Yellow Jackets thump Iota

IOWA – The Iota Bulldogs knew two things coming into Friday night for certain: victories are hard to come by in 4-3A and the struggling Iowa Yellow Jackets would provide a stiff challenge.
Both proved true and Iota would once again see a big defeat in Iowa. The Bulldogs (0-6, 0-1) would fall to the Yellow Jackets (3-3, 1-0) 44-6.
“It’s not so much what they were doing, it’s what we’re not doing; the same ole story,” said Neal Legé, Bulldogs coach.
On the flip side of the coin are the Yellow Jackets, who after starting the season 2-0 had lost three straight games. So, understandably, the win, while a bit sloppier than the final score would dictate, left Iowa coach Sean Richard with a smile at Jesse E. Cady Memorial Stadium.
“It’s important to get off to a good, fast start and we did,” said Richard. “Our guys showed up to play tonight and we finished it off early.
“I’m excited for our seniors to win their homecoming; I’m excited for our coaches and our football program to start 1-0 in district. They don’t come easy (in this district).”
Exasperating the issue for Iota is the fact that quarterback Tim Lunson left the game midway through the third quarter with an ankle injury which could be broken. Earlier in the game, backup quarterback Bliss Deshazo took a hit and exited, leaving strong safety Austen Montgomery to fill in the rest of the night.
“We’re like a MASH unit,” said Legé. “We have no quarterbacks left.
“We have so many young guys out there. A lot of issues right now.”
After not being able to do anything with the opening kickoff possession, the Bulldogs punted the ball to the Yellow Jackets. The drive would begin at the Iowa 7 yard line and the up tempo style of Iowa did little to aid the struggling Bulldogs. Despite the quick play, it would still take Iowa 13 plays and over 3 minutes to score. The drive culminated with senior quarterback Koby Buquet hooking up with junior Hunter Roussell from 5 yards out. 
After the first score, it seemingly didn’t matter for where Iowa began its possessions, chalking up a score every drive it held the ball in the first half, except the final one when Buquet threw an interception with under a minute left deep in Iota territory.
Before that interception, the Yellow Jackets would net 8 points per possession in quicker time and quicker drives with Buquet adding a 47 yard touchdown pass to his stats and Colinje Wilridge and D Juan Rigmaiden each recording rushing touchdowns.
It only took 11 seconds in the second half for that gap to widen as well. It was with 11:49 remaining in the third that Iowa’s Andre Sam took the kickoff all the way to the house from 83 yards out.
In the fourth quarter, a lengthy drive gave Iota the chance to cross the goal line for the first time in over 13 quarters. It was Kaleb Guillory this time, scoring from a yard out. The systematic drive that began late in the third quarter took 22 plays and 9 minutes and 53 seconds. It was also a chance for the never-quit attitude of Iota to shine, particularly in its younger players.
“We put all our younger guys in and they may not have much to fight with, but they’re fighting,” said Legé. “That’s what we like. That’s always a good thing.”
Iowa would add a score in the latter part of the fourth quarter with Johnavon London scoring from 52 yards out.
The Yellow Jackets top ball carrier for the night was Wilridge who netted 79 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, averaging over 7 yards per carry. He was closely followed by Buquet (four carries, 53 yards), London (a 52-yard carry) and Joseph Figueroa (seven carries for 38 yards).
In the run game, Iota’s young running back tandem of Alex Frey and Kaleb Guillory went 14-61 and 21-40 with a touchdown, respectively.
Iowa rarely needed its air assault Friday night, but turned to Buquet to go 9-13 on the night with 163 yards, two touchdowns and an interception (picked off by Kade Covalt). Lunson would go 5-7 for 38 yards, meanwhile.
Leading receivers for the Yellow Jackets included Sam (two catches for 59 yards), Marka’il Nixon (a 47-yard touchdown catch), Figueroa (32 yards on three grabs) and Roussell (three catches for 25 yards and a touchdown).
It will be another short week for the Bulldogs as it will travel home to play the Westlake Rams (1-5, 0-1) on Thursday due to the 78th International Rice Festival. The Rams are coming off a fourth straight loss after falling to South Beauregard 34-14.