A 2012 football campaign in which Iola claimed a title in the team’s inaugural season as part of the Pioneer League will come to a conclusion, win or lose, Thursday evening in Garnett.
The Mustangs, while eliminated for postseason play on the heels of losses to Chanute and Fort Scott, still have plenty to play for, head coach Doug Kerr said.
“We have a lot of team goals within reach, and we have a number of players with personal goals they want to accomplish.”
Notably, a win Thursday at Anderson County High would complete an undefeated run through the Pioneer League.
“And a win would be important, because Anderson County was one of the schools picked ahead of us in the preseason poll,” Kerr said. “Going undefeated is big for us.”
To do so, the Mustangs must contend with an opponent known for shifting its offensive and defensive strategies.
The Mustangs have had the unique perspective of playing several opponents one or two weeks after those teams faced Anderson County. As a result, Iola already has seen the Bulldogs plenty of times in the film room before this week.
Anderson County will give the Mustangs plenty to brace for, Kerr said.
“They’ve run a spread option at times, and there were other occasions where they ran more of an option offense,” Kerr said.
Likewise, the Bulldogs have altered their defensive approach, depending on their opponents’ offensive game plans.
“They ran a 3-4 against Chanute, and a 6-3 defense against Fort Scott,” Kerr said. “I imagine we’ll be a little vanilla on offense until we see what kind of defense we’re dealing with.”
ANDERSON COUNTY’S success will hinge on the team’s ability to control the clock, Bulldog head coach Don Hilliard said.
“We’re gonna have to be able to run the ball,” Hilliard said. “That’s one of our keys every week. If you run the ball well, the opposing team doesn’t get possession.
Senior running back Weston Gilbreth will be a key performer for the Bulldogs, as will Zach Hilliard — the coach’s son — and Joey Read.
“Cale Hedges is among the players who has been banged up,” Hilliard said. “We hope to get him back.”
Likewise, Anderson County must be assignment-sound and avoid keying on one or two players when the Mustangs have the ball, Hilliard said.
“That’s one of the things you notice,” he said. “Iola has a lot of talented backs and receivers.”
Aside from assorted bumps and bruises, Iola is relatively injury-free.
That’s not the case for Anderson County.
Hilliard said the Bulldogs are down three starters, including some who play both offense and defense
THE SEASON finale, as is custom in Kansas high school football, comes on a Thursday, necessary to squeeze an extra round of playoffs into the postseason calendar.
Losing the day of practice requires coaches and players to focus more in the film room and on the practice field.
“We treat Monday as if it’s Tuesday, Tuesday as if it’s Wednesday” and so on, Kerr said. “We have to lean on the players to make up the gap when it comes to preparation.”
IOLA AND Anderson County have had similar seasons in some aspects. Both are newcomers to the Pioneer League. Both also had early season success before struggling against Chanute and Fort Scott once Kansas Class 4A, District 6 play began.
Both are 0-2 in district play. A win will bring more than pride, both coaches said.
“It’s big for us,” Kerr said. ‘We want to maintain the excitement we built up early in the season.”
“It’s important for us to play well,” Hilliard said. “Iola is good enough that you have to play well if you want to come away with a win.”
Mustangs eye perfect league mark in finale
