Iola High’s Mustangs hit the re-set button this week.
Running the football is still a priority for the Mustangs. They had to find a replacement for starting fullback Stephen McDonald. They did in senior Devin Culler.
“Devin stepped in and has done a good job. We’re committed to the power running game and we’ve talked to our kids throughout the years that good teams handle adversity. We just didn’t think it would come on the fifth play of the first game this year,” said Mustang head coach Rick Horton.
Culler joins senior tailback Jerrik Sigg in the backfield along with junior quarterback Mason Coons. The Mustangs are headed to Parsons Friday to take on the Parsons High Vikings in Southeast Kansas League play.
McDonald injured his knee against Independence last Friday. It was learned Wednesday that the 6-3, 200-pound junior fullback/linebacker suffered tears to his medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The injury requires surgery.
Starting right tackle and defensive end freshman Trey Colborn suffered a concussion in last Friday’s game. Colborn will not play at Parsons. Iola sophomore John Whitworth, who was a starter last year, is still out with medical issues since the start of preseason practices. Junior receiver Zeph Larney suffered a leg injury in the Blue-Gold scrimmage.
“We just haven’t had any luck injurywise. The good news on the injury front is that Eric Heffern (a junior) was medically cleared to play this week. He did a good job playing cornerback in the junior varsity game Tuesday,” Horton said.
With the medical report done, Horton turned his attention to the Vikings. The Vikings are coming off a 20-12 win over Columbus under new head coach David Pitts.
“Parsons is running a different offense than last year. They have gone to a double-wing, moving Wes Krull from quarterback to running back. They want to run the football first,” Horton said.
Pitts has served as an assistant coach at Parsons High and coached at Parsons Middle School.
“We’re very proud of the kids. They played a full four quarters and stayed with it in coming from behind against Columbus,” Pitts said. “With the new style of offense, we took a while to settle into it and we adjusted to Columbus’ size.”
Pitts said moving Krull to tailback along with Tevin Johnson and Joel Collins sharing the running back duties fit the double-wing offense better. Craig Beachner was the back-up quarterback a year ago and has speed running the ball.
“Key for us is controlling the defensive and offensive line of scrimmage against Iola,” Pitts said. “We had good team tackling and pursuit to the football on defense last week and want to continue playing that way.”
The Mustangs used the short week to work on correcting “mental mistakes” Horton said. Monday the team went through open-field tackling drills.
“Defensively, we talked about recognizing what the offense is doing, making defensive shifts and being aggressive,” Horton said. “Offensively, we’ll use several different personnel packages but stick with the two-back formation. We have to sustain drives and that’s about putting a body on a body with blocks. Jerrik runs the ball hard and will get yards for us.”
Moving into the right tackle spot this week will be 6-4, 324-pound senior Kris Collins and senior Zach Crawford (5-9, 171) is slotted to play defensive end, replacing Colborn. Taking the inside linebacker position voided by McDonald’s injury will be sophomore Derrick Weir.
Probable Starters
Iola High Mustangs
Offense
QB —Mason Coons, 6-1, 176, Jr.
TB — Jerrik Sigg, 6-1, 172, Sr.
FB — Devin Culler, 6-1, 182, Sr.
WR — Clint Heffern, 5-10, 165, Sr.
TE — Corey Taylor, 6-3, 151, Sr.
LT — Eli Grover, 6-0, 225, Jr.
LG — Brad Bazo, 5-11, 241, Sr.
C — Zach Crawford, 5-9, 171, Sr.
RG — Blake Appling, 5-11, 192, Sr.
RT — Kris Collins, 6-4, 324, Sr.
WR — Jacob Rhoads, 5-8, 160, So.
PK — Isaias Macias, 5-7, 152, So
Defense
E — Zach Crawford, 5-9, 171, Sr.
L — Brad Bazo, 5-11, 241, Sr.
L — Eli Grover, 6-0, 225, Jr.
E — Devin Culler, 6-1, 182, Sr.
LB — Corey Taylor, 6-3, 151, Sr.
LB — Derrick Weir, 5-8, 161, So.
LB — Kaden Macha, 6-0, 168, Fr.
LB — Jacob Rhaods, 5-8, 160, So.
CB — Clint Heffern, 5-10, 165, Sr.
CB — Devon Conner, 6-0, 153, Sr.
FS — Jerrik Sigg, 6-1, 172, Sr.
P — Devon Conner.
Parsons High Vikings
Offense
QB — Craig Beachner, senior
RB — Wes Krull, senior
RB — Tevin Johnson, senior
FB — Joel Collins, senior
TE — Ivory Kelly, senior
T — Blake Smith, sophomore
G — Dustin Dishman, junior
C — Kevin Merz, senior
G — Matt Martinez, senior
T — Juan Valdez, senior
TE — Ansley Patrick, sophomore
PK — Wes Krull
Defense
DE — Steve Jones, senior
NG — Kevin Merz, senior
DE — Ivory Kelly, senior
LB — Thatcher Murdock, senior
LB — Joel Collins, senior
LB — Dustin Dishman, junior
LB — Matt Martinez, senior
LB — Dalton Murdock, senior
CB — Tevin Johnson, senior
S — Wes Krull, senior
CB — James Jackson, senior
P — Wes Krull
