A late defensive stand, coupled with a pair of key penalties against visiting Wellsville High’s junior varsity football team, led the way to victory for the Iola JV Monday.
Iola defeated the visiting Eagles 32-26, behind the one-two rushing attack of Brice Aiello and Keanen Badders.
Aiello rushed for 185 yards and Badders 130 as the Mustangs overcame a 20-18 deficit at halftime. Badders’ four-yard touchdown run with 8:41 left in the game provided the decisive score.
The teams traded touchdowns throughout the first half.
Badders scored on a 23-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead.
Then tied at 6-6, Aiello’s 17-yard touchdown jaunt pushed Iola back in front 12-6.
Wellsville scored again to go up 14-12 before Badders responded with a four-yard touchdown to lead 18-14.
Trailing 20-18 in the third period, Iola’s Shane Walden plowed in from two yards out to push the Mustangs back on top 24-20.
Wellsville retook the lead with a touchdown late in the third quarter.
The Eagles narrowly missed two other scores late in the game. A long interception return by Wellsville was called back because of an illegal block, as was a potential 78-yard touchdown run by the Eagles with less than five minutes left on the clock.
Iola held on downs with Wellsville at midfield in the game’s final minute to seal the win.
Walden added 23 yards on two receptions for the Mustang JV and 13 yards on four carries. Brett Taylor completed 3 of 9 passes for 36 yards and an interception. Aiello completed his only pass attempt, good for 12 yards, while catching another for eight yards. Jake Gumfory pulled in an 11-yard reception.
Aiello and Luke Hopkins led the defense with seven tackles apiece. Badders, Dodger Beckham and Ethan Sigg each had six tackles. Two of Sigg’s stops were for losses.
The junior varsity returns to action next Monday at home against Chanute.
Iola JV holds off Wellsville, 32-26
