Thursday provided some tightly contested games for middle school sports in Allen County. Here is how each team fared in week 4:
Iola
Football
The seventh-grade Ponies pulled off a tightly contested win against Santa Fe Trail by a score of 14-12. Cole Mathes was the number-one option on the ground for head coach Scott Ellis. Mathes accumulated 87 yards rushing on 19 carries, and scored both Iola touchdowns. Cortland Carson chipped in 53 yards rushing on 15 carries, and quarterback Kyser Nemecek was 5-11 for 39 yards passing. Brittain Davis and Mathes led the defensive effort with four tackles a piece.
I feel very fortunate with the win tonight, Ellis said. They didnt execute like Id hope to offensively and defensively but the boys didnt give up and we came out on top.
The eighth-graders were unable to repeat the same outcome. Santa Fe Trail beat the Ponies, 20-8. Gage Skahan was superb on the ground, picking up 124 yards rushing on 20 carries to give Iola its only touchdown of the evening. Drayden Reiter was a force on the defensive end with nine tackles. Skahan was second in tackles with seven
It was a tough game for us tonight against a good Santa Fe Trail team, Ellis said. They took us out of our comfort zone and a few late penalties on drives hurt us. I thought the boys never quit, but things didnt go as planned. But were going to keep our heads up and will try again next week.
Humboldt
Football
The Cubs moved to 3-0 on the season with a blowout win over Galesburg, 40-0. Blake Ellis got the scoring started with a 44-yard rushing touchdown, and the Cubs kept rolling. By the end of the first half, the Cubs led 24-0. Ellis finished with eight carries for 84 yards rushing along with three rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Sam Hull chipped in another 61 yards on the ground, averaging just over 20 yards per attempt. Jacob Harrington picked up 46 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Chase DeMerrits only carry went 33 yards for a score.
Hull led the defensive efforts for the Cubs, earning seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Conner Sallee added an interception, and Skyler Harris recorded six tackles.
Marmaton Valley
Football
The Wildcats were unable to earn their first win of the season with a 28-22 loss against Pleasanton. Pleasanton led 28-0 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter, and then the Wildcats began to punch back. Brayden Lawson provided three touchdowns rushing and a 2-point conversion, but ultimately it was too little too late.
