Iola High’s football team has struggled out of the gate, but hopes to get its first win tonight at 7:30 p.m. against Osawatomie.
The Trojans are 1-2 on the season, with their win coming in week two against Labette County 43-32. In week one, the Trojans lost to Frontenac 45-6 and lost last Friday to Wellsville 46-15.
With the week between games cut short by one day, coach Doug Kerr said that isn’t an advantage or disadvantage because each team has to deal with it.
“We’re both coming off tough losses, so both teams are going to want to put up their best effort,” Kerr said. “Both teams are a little banged up. It’s going to come down to who wants to get their season turned in the right direction.
“I think it’s going to be a pretty competitive game, we’ve handled them the last two years soundly.”
The Trojans’ big offensive weapon is running back Riley England, who ran for 2,000 yards last season. Kerr said that Osawatomie threw the ball a lot more last week, because England appeared to be banged up.
“They went to the air. So, we’ve reconfigured our defense to combat that,” Kerr said. “But, when you have a special running back, we’re going to have to minimize his excitement and yards. Once he gets into the open field, he’s a pretty special back. To have 2,000 yards as a sophomore is great.”
The Mustangs’ Shane Walden has been out the past two weeks with a leg injury, but was in pads this week practicing. He will be a gametime decision.
The game is being played one night early, so as not to interfere with a sold-out performance Friday night by the Kansas City Symphony as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
Mustangs host Trojans tonight
