“It’s hard to see the improvements in your team when you are not winning.”
No, Iola High head coach Rick Horton did not say that but he could have. It applies.
Labette County High’s first-year head coach Shane Holtzman said it. Holtzman, a former LCHS player in the late 1980s and an assistant coach for nine years for the Grizzlies, have the Grizzlies geared up to host Iola High’s Mustangs Friday.
After winning it’s season opener against Fort scott, Labette County has lost four straight games. Iola is winless in five weeks of football play.
“We have got to come out of the locker room better than we have so far this season. We need to make something happen quick and establish doubt in Labette County’s minds,” Horton said.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday at the LCHS football field. It’s a Southeast Kansas League contest.
The Grizzlies are led offensively by senior quarterback Keaton Turner and junior running back Hunter Seibert. Both started last year but the Grizzlies are operating out of a new offense — the spread pistol.
“We have plenty of speed and we’re pretty balanced in running and passing,” Holtzman said. “We want to establish the running game.”
The Grizzlies come at opponents with a 4-3 defense. Clogging up the middle of the line of scrimmage are defensive linemen Darryl Kinney (5-11, 290) and Spencer Gatewood (6-1, 256).
“Our struggles come from not really being comfortable in our system yet. We’ve focused on basics the past couple of weeks. If you’re unsure of what to do, you hesitate and that will hurt you as a team,” Holtzman said.
Horton said Labette County moves the football pretty well in the new spread offense. He said the Mustangs have to do a better job of stopping plays at the line of scrimmage.
“We’ve got guys who instead of break down at the line to make a tackle are running up field too far. They are over running the play and we’re giving up big plays,” Horton said.
The Mustangs are looking for more players to step up and help with the offensive load this week. He said tight end Corey Taylor and wide receiver Clint Heffern are expected to made the six to 12-yard pass receptions to help move the ball.
“We have to spread the ball out more offensively and then we move the ball,” Horton said. “Our offensive line is getting better but we need to play with our heads up along the line and make the blocks.”
Iola has been hit with injuries. Senior offensive lineman/defensive linebacker Drew Shepherd suffered a concussion, his second in three weeks, in a car accident Monday.
“Drew is out for the season. And we have two out with broken bones and Devon Burton isn’t starting at defensive end because of disciplinary action,” Horton said.
Blake Appling is the starting left guard but Horton said Zach Crawford and Stephen McDonald are slated to rotate in along the offensive line.
“We’re working to have the best five guys we can along the line.”
John Whitworth is expected to give Marcus Sullivan a breather at running back. Zack Vaughn is slotted to start at defensive end.
Mustangs, Grizzlies looking for victory
