Bulldogs return to the playoffs
Examiner photo by Matthew Ybarra Austin Calvillo drives a Bremond ball-carrier to the ground during Nov. 3, action at Bulldog Stadium. Also pictured is senior Cadence Shive (81). Bremond won 48-0.
IOLA – After a tight first half, the Bremond Tigers pounced to a 48-0 victory over the Iola Bulldogs to close out District 13-2A play Nov. 3, at Bulldog Stadium.
Iola punched their ticket into the playoffs a couple weeks ago for their first playoff appearance since 2020. The Bulldog’s journey that year was cut short in the Bi-District round with a 51-44 loss to Eldorado.
The playoff run this year begins Thursday, Nov. 9, at Tiger Stadium in Smithville. Iola (6-4, 2-3) plays the Falls City Beavers (73, 6-0) in the Bi-District Round. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Falls City placed first in District 14-2A Division 2 while the Bulldogs finished fourth in District 13-2A Division 2.
“We are very excited as coaches to see our kids make playoffs for the first time in three years,” said Iola Head Coach Rex Sharp. “I am most proud for our seniors to get the experience.”
When asked about the matchup, Coach Sharp said, “Playoffs are all about matchups in personnel. We match up well with Falls City. Our tough district, with three state-ranked teams has prepared us to compete.”
The Bulldogs are hopeful for a win over the Beavers, which would notch their first playoff win since 2017, when Iola advanced to the Regional Quarterfinals.
On senior night in Iola, the Tigers and Bulldogs battled in a scoreless first quarter with both teams exchanging punts in the first few series. The game wasn’t scoreless for long as Tank Scott escaped on the first play of the second quarter for a 37-yard rushing touchdown. Kobe Zan added the extra point.
With 7:10 remaining before halftime, Bremond struck again, this time on a 6-yard pass to Scott. The Tigers carried a 13-0 lead into halftime.
It was all Bremond in the second half. Scott ran in from a yard out for his third touchdown to begin the third. A reverse pass on the conversion gave Bremond a 21-0 lead.
The Tigers used a power run game to score a trio of touchdowns on runs of 16, 21 and 24 yards finalizing the score 48-0.
Bremond (7-3, 4-1) finishes second in District 13-2A. They will battle Yorktown (4-5, 3-3) in the Bi-District round of the playoffs.