WAITING GAME: Iola faces challenges leading up to opener

Week One games are always filled with intrigue and uncertainty, but Friday night’s rivalry match-up between Iola and Chanute offers more than most.
The Mustangs will be traveling to Chanute to try to get their first victory in 40 years over the Comets, but despite how lop-sided the rivalry has been in the last couple of decades, both programs find themselves coming off losing seasons and looking for a bounce-back year. While Iola just missed breaking .500 with a 4-5 season, Chanute struggled in coach Chris Shields’ first season at the helm and finished the season 3-6.
“You should see a big jump from year one to year two for our kids and I think we are miles ahead of where we were at this point last season,” Shields said. “We are much further along from an installation standpoint and from a personnel standpoint, I know our kids better and I know what they are capable of. I just love the way our kids have bought in… I feel like we are a much better team than we were a year ago, that is for sure.”
The Comets will have to make that jump with a new face under center. Three-year starter Kenton Richards has graduated and after a heated competition throughout the offseason, Shields has decided to hand the keys of the program over to freshman Ty Bowman.
“He has done a lot of good things this summer,” Shields said. “He works hard… I’ll be honest; I had no intention, going into the summer, that we would be starting a freshman at quarterback. It was not the plan at all. I knew Ty. We knew he was going to be a good quarterback and do some good things. We just weren’t planning on him doing it this soon, but you evaluate and you go with your gut, so that is my call.”
The casual observer of Friday night’s game may not notice that Bowman is a freshman because he certainly doesn’t look like one. The 6-4, 175 pound signal-caller will tower over most of his teammates and opponents on Friday.
Shields says what makes Bowman special and the reason he was comfortable with handling him the starting job is his maturity. He also likes his mobility for his size.
“He is a smart, tough kid,” Shields said. “He is a very good athlete for his size.”
Iola coach Doug Kerr says the game plan will be simple for the Mustangs. They are going to try to rattle Bowman early.
“As talented as he is, he is still a 14 year old and will be under the Friday night lights for the first time,” Kerr said. “For us to be successful, we will need to make him uncomfortable in the pocket. He is a good athlete, but if we are making him uncomfortable where he is having to throw really quick or hand-off, that makes them one-dimensional and that really goes in our favor. Coach Shields is a good coach though, so if he believes in this kid, he must be pretty good.” ”
The Comets will be able to counter the Mustang defense if they try to sell out too much to stop Bowman. Senior running back Matt DeVoe returns as the starter and was able to use his speed to his advantage last season, but he enters his final season in a Chanute uniform stronger than he has ever been.
“I expect a big jump from him in production,” Shields said. “He has really worked hard in the weight room during this entire offseason and he has really transformed his body. I’m excited about what he can do for us.”
In addition to DeVoe, Bowman will have a pair of experienced targets to throw to on the outside. Junior Matt Hernandez and sophomore Corbett Kimberlin return after starting last season at wide receiver.
“(Hernandez) is just a lot bigger and stronger than he was a year ago,” Shields said. “(Kimberlin) started as a freshman, so as a sophomore, I really expect him to make a big jump and continue to build on what he did last year.”
The offensive line also returns three big contributors from a season ago with Justice Catron (6-2, 280 pounds), Jacob Clines (6-4, 265 pounds) and Todd Fritch (6-3, 285 pounds) back as upperclassmen this season.
“Their O-line is ginormous,” Kerr said. “We have our work cut out for us.”
One thing that isn’t uncertain about Friday night will be the atmosphere in the stadium. Week One games always attract big crowds for the home team eager to see their team take the field for the first time, but many times the road team is playing far away from home early in the year. That is not the case for Iola this season and the coaches anticipate a big-game feel for Friday.
“Our guys are excited,” Shields said. “It is a great opportunity, we aren’t in the same league anymore, but there is still that communal rivalry between the two communities which is good and you love. Being able to get that rivalry back and making so we can play each other on Friday nights is great for both schools and communities.”
Shields is certainly ready for game-time.
“I don’t think words can describe it,” Shields said. “I couldn’t sleep on (Tuesday) night. I went to bed and its one o’clock, I can’t sleep and we aren’t even 48 hours away. I’m running through calls, situations and trying to play the game out in my mind so excited doesn’t even fully convey what we’re feeling.”
Kerr agrees that it should be a special night.
“It is a great first game for us.” Kerr said. “It should get our juices flowing with a big-time atmosphere right off the bat.”