Seven takeaways and five of those leading directly to touchdowns, Parsons High’s Vikings snapped their 21-game losing streak here Friday night.
Unfortunately, it came at the expense of Iola High’s Mustangs in their 2010 home opener. The Vikings burnt the Mustangs on big plays throughout their 63-20 win.
“We’re just not executing on either side of the football right now,” said Rick Horton, Mustang head coach.
“We’re struggling defensively and offensively. We had people in place to make plays but didn’t tackle. And we were not assignment sound on the option tonight.”
Neither team did much on their first possessions of the game. But Tevin Johnson returned Iola’s punt to the Mustang 38-yard line. Even though a holding penalty brought the play back, Viking quarterback Wes Krull set the tone for the rest of the game.
Krull went 38 yards for an apparent touchdown. The Vikings had to wait four plays later before scoring. The Vikings were helped on the drive by two personal foul penalties against Iola.
Krull scampered into the end zone from eight yards out. Matt Williams kicked the extra point with 7:31 left in the first quarter.
The Mustangs suffered their first of seven turnovers a minute later. Charles Apt completed a pass to Dylan Allen, who was stripped of the football. Ivory Kelly made the recovery for Parsons.
Two plays later, Krull scored on a 25-yard run.
Iola found itself down 14-0.
The Mustangs had a drive going but after picking up 12 yards on a run, Apt was shaken up. A bad snap to backup quarterback Mason Coons was fumbled.
Parsons’ Joel Collins picked up the loose ball and returned it to the Parsons 39.
Freshman defensive back John Whitworth did not give up on a tipped pass from Krull. Whitworth got Iola’s only takeaway in the form of an interception.
He returned the ball to the Parsons’ five. A late-hit penalty moved the Mustangs to the 2 1/2-yard line with2:28 left in the first period.
Jerrik Sigg would score his first of three touchdowns on a run up the middle for Iola. The Mustangs used the “wildcat” formation with a direct snap to the junior wide receiver quite a bit the rest of the game.
Iola missed the extra-point kick leaving it at 14-6. That was as close as the game got.
The Vikings blew the game wide open with four touchdowns in the second quarter. They led 43-6 at halftime.
Parsons scored on a 40-yard pass play, runs of 19 and 50 yards and a 23-yard pass play.
Iola did come out and mount a scoring drive to open the second half. Coons and Sigg leading the way.
Coons completed a 15-yard pass to tight end Corey Taylor for a first down. Sigg threw a 15-yard pass to Zeph Larney then caught an 18-yard pass from Coons.
Marcus Sullivan pushed the Mustangs to the one-yard line. Sigg broke two tackles to get across the goal line. Sigg had the two-point conversion run with 6:22.
The Vikings answered with a 53-yard touchdown run by James C.Jackson.
Coons and Sullivan led the Mustangs on a seven-play scoring drive. Sullivan had runs of 14 and 10 yards. Coons was 5-for-5 passing including a six-yard pass to Sigg. Sigg dived to get the ball inside the pylon.
The Mustangs trailed 50-20 heading in the fourth quarter.
Two interceptions led to scores for the Vikings. Williams, who had kicked five extra points already, bolted for an 83-yard touchdown run. That triggered the running clock with 9:33 left in the game.
Four minutes later Williams stepped in front of an Iola receiver and took the interception back 20 yards for a touchdown.
“I don’t know what to do about the offense right now. We’ll watch film and evaluate players and what we did as coaches. Then go out to work harder to get better,” Horton said.
“We’re not playing very good team football right now.”
Iola had three players combine for 205 yards passing. Coons was 11 of 18 for 138 yards with two interceptions.
Sigg caught five passes for 69 yards and Taylor had five receptions for 58 yards. Sigg had seven carries for 21 yards.
Sullivan rushed for 46 yards on 12 carries while Apt had 46 yards on 10 carries.
Parsons did not have a first down in the second half. The Vikings rushed for 288 yards and had 75 yards passing. Eight players had carries for the Vikings.
Iola had Apt, Sullivan, Allen and Drew Shepherd go out with injuries or illness in the game. Devon Burton, starting defensive end, did not play because of an injury.
“We’re not very healthy at this point,” Horton said. “We’re playing a lot of young guys.”
Shepherd was credited with five unassisted tackles, two for losses, and one assisted tackle. Apt had three solo stops and Kyle Heffern had two unassisted tackles.
Stephen McDonald had one solo stop and three assisted while Jacob Rhoads, Tyler Clubine each had one solo and two assisted tackles.
The loss puts the Mustangs at 0-2 overall and in Southeast Kansas League play.
Iola travels to Coffeyville next Friday.
Parsons 14-29-7-13—63
Iola 6-0-14-0—20
Parsons — Krull 8 yd run (Williams kick)
Parsons — Krull 25 yd run (Williams kick)
Iola — Sigg 2 1/2 yd run (kick failed)
Parsons — Taylor 50 yd pass from Krull (Williams kick)
Parsons — Taylor 19 yd run (Jones pass from Krull)
Parsons — Collins 50 yd run (Williams kick)
Parsons — Jackson 23 yd pass from Krull (Williams kick)
Iola — Sigg 1 yd run (Sigg run)
Parsons — Jackson 53 yd run (Williams kick)
Iola — Sigg 6 yd pass from Coosn (run failed)
Parsons — Williams 83 yd run (Williams kick)
Parsons — Williams 20 yd interception return (kick failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Iola-Sullivan 12-46, Apt 10-46, Sigg 7-21, Coons 3-(-20), Whitworth 2-(-1). Parsons-Krull 4-28, Jackson 2-48, Nash 10-42, Beachner 1-0, Taylor 3-12, Johnson 1-20, Collins 2-55, Williams 1-83.
Passing: Iola -Apt 5-14-47-2, Coons 11-18-138-2, Sigg 2-3-20. Parsons-Krull 6-9-75-1.
Receiving: Iola-Sigg 5-69, Taylor 5-58, Cl. Heffer 4-48, Allen 2-10, Larney 1-15, Sullivan 1-5. Parsons-Jackson 1-23, Taylor 1-40, Johnson 1-13, Jones 3-22.
Punting: Iola-K. Heffern 2-53 (26 yd avg.). Parsons-Krull 6-113 (37 yd avg.)
