Kyler Thompson, Chris Heffern and Connor Frazell will play one more football game together. The three 2010 Iola High School graduates have accepted invitations to play in the 2010 U.S. Army Friendship All-Star Bowl June 5.
All three will play for the South team in the Friendship Bowl, which is at 2 p.m. June 5 at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka. Iola High head football coach Rick Horton will coach the defensive line for the South team.
“It’s an opportunity for more graduating seniors to be featured in an all-star game,” Horton said. “Players from Kansas will be on the South team and football players from Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa are on the North team.”
Thompson, a three-time All-Southeast Kansas League linebacker, led the Mustangs in tackles for the third straight year. The 6-2, 220-pound senior had 151 tackles during the 2009 season. He had two interceptions and seven quarterback sacks. Thompson earned Class 4A state honorable mention as a linebacker last fall. He has signed to play football for Pittsburg State University.
Frazell was named consensus Kansas Class 4A’s all-state kicker by the Topeka Capital Journal and Wichita Eagle for 2009. As a junior he was named all-state 4A kicker by the Wichita Eagle and received honorable mention in the Topeka listings.
Frazell, 5-10 and 170, signed to play football for Butler Community College in El Dorado this fall. For two years, Frazell was named the Southeast Kansas League’s top place-kicker. At the time, Frazell successfully kicked 48 of 52 extra-point attempts for the Mustangs. This season, he had 13 field goals including a 50-yarder as his personal best.
Frazell also punted for the Mustangs. He had 42 punts for 1,417 yards, a 33.7 yard average. Frazell caught 12 passes for 94 yards as a receiver.
Heffern, who was plugged-in to many spots on the Iola offense and defense during the 2009 season, racked up 74 tackles and had two interceptions playing at safety and linebacker. The 5-10, 175-pound senior earned All Class 4A honorable mention as a defensive back.
He was an SEK first-team selection, rushed for 264 yards on 63 carries and scored a touchdown. Heffern caught nine passes for 110 yards and one touchdown. He was 2 of 12 throwing the football for 14 yards.
Horton said Iola High’s Mustangs will play in the free seven-on-seven football tournament, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. June 4. Teams are guaranteed three games with the tournament play beginning around 4 p.m. at Hummer Sports Park.
Three Mustangs to play in all-star game
