Punishing runs are fun to watch. Long passes often result in quick points. A turnover can change the course of a game just like that.
All those plays occurred in Iola’s 25-7 Week 2 victory over Prairie View, but none of those defined the game as much as did a single tackle in the second quarter.
The Buffalo offense had just taken possession of the ball and trailed 12-7. Junior quarterback Allen Ewalt called his own number on a keeper and burst through the Iola defensive line.
The quarterback, who had been struggling the entire first half, saw 75 yards of green grass in front of him and no Mustangs to slow him down.
The Iola sideline moaned. They had seen this script before.
Last week in Chanute, the Mustang defense played a near perfect half of football only to have a quarterback keeper result in a long touchdown run and put the team behind going into the half.
Tayton Driskel made sure that wasn’t going to be the case.
The sophomore running back and safety, who carried the ball 37 times in last week’s loss to Chanute, ran as hard as he had for any on his carries against Prairie View.
I just was going as hard as I could, like I do on any play,” Driskel said. “Especially on those break-away type plays, I knew I had to get there.”
At the 10 yard line, Driskel finally caught his target and drug him to the ground.
“We can build from that, because he was fighting cramps and some stomach issues, but when it counted he tucked it in and went and got it,” Iola coach Doug Kerr said.
Without a passing game as a threat, the Mustangs buckled down and loaded up against the run.
“I knew my defense would have my back after that play,” Driskel said.
Buffalo tailback Trevor Hoover plunged into the Mustang herd for no gain on first down.
On second down, the Prairie View coaching staff tried their other running back. Trey Isenhower rammed his way for one yard.
On third down, the Buffalos tried their passing game. Ewalt executed his only completion of the half for a four yard gain.
