gave up three big plays and lost to Parsons 21-20. Chanute beat us by 13. We’ve made progress but the past two weeks have been rough,” Holtzman said. “As I’m sure Iola believes, we believe we have a chance to win our last four games.”
Labette County uses a veer-option type offense although Holtzman said the Grizzlies have been having senior quarterback Cole Traxson taking the snap under center more this year. For the most part, the Grizzlies use a direct snap to the quarterback in a shotgun position.
Senior Hunter Seibert, 5-11 and 205 pounds, returns as the Grizzlies’ top running back, Seibert rushed for 1,000 yards last year and is on that pace again. Sophomore JaQuez Wright is the other starting running back but sophomore Tyler Cares rotates in.
“The thing about Labette County is in the veer-option is you have to tackle everybody. We’ve had trouble tackling this year against teams we knew definitely would have the ball,” Horton said.
“To be successful on defense, we have to be assignment sound.”
Labette County is a run-oriented offense, according to Holtzman.
“We want to run the football. Our strength as a team are our offensive and defensive lines. Offensively, we have to not turn the ball over and be consistent,” Holtzman said.
