ALTAMONT — A late interception by Iola Middle School’s Isaac Vink set up a tie-breaking scoring drive for the Ponies. THE eighth-grade win was keyed by Iola’s rushing — 196 yards — and containing the Labette County passing game. THE seventh-grade offense was clicking from the outset.
Quarterback Evan Sigg blasted his way in on a two-yard touchdown with 3:55 remaining to break the 12-12 deadlock in Iola’s 18-12 victory over Labette County.
“It was a very good effort against a very good football team,” Pony head coach Marty Taylor said.
The victory capped a perfect day on the gridiron for IMS. Tayton Driskel’s 248 rushing yards led the IMS seventh-graders to a 28-12 victory.
Cale Barnhart led Iola with 78 yards, followed by Sigg’s 57 yards and two touchdowns, including a one-yard run late in the second quarter to give Iola a 12-6 lead.
Labette County scored first before Sigg connected with Isaac Vink on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 1:28 left in the first quarter to tie the game at 6-6.
Sigg was 3 of 10 passing for 53 yards. Ethan Holloway had two receptions for 25 yards. Vink’s sole catch was good for the touchdown.
Matt Komma rushed for 48 yards. Vink had two carries for 13 yards.
“Cale, Evan and Matt ran hard tonight,” Taylor said. “Every yard was tough. Our defensive backs, Vink, Barnhart, Dalton Ryherd, Ethan Tavarez, Reece Kimble and Bryce Andres did a great job of taking away the passing game from a very good quarterback.”
Kane Rogers connected with Matt Karr on a seven-yard scoring pass midway through the first quarter to get things started.
Driskel followed with touchdown runs of 60 and 48 yards as Iola led 22-12 at halftime.
Defenses controlled the tempo through much of the second half until Driskel broke through on a 32-yard touchdown run with 1:48 left in the game.
Driskel wound up with three touchdowns. Nic Zimmerman added 49 yards on eight carries. Rogers had three rushes for 20 yard, while completing 1 of 2 passes for seven yards, and his touchdown strike to Karr.
“These kids gave a very good effort tonight against a physical football team,” Taylor said.
“Tayton was fantastic,” he continued. “He kept his head up and made good cuts and ran hard all night. I thought Tim Komma did a nice job from his defensive end spot.”
The Pony teams will host Royster Middle School of Chanute Thursday.
Pony squads sweep Grizzlies
