The #6 Indianola football squad outlasted #3 undefeated Bondurant-Farrar at Indianola Stadium in a defensive struggle 15-7 Friday night in a game heard live on 94.3 KNIA. The Indians got on the board first after sending a blocked punt out the back of the endzone for a safety to lead 2-0, then added another three on a 28-yard field goal from Steph Stark, before the Bluejays scored late in the second to take a 7-5 lead at halftime.

After the Indians recovered the second half kickoff after the Bluejays did not field it cleanly, Stark kicked another 25-yard field goal to put the Indians up 8-7. That score would hold for the majority of the second half, as the defenses traded blows, until Indianola converted on a 3rd and 20 deep inside their own territory on a 27-yard connection from Bennett Brueck to Carter Erickson, that eventually led to a Kael Kolarik 3-yard touchdown run to lead 15-7.

The Bluejays attempted a final drive down the field to tie the score, but the Indians defense made another stop to seal the win. Head coach Eric Kluver tells KNIA Sports the team has stepped up in close games when they’ve needed to this season.

“That was a major topic of discussion in the offseason. We’ve gotta learn how to finish football games, and we’ve got the guys in the room to be able to do it. It comes with maturity and game experience. We’ve got an excellent group of guys in the locker room that have bought in and played really hard, and I think we are seeing the results of that now.”

Kolarik ended the game with 18 carries for 88 yards and a score, while Colton Gordon had five catches for 80 yards. The Indians are now 7-1 on the season, and face off with Boone to wrap up the regular season next Friday.