Iola Middle School’s football teams were devastatingly efficient on offense, and just plain devastating on defense Thursday.
The eighth- and seventh-grade Mustang squads both pitched shutouts, with Iola’s seventh-graders rolling to a 34-0 win over visiting Prairie View, then being outdown by the IMS eighth-graders in a 39-0 win.
Iola’s Milo Franklin scored three touchdowns on four touches, scoring on runs of 13, 55 and 5 yards. Oh, and he kicked an extra point attempt as well.
Lest you think it was a one-man show, Iola also had a 5-yard scoring run from Axtin Christensen and a 9-yard jaunt from Jaxen Mueller.
“We came out aggressive on both sides of the ball, including special teams,” Mustang head coach Scott Ellis said. “We played very good team ball tonight. I am proud of the kids, their focus and hard work is paying off.”
Franklin rushed for 91 yards on four accessories, while Christensen had 28 yards on three totes. Cade Curry had a 25-yard rush and a 30-yard touchdown reception. Mueller rushed for nine yards and threw two completions for 25 yards.
Curry had an interception, while Caleb Jankovich-Setter recovered a fumble. Ty Thomas and Michael Hancock had six tackles apiece. Franklin, Kaiden Jones and Jankovich-Setter all had quarterback sacks.
YOU’LL forgive the Buffalo seventh-graders if they have visions of Iola’s Greyson Skahan in their nightmares for a while.
The IMS seventh-grader rushed for 222 and three touchdowns on 12 carries, and then turned both of his receptions from Colton Hill into two more scores.
Skahan scored on runs of 45, 50 and 68 yards. His touchdown receptions covered 64 and 24 yards.
He also made a couple of key tackles on defense, Ellis noted.
“Skahan saved us on a couple of deep run plays by Prairie View by never giving up,” Ellis.
Again, there were several other stalwarts. Matthew Holding rushed for 25 yards. Hill threw for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
Holding added a fumble recovery. Jaxson Berntsen and Daegan Rodriguez each had quarterback sacks.
Skahan and Bryce Roberts each had seven tackles to pace the defense. Ron Ballard added six stops.
