A fumble recovery leading to a go-ahead touchdown with 4:15 left in the game followed by a tough defensive stand was the recipe for a win for Iola Middle School’s seventh-grade football team.
Keanan Badders rammed his way into the end zone for Iola from four yards out to put Iola up 20-16. Pittsburg had plenty of time.
But the Ponies made a stand and stopped the Dragons on downs with 1:58 left in the game. Iola ran out the clock to win 20-16 Thursday.
“These kids never gave up and worked hard for a very good win,” said Marty Taylor, IMS head football coach.
Brandon Donnell, who had 124 yards on 24 carries, scored with 1:45 left in the first quarter for the Ponies. Iola trailed 8-6 and it was 16-6 at halftime.
The Mustangs put together a touchdown drive in the third quarter. Badders had a two-yard run to the end zone and Donnell ran in the two-point conversion.
Badders had 51 yards on 11 carries. Brett Taylor had four yards rushing and completed 1 of 2 passes to Donnell for two yards.
Bryce Aiello had five solo tackles, one assisted tackle and one fumble recovery. Daniel Ware also had a fumble recovery. Donnell and Badders each had two unassisted tackles.
Taylor, Ethan Sigg, Ware and Jake Gumfory each had a solo stop.
The IMS seventh-grade team is 4-0.
Pittsburg has a very good eighth-grade team with size and athletic talent. It was evident in the 36-0 win here Thursday.
“Pittsburg deserves a lot of credit but our kids played hard and never quit,” Taylor said. “We came out in the second half and played much better.”
Pittsburg was up 16-0 at the end of the first quarter. It added three more touchdown in the second period. Pittsburg scored on plays of 25 yards or longer each time.
For Iola, Kaden Macha rushed for 46 yards on 20 carries and had one catch for two yards. Drew Faulhaber had 15 yards on four carries and was 3 of 9 for a minus-1 yards passing.
Macha completed a pass to Calob Mock for 32 yards. Alex Bauer had a catch for one yard. Isaiah Grover had one carry for two yards.
Bauer led the Iola defense with four unassisted tackles and two assists. Macha had three solo stops and five assisted tackles.
Making three solo stops and one assisted tackle each were Trey Colborn, Faulhaber and Mock. Brock Peters had two assisted tackles.
Iola’s eighth-grade is 2-2 on the season.
The IMS teams travel to Columbus next Thursday.
IMS seventh grade wins, eighth grade loses
