Sigourney-Keota football brings back a new veteran squad that looks to start things off quick this year.
On the offensive side of the ball, they bring back Luke Lyle for his senior season under center. Lyle threw for 386 yards, but had six interceptions to six touchdowns. The Savage Cobras do have all of their running game back from last year except for one senior. Colton Greiner returns with Lyle as the top rushers, with Greiner having 948 yards and nine touchdowns, while Lyle went for 609 yards and six touchdowns on the year. Four other players had rushing touchdowns that return, and all of them had over 100 yards of rushing.
At the receiver position, Greiner leads the way as well with nine catches for 129 yards and one touchdown, but the number two spot is open with the graduation of Jackson Davis.
Defensively SK brings their top seven tacklers back, led by Cole Streigle and his 83 tackles, and Payton Crawford, just a sophomore this year, and his 74 tackles. In the secondary Derek Berg had a team leading four interceptions last year, while three others had one.
On the special teams, Kevin Weber and Colby Kerkove both return as experienced kickers that made 70 percent or better on PATs. Maybe the biggest issue with the Savage Cobras this year is who will take over punting duties with the graduation of Kyle Ferree, but according to the stats it will be Crawford who punted once last year for 44 yards.
Head coach Jared Jensen said with all of the returning players, and the newcomers he could have full offense and defense that are strictly held to that side of the ball.
“I think just execution, playing for quarters, we feel like we have enough guys that we can use this year that we’re going to try and get as many guys going one way as possible which we think is going to benefit us the entire year,” Jensen said. “A lot of teams in 1A you play both sides of the ball and we feel like we have enough competition going on that we can kind of solidify that, and we can say ’make a choice, I know that you want to play both ways, but you’re going to benefit the team if you focus on this area.’”
Sigourney-Keota are away six of the 10 games on the schedule this year, starting with Central Lee, Donnellson on Friday, and then travel to Pekin on September 6. The Savage Cobras come home to face Wilton on September 13 and then travel to Wapello on September 20. They host Pella Christain on September 27, travel to West Branch October 4 and then host Eddyville-Blakesburg on October 11.
Sigourney-Keota finishes up the regular season by traveling to Cardinal on October 18, and after a busy travel schedule, end their season at home against Iowa City Regina on October 25.