Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Isabella High School punctuated its 2023 regular season with a 42-24 win over Keith High School on Nov. 3. The Mustangs powered down the stretch of the season to earn an 8-2 final record.

Isabella posted 447 total yards, and quarterback Eli Kendrick accounted for 288 of them and four touchdowns — two through the air and two on the ground.

“I was very pleased (with the way we played), and Keith is a very good football team,” Isabella head coach Tate Leonard said. “It was a very good test going into the playoffs with them being very athletic, big, physical and well coached so it was really good for us.”

Dre’Von Lee got the scoring started for the Mustangs taking it in from 11 yards out, and Kendrick found Dawson Edwards for an 18-yard pass in the first quarter to put 14 points on the board for Isabella.

The Mustangs began the second half with an onside kick recovery, and turned that into points quickly as Kendrick got in from two yards out. Kendrick dominated the rest of the third quarter as well with an 18-yard touchdown run and finding Tyler Mims for a 32-yard touchdown connection to give the Mustangs breathing room down the stretch.

Jediah Works’ nine-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the finishing touches on the Mustangs regular season. Works had 73 yards on 13 carries.

Isabella travels to St. Luke’s Episcopal School for its AHSAA Class 2A state playoffs first-round matchup on Nov. 9.

“All that matters now is a new season, and it does not matter who you might get later down the road,” Leonard said. “All that matters is St. Luke’s, and that is our state championship this week. That is how we get our mind right (for it).”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.