A balanced offense and a stingy defense added up to a playoff win for the Iola-Scandinavia football team.
The Thunderbirds opened the WIAA playoffs Oct. 25 by handing Crandon a 49-12 loss in a Division 6 contest in Scandinavia.
I-S will now take on Algoma at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at Southern Door High School in Brussels.
The T-Birds took a 21-0 lead into the second quarter after John Prahl’s 21-yard run, a 3-yard TD run from Jake Hansen and Kristian Welch’s 9-yarder. I-S added to its lead in the second quarter on Nick Wavruk’s 30-yard pass to Isaac Lashua and Hansen’s 5-yard run.
Both teams found the end zone twice in the third quarter. Wavruk and Lashua connected on a 27-yard pass play and Tanner Krusa scored from 13 yards out.
Crandon’s touchdowns came on 16- and 7-yard runs from Kory Kincaid and Grant Murray, respectively.
The T-Birds outgained the Cardinals 268-98 on the ground and 174-67 through the air. Welch led I-S rushers with 88 yards, while Hansen chipped in with 55.
Wavruk completed six of eight passes for 143 yards, with Prahl and Lashua combining for five catches for 100 yards.