CHERRYVALE — Perhaps it was an optical illusion, sparked by host Cherryvale High’s new camouflaged jerseys. IOLA STRUCK first, on its second drive of the game, when McIntosh found tight end Jesse Zimmerman on a short pass. Zimmerman did the rest, zipping between a pair of Charger defensive backs for a 29-yard touchdown run with 5:27 left in the first quarter.
“It seemed like every time we ran up the middle, they had about 14 guys in the box,” Iola High head coach Doug Kerr joked.
With the host Chargers challenging every Iola rushing attempt, the Mustangs took to the air.
Senior quarterback Tyler McIntosh, in his first start ever as Iola’s signal caller, took full advantage of his speedy receiving corps, connecting on 10 of 16 passes for 232 yards, and three scores. The touchdowns were all Iola needed in a 21-7 victory to open the 2013 season.
It wasn’t easy, by any stretch.
Iola misfired on three other scoring opportunities, including twice coming up empty on first-and-goal situations in the second half.
However, the Mustangs’ stingy defense grew even tougher after intermission, holding Cherryvale to 19 yards of total offense in the second half.
“It was a tough football game,” Kerr said. “I paid the other team’s coaches the highest compliment I could think of. I told him I hope our players can play as physical this year as Cherryvale does. They’re big and strong, and really made it hard for us to run the ball.”
The Mustangs were pretty tough too, particularly with defensive linemen Eric Maxwell, Derrick Weir and Bryce Misenhelter there to handle the Chargers’ bruising running backs.
The Mustangs wound up with six tackles for loss, while Weir added a quarterback sack.
Cherryvale responded on its ensuing drive, aided by a personal foul on fourth down, and fueled by the Chargers’ running back Rico Cherico. Cherico rushed seven times on the drive, including a one-yard plunge at the end of the quarter to tie the score at 7-7.
Iola’s coaches noted most of the Chargers’ rushing yardage came on dives up the middle.
A few defensive adjustments kept Cherryvale from doing much of anything after that.
Meanwhile, McIntosh found Jacob Rhoads on a short swing pass on the left side. Rhoads broke one tackle and outraced the Charger defensive backs to the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown with 10:41 left in the half.
Cody Conner snuffed the ensuing Cherryvale drive with an interception, while Iola’s next drive soured at midfield.
The score remained at 14-7 when the Mustangs missed on a golden scoring chance late in the third quarter.
A 12-play drive came up empty, even after Iola had first-and-goal at the Charger 5. A fourth-down fade pass to Tyler Powelson was just out of reach, giving Cherryvale the ball.
Misenhelter promptly returned possession to Iola by ripping the ball out of a Charger runner’s grasp, then falling on the ball for the recovery.
Disaster struck again, however, when the Chargers forced a fumble on Iola’s next snap, giving Cherryvale possession once again.
“I thought about a field goal on the fourth down play,” Kerr said. “It would have given us a two possession lead, but the way our defense was playing, I thought I could afford to take chances.”
McIntosh and Conner sealed the win on a slant pass over the middle midway through the fourth quarter. Conner eluded the grasp of Cherryvale’s safety and raced into the end zone, putting the Mustangs on top by 14.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Tyler McIntosh in his first ever start (as quarterback), and our receivers made some huge plays,” Kerr said. “Cherryvale was of the mindset to force us to win the game through the air, and that’s what we did.”
John Whitworth paced the Mustang rushing attack with 12 yards on 23 carries. Trent Latta paced the Iola receivers, pulling in 67 yards on four receptions, including a crucial first-down conversion late in the game. Conner had 36 yards on two receptions.
Misenhelter led the defense with 10 tackles — seven solo — a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble. Maxwell had eight tackles, as did Weir. Conner pulled in an interception. Gus Hopkins also recovered a fumble to help Iola salt away the clock.
The Mustangs are at home next Friday to host Osawatomie in a Pioneer League matchup.
Iola 7-7-0-7—21
Cherryvale 7-0-0-0—7
Iola — Zimmerman 29 yd pass from McIntosh (Macias kick)
Cherryvale — Cherico 1 yd run (PAT good)
Iola — Rhoads 53 yd pass from McIntosh (Macias kick)
Iola — Conner 28 yd pass from McIntosh (Macias kick)
Iola Cherryvale
First Downs 13 4
Rushing 37-15230-65
Passing yds 232 29
Total Offense 384 94
Passing 10-16-0 1-5-1
Fumbles-Lost 3-3 2-2
Punts/Avg. 3/34 NA
Penalties 11-100 3-25
Individual leaders
Rushing: Whitworth 23-121, Rhoads 3-15, Kauth 2-9, McIntosh 7-6, Walden 2-1.
Passing: McIntosh, 10-16-0-232
Receiving: Latta 4-67, Rhoads 1-53, Conner 2-36, Zimmerman 1-29, Kauth 1-16.
Mustangs withstand Chargers
