It may be a long shot, but the Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds still have a chance to make the state football playoffs.
The T-Birds dropped to 3-3 in Central Wisconsin 8 Conference play and 4-4 overall with a 43-7 loss to Amherst Friday, Oct. 7. I-S will make the playoffs it in wins its final regular-season game Friday, Oct. 14, at Thunderbird Field in Scandinavia, but have to face unbeaten Shiocton.
Amherst outgained the T-Birds 256-84 on the ground and 210-115 through the air.
The Falcons scored at least one touchdown in each quarter. Jordan McKellips opened the scoring with a 4-yard run in the first quarter. Amherst added a safety in the second quarter as well as a 45-yard run from Chris Zblewski and a 6-yard run from McKellips to take a 23-0 halftime lead.
Zblewski connected with Jon Konkol for a 79-yard TD pass in the third quarter before the T-Birds got on the scoreboard with Spencer Erickson’s 35-yard pass to Nick Wavruk.
The Falcons added to their lead with a pair of fourth-quarter scores. McKellips found the end zone for the third time with another 6-yard run and Willie Doll capped the scoring from a yard out.
McKellips and Zblewski led the Falcons with 120 and 105 rushing yards, respectively, while Brady Huettner led I-S with 65.
Seventy of the T-Birds’ 115 passing yards came on 35-yard receptions from Hardel and Wavruk.