PARSONS — The entire Mustang backfield was incredibly successful during Monday’s 46-14 victory in Parsons, but sophomore tailback Tyler Garner certainly set the tone.
Garner ran for 162 yards with four touchdowns.
The junior varsity standout is cut from the same cloth as varsity starter Tayton Driskel. Like Driskel, Garner uses his punishing running style to wear down Iola’s opponents throughout the game.
“He has shown that if you try and hit him high, then he is going to make you pay for it,” Iola coach Nick McAnulty said. “Eventually he is going to start breaking long runs, because the defense gets tired of hitting him.”
Against Parsons, this dynamic was especially evident. Despite only finishing the game with just 11 carries, the Parsons defense wanted no part in trying to tackle Garner in the second half and his final three carries resulted in three touchdowns with 19-, 23- and 22-yard scores.
“It always comes down to blocking and we’ve told our linemen over and over again that if we can get our backs against any second-level guys then we like our chances,” McAnulty said. “Our guys run hard when they have the opportunity and once we get the blocking, it becomes pretty easy.”
Garner credited his offensive line for taking a toll on the Viking defense.
“I felt great out there, but I give all my appreciation to the offensive line, they worked great out there,” Garner said. “They gave me the opportunity.”
That offensive line was led by Alex Morrison, Kiefer Endicott, Tim Komma and Christian Jackson.
“We ran to both sides,” McAnulty said. “Either side, we were able to be successful.”
The Iola offense took a while to get going on Monday. They had an interception and turned the ball over on downs on the game’s opening two drives and the first quarter ended with no score for either team.
Garner sparked the team’s third drive with a 23-yard run on the first play and two plays later, Dan Foust ran down the left sideline for a 23-yard touchdown.
Foust finished the game with 62 yards on four carries.
On the ensuing Viking possession, junior defensive back Caden Knavel undercut a route on fourth down and intercepted a Dariq Williams — who scored a touchdown in the varsity game last Friday — pass and returned it for a touchdown.
Pieter Venter’s second converted extra point extended the Iola lead to 14-0 and all of a sudden the Mustangs were rolling.
After Parsons scored on their next possession, Garner exploded for a 46-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left in the half to go ahead 20-6 at halftime.
