A version of Murphy’s Law was in effect for Iola High’s Mustangs Friday.
“Whatever we could do wrong, we did,” Mustang head coach Doug Kerr said.
On hand to take full advantage were the visiting Central Heights High Vikings, who churned up yards like butter, snared four Iola turnovers and otherwise made a mess of the Mustangs’ homecoming festivities.
Iola’s 28-7 loss — the school’s first ever in its brief tenure in Pioneer League play — also puts a monkey wrench in the team’s league title hopes in 2013.
Iola falls to 2-1 in league play (3-2) overall, and is set to host Wellsville next week. Wellsville is undefeated in league play and 3-1 overall. The Eagles are at Anderson County tonight. Central Heights improved to 2-1 in Pioneer League.
“We’ve still got a shot, but we have lots of work to do,” Kerr said.
After spotting the Mustangs an early 7-0 lead, courtesy of a Tyler McIntosh touchdown pass to Homecoming King Adam Kauth, the Vikings responded with a methodical, 13-play drive to tie the score on a 2-yard plunge by fullback Tristan Davis.
The momentum shifted on Iola’s next drive.
The Mustangs recovered an onside kick at midfield and promptly marched deep into Viking territory before the drive stalled. McIntosh’s fourth-down pass to Jesse Zimmerman fell incomplete, giving the Vikings possession at their own 6.
Central Heights converted three third-down conversions on their subsequent possession, ending the 12-play, 94-yard drive with a 6-yard keeper by quarterback Jordan Horstick.
The Vikings recovered their follow-up onside kick — they never did kick deep, a strategy Iola was well aware of — and threatened to extend the lead before Jacob Rhoads picked off a fourth-down pass attempt and returned it 40 yards to the Viking 46.
But Iola’s drive ended three plays later on a fumbled snap.
The teams traded punts after halftime, before the Vikings’ tailback Jacob Pryor busted around the right side for a 66-yard touchdown to push the lead to 21-7 midway through the third quarter.
Iola never recovered. Their last four drives ended with a failed fourth-down attempt and three interceptions.
The second interception was returned by Horstick to the Mustang 5. Pryor scored on the next play for the final tally.
“My hat’s off to them; they outplayed us,” Kerr said. “We started the game the way we wanted to, and they started the way they wanted to. We just stopped answering the bell.
“I told the guys before the game that this was a good team they were facing, and as defending league champions, we’re going to get everybody’s best shot,” he continued.
The Mustangs were without the services of starting inside linebacker Keenan Badders and defensive lineman Eric Maxwell due to injury.
“It hurt us not having those guys in there, but that’s not an excuse,” Kerr said. “They were able to execute.”
John Whitworth led the Mustangs with 53 yards on nine carries, while McIntosh and Trent Latta rushed for 17 and 12, respectively. McIntosh was 4 of 11 passing for 58 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Each of the completions went to different receivers. Tyler Powelson caught one for 23 yards; Latta’s catch went for 22.
Kaden Macha paced the defensive with 19 tackles, seven unassisted. Bryce Misenhelter had 10 tackles, six solo, with a sack. Shane Walden had 11 tackles, Zimmerman had 10.
Pryor spearheaded a Viking rushing attack that racked up 268 yards on 59 carries — a key component of Central Heights’ decided time-of-possession advantage.
Horstick completed 6 of 7 passes for 63 yards with an interception.
Kauth was crowned homecoming king during pregame ceremonies. Classmate Shannon Vogel was named homecoming queen.
Kerr was disappointed Iola didn’t give the hometown crowd a better show: “As a head coach, I guess I just haven’t figured out how to get our guys excited to play for homecoming.”
Central Heights 7-7-7-7—28
Iola 7-0-0-0—7
Iola — Kauth 11 yd pass from McIntosh (Macias kick)
CH — Davis 2 yd run (Horstick kick)
CH — Horstick 6 yd run (Horstick kick)
CH — Pryor 66 yd run (Horstick kick)
CH — Pryor 5 yd run (Horstick kick)
CH Iola
First Downs 13 7
Rushes-yds 59-268 23-100
Passing yds 63 58
Total offense 331 158
Passing 6-7-1 4-11-3
Fumbles 1-0 1-1
Punts/avg. 2/39 1/37
Penalties-yds 4-25 3-15
Rushing
Iola — Whitworth, 9-53; McIntosh, 5-17; Latta, 1-12; Macha, 1-9; Walden, 2-6; Rhoads, 1-3. Central Heights — Pryor, 25-163; Robertson, 10-57; Davis, 20-52; Horstick, 4-(minus-4).
Passing
Iola — McIntosh, 4-11-58 yards, 1 TD, 3 interceptions. Central Heights — Horstic, 6-7-63 yards, 1 interception.
Receiving
Iola — Powelson, 1-23; Latta, 1-22; Kauth, 1-11; Rhoads, 1-2. Central Heights — Holler, 3-33; Erhart, 2-22; Davis, 1-8.
Vikings plunder homecoming fun
