INDEPENDENCE — No one saw this one coming.
Iola High’s Mustangs posted 51 points on the scoreboard in their 2010 season opener. And they lost.
Independence High’s Bulldogs got the upper hand early. The score belonged to the hosting Bulldogs but the game was a shared endeavor.
It is was one for the record books.
The Bulldogs claimed a 61-51 win in Southeast Kansas League play. The teams set a new SEK record for most combined points in a game. The 112 points eclipsed last year’s 104 — Coffeyville 63, Parsons 41.
Also Iola’s 51 points set two SEK records. It is the most points scored in defeat — 42 by Independence against Coffeyville in 2007.
And 51 points is the most points allowed in victory. The old mark was 46 scored by Burlington against Chanute in 1994.
“We got into a shootout which I know none of us thought it would be a game like this,” said Rick Horton, Mustang head coach.
“The biggest thing we take away from this one is that our kids never quit. All losses stink but our guys kept fighting even when were down by 29 points in the second half.”
How did the teams score that many points?
Iola’s came from two special teams plays and an aerial attack. Senior quarterback Charles Apt completed 22 of 42 pass attempts for 319 yards.
Apt threw four touchdown passes — two came in the final 40 seconds of the the game. Apt led the Mustangs in rushing, 70 yards on 15 carries.
Down 14-0, Apt scored the first Iola touchdown courtesy of a blocked punt by freshman Jacob Rhoads. Apt returned the football eight yards to make it 14-7 with 1:23 left in the first quarter.
But as the game went all night. One play after the ensuing kickoff, the Bulldogs got the touchdown back. Andre Ysusi had already scored on a 45-yard interception return. The Bulldog fullback went right up the middle for 65 yards and the score.
That’s how the Bulldogs scored points — a bruising ground attack led by SEK leading rusher Matt Bromley. Bromley broke tackles and amassed 205 yards on 21 carries.
Bromley, who set a league record with 29 touchdowns in 2009, is on his way for another big season. He had four touchdown runs of 37, 12, 1 and 16 yards. The one-yard score came after he returned a kickoff 65 yards then caught a 19-yard pass.
Independence finished with 390 rushing yards. Ysusi had 131 yards on six carries. He had two touchdown runs in the first half.
“Those two running backs run hard and can make you miss. It didn’t help that we didn’t tackle well tonight,” Horton said.
Iola fell behind 32-7 by the 9:37 mark of the second quarter. T.J. Reed had just scooped up a fumbled kickoff return by Iola’s Dylan Allen and scored.
The Mustangs regrouped a little and matched the Bulldogs touchdown for touchdown the rest of the first half.
A middle screen pass play from Apt to senior tailback Marcus Sullivan went for 61 yards. That set up a 22-yard touchdown strike from Apt to junior wide receiver Jerrik Sigg.
Ysusi broke off a 40-yard scoring run for the Bulldogs. Iola answered with a 79-yard drive to paydirt.
On fourth down and two, Apt hit Allen over the middle. Allen raced to the end zone. Apt tacked on the two-point conversion.
Unfortunately, the Mustangs allowed Bromley loose on the kickoff return setting up his third touchdown of the first half.
It was 45-21 at halftime.
“Our guys could have folded at any time but they didn’t,” Horton said. “Do I like that we gave up 61 points? No, and we’re going to learn a lot from this game.”
Horton said the coaches played a bunch of different people in the second half. They are searching for the best 11 players to put on the field on Friday nights. He said there were kids who stepped up that got a chance in the second half.
The scoring spree continued in the second half. It was 52-21 and on the ensuing kickoff, Sigg raced 78 yards for the Iola touchdown.
Iola held Independence to a field goal with 7:47 left in the game.
The Mustangs drove 60 yards in nine plays capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Sullivan. Iola’s next score was set up when Ysusi fumbled the ball and sophomore linebacker Stephen McDonald recovered the fumble at the Iola 37.
Apt found junior tight end Corey Taylor for 17 years then for 13 yards.With 37.5 seconds on the game clock, junior receiver Clint Heffern hauled in an eight-yard scoring pass. Sigg caught the two-point conversion pass.
Iola executed another onsides kick and was successful. Apt recovered the football.
Clint Heffern caught a 42-yard pass from Apt then three plays later, Allen had his second touchdown reception of the game. Apt ran in the two points and it was 10-point game with 10 seconds left.
“We’ll study film and look to correct things before next week’s game,” Horton said.
Defensively, senior linebackers Kyle Heffern, Drew Shepherd and Apt led the way. K. Heffern had four unassisted tackles and three assisted while Shepherd had three solo stops and six assisted. Apt had two solo stops and four assisted.
Rhoads had three unassisted tackles, one assist , a forced fumble and a blocked punt. Sullivan had an interception. McDonald and Apt each had a fumble recovery.
Iola is 0-1 overall and in SEK play. The Mustangs host Parsons (0-1, 0-1) next Friday at Riverside Park.
Iola 7-14-8-22—51
Indy 20-25-13-3 — 61
Indy — Bromley 37 yd run (Webster kick)
Indy — Ysusi 45 yd interception return (Webster kick)
Iola — Apt 8 yd blocked punt return (Allen kick)
Indy — Ysusi 65 yd run (kick failed)
Indy — Bromley 12 yd run (kick blocked)
Indy — Reed 30 yd fumbled kickoff return (kick blocked)
Iola — Sigg 22 yd pass from Apt (kicked blocked)
Indy — Ysusi 40 yd run (Webster kick)
Iola — Allen 29 yd pass from Apt (Apt run)
Indy — Bromley 1 yd run (run failed)
Indy — Pey. Botts 18 yd run (Webster kick)
Iola — Sigg 78 yd kickoff return (Apt run)
Indy — Bromley 16 yd run (kick failed)
Indy — Webster 26 yd field goal
Iola — Sullivan 2 yd run (pass failed)
Iola — C. Heffern 8 yd pass from Apt (Sigg pass from Apt)
Iola — Allen 14 yd pass from Apt (Apt run)
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Iola-Sullivan 17-(-1), Apt 15-70, Sigg 5-11. Independence-Bromley 21-205, Pey. Botts 4-41, Ysusi 6-131, Oliver 1-3, Hayes 3-5.
Passing: Iola-Apt 22-42-316-2. Independence-Pey. Botts 6-11-89-1.
Receiving: Iola-Sigg 7-75, C. Heffer 2-50, Sullivan 5-96, Taylor 3-43, Allen 5-52. Independence-Julian 3-30, King 2-41, Bromley 1-18.
Punting: Iola-K. Heffern 3-80 (26 yd avg.). Independence-Rayl 1-0 (blocked).
