PITTSBURG — Iola Middle School’s seventh-grade football team earned a 34-14 victory over the Pittsburg Dragons on Tuesday afternoon before the eighth-grade squad lost its matchup, 48-8.
In the seventh-grade contest, Isaac Badders continued his stellar start to the season by adding five touchdowns and 235 rushing yards on just 15 attempts, which averages out to 15.7 yards per carry.
In addition to his five touchdowns, Badders also scored on Iola’s two successful two-point conversions, making him responsible for each one of the Ponies’ 34 points.
Iola set the tone early in the game by jumping out to a quick 22-0 lead. Pittsburg managed to get on the board with just 1:25 in the first half after a 65-yard kickoff return for a score. A two-point conversion cut the Dragons’ deficit down to 14.
Following Pittsburg’s 18-yard touchdown pass to begin the fourth quarter that made it an eight-point contest, Iola turned to Badders once again to secure the victory.
In a 2:08 window late in the fourth quarter, Badders found the end zone twice more to pad his stats and seal Iola’s win on the road.
Dylon Reiter was the Ponies only other player with double-digit rushing yards, racking up 46 on seven attempts.
Kole Rogers completed his only pass of the day to Christian Lindsey for a gain of 7 yards.
“It’s never easy going against Pittsburg but the boys did a good job and finished it off in the fourth quarter,” coach Marty Taylor said.
The eighth-graders could have used a player like Badders to spark the offense in their game, but they weren’t as lucky as the seventh-grade team.
Pittsburg shut out Iola 16-0 in the first quarter alone before adding 32 more points in the second quarter.
The Ponies’ only score of the contest came with 2:15 left in the first half when Cason Barker took a Cal Leonard pass 65 yards for the touchdown.
Leonard, who finished the game 4 of 11 passing for 99 yards and a score, then found Anthony O’Brien in the end zone for the successful two-point conversion.
Barker recorded four receptions for 94 yards while Dan Foust finished the day with one catch and 5 yards.
“Pittsburg is a very good team but we have to step up and be more physical,” Taylor said.
Iola travels to Coffeyville for its game today.
Iola faces difficult test in Pittsburg
