Iola Middle School’s seventh-grade Ponies had just stopped visiting Labette County on a fourth-down play. Even after Brandon Donnell dashed 30 yards for a Pony touchdown, IMS head coach Marty Taylor was uneasy.
“Labette County was a much bigger team and had a very special athlete at quarterback (Dominic Johnson),” Taylor said. Plus there was still over two minutes to play in the game.
Iola led 22-8. Johnson completed a long pass to put the Grizzlies on the doorstep of the end zone. Johnson scored on a one-yard run and the two-point conversion.
Iola was able to recover the onside kick Labette County attempted and run out the clock. But not until the final horn was Taylor sure of the win.
“Overall it was a huge improvement over Monday’s game. We still made way too many mistakes that have to be corrected before next week,” Taylor said.
Taylor said the Ponies’ running backs Donnell, Trevor Cox and Keanan Badders ran hard all night. Defensively, Cox and Donnell had outstanding nights.
Iola quarterback Brett Taylor scored on a one-yard run with 54 seconds left in the first quarter. He connected with Cox for the two-point conversion.
That held up until Labette County’s Johnson made a 94-yard run for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. The game was tied 8-8 at halftime.
The Ponies put together a strong drive in the fourth quarter. It was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Donnell and a two-point conversion pass from Taylor to Gus Hopkins.
Iola’s Brice Aiello sacked Labette County’s Johnson on a fourth-down play. That set up Iola’s final touchdown.
Donnell rushed for 136 yards on 19 carries while Cox had 62 yards on nine carries. Badders carried the ball eight times for 46 yards.
Taylor was 2 of 4 for six yards. Cox and Hopkins caught the passes.
Defensively, Donnell had two solo tackles an six assisted and Cox had two solos and one assisted tackled. Badders notched two solo stops and one assisted tackle.
Ethan Sigg had one unassisted tackle and two assisted. Jacob Kress and Jake Gumfory each had a solo tackle. Daniel Ware, Colby Works and Mason Key each had assisted tackles.
Iola (2-0) goes to Chanute to play Royster Middle School next Thursday.
IMS seventh-grade Ponies claim win
