COLUMBUS — Without bad luck, Iola High’s Mustangs would have no luck at all.
Down 20-0, the Mustangs’ quarterback Mason Coons unleashed a pass downfield to tailback Jerrik Sigg. The play covered 67 yards, gave Iola its first first down of the game and put the Mustangs at Columbus High’s 10-yard line.
Coons’ pass on the next play was intercepted by the Titans’ Tyler Elmore. No Mustang player could catch Elmore as he raced 90 yards for the touchdown.
Columbus rolled to a 41-0 halftime lead on its way to a 47-14 win Friday night. The Mustangs are 0-4 in Southeast Kansas League play and overall while the Titans improved to 1-3.
Iola has lost 15 games in a row dating back to the 2009 season.
The Mustangs travel to Chanute next Friday in SEK action.
Coons connected with Clint Heffern for a 27-yard pass play with five minutes left in the second quarter. Coons was hit in the backfield the next play and lost the football.
Columbus’ Taylor Watkins recovered the football. The Titans had the football five times on offense and scored five touchdowns in the first half.
“In the first half, we just didn’t see a lot of effort from our players. That’s disappointing. Sometimes you have to make your luck and we didn’t put the effort into playing,” said Rick Horton Mustang head coach.
Travis Jones was 11 of 13 for 206 yards through the air in the first half for Columbus. Coons went 11 of 17 for 158 yards in the first two quarters.
Columbus’ Zane Roark did the damage on the ground. He had three touchdown runs as he gained 93 yards on 19 carries.
“At halftime we got after the players and they responded. We played better in the second half,” Horton said.
The Mustangs finally got on the scoreboard with 1:54 left in the third quarter. Coons, who was 15 of 22 for 281 yards passing on the night, found Devon Conner for a 36-yard scoring strike. The two hooked up on the two-point conversion also.
Iola trailed 47-8.
The teams played the fourth quarter under a running clock. Iola stopped Columbus with a goal line stand and mounted a scoring drive.
Coons found Jerrik Sigg on a 62-yard pass play for the touchdown.
Defensively, Derrick Weir had three solo tackles, three assisted tackles and a quarterback sack. Adam Kauth had two solo stops.
Sigg and Jacob Rhoads each had a solo tackle and two assisted tackles. Rhoads blocked an extra point kick.
Clint Heffern made seven catches for 90 yards. Sigg ran for 53 yards and had 135 yards on five receptions. Corey Taylor hauled in a 15-yard reception and Rhoads had one catch for five yards.
“We have to find a way to improve each day. We’re looking for 11 guys that will give us the effort on the field we need to be successful,” Horton said.
“We have to find the effort, the intensity and the drive to win.
Iola 0-0-8-6—14
Columbus 20-21-6-0—47
Columbus — Roark 6 yd run (Freeman kick)
Columbus — Roark 11 yd run (Freeman kick)
Columbus — Morris 37 yd pass from Jones (kick blocked)
Columbus — Elmore 90 yd interception return (Freeman kick)
Columbus — Elmore 15 yd pass from Jones (Freeman kick)
Columbus — Morris 6 yd pass from Jones (Freeman kick)
Columbus — Roark 12 yd run (kick failed)
Iola — Conner 36 yd pass from Coons (Conner pass from Coons)
Iola — Sigg 62 yd pass from Coons (pass failed)
Iola Columbus
First downs 10 14
Rushes-yds 21-32 34-141
Passing yds 281 224
Total Offense 313 365
Passing 15-22-1 14-17-0
Fumbles/lost 3/2 1/0
Punts-Avg. 3-33 2-27
Penalties-yds 5-45 6-52
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Iola-Sigg 14-53, Coons 7-(-21). Columbus-Roark 19-93, Randall 4-22, Bole 4-36, Others 7-(-10).
Passing: Iola-Coons 15-22-281-1. Columbus-T. Jones 13-16-214-0, Bole 1-1-10-0.
Receiving: Iola-Sigg 5-135, C. Heffern 7-90, Conner 1-35, Taylor 1-15, Rhoads 1-5. Columbus-Morris 5-105, Roark 2-46, Randall 3-23, Elmore 1-15, Forester 2-15, Thomas 1-10.
Punting: Iola-Conner 3-93 (31 yd avg.). Columbus-T. Jones 2-54 (27 yd avg.).
Titans overpower Mustangs in SEK
