Pekin itching for rivalry renewal after big loss last year

Pekin:

2015 record: 7-3

Leading returners:

QB Trever Northup, RB Tyler Copeland

Key losses:

RB Chase Copeland,

WR Keaton Winn, RB/WR Brady Donovan,

WR Ryan Swanson

Sigourney-Keota:

2015 record: 6-4

Leading returners:

QB Luke Greiner

Key losses:

RB Peyton Crawford,

RB Nate Sieren

Weather forecast:

50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms beginning around 7 p.m. Projected gametime temperature of 71 degrees with 85 percent humidity (according to the Weather Channel).

There were two big games last season for Pekin that left a sour taste in the mouth of Panther fans, players and coaches. One of them was the 36-34 loss to Lynnville-Sully to end the team?s postseason run and the other more surprising one was a week 2 shellacking of the Panthers by Sigourney-Keota in the annual Backyard Brawl rivalry game.

Pekin may not see Lynnville-Sully this season again, but the Panthers will get a quick look at the Savage Cobras, opening the season Friday. Expect them to be intent on reversing that score and making a statement to begin the year under new head coach Brent Blakely.

The rushing offense was held in check as Pekin ran the ball 42 times for a combined yardage total of 142 yards. Chase Copeland punched in a nine-yard touchdown run and Tyler Copeland led the offense with 62 yards.

On the other side of the ball, the Panthers couldn?t stop senior back Peyton Crawford, who punched through the line for 218 yards on only 12 carries and two touchdowns, including a 79-yard sprint to the end zone. Nate Sieren added 154 yards rushing on 10 attempts and two touchdowns of his own. Thankfully for Pekin, Crawford and Sieren are gone and the Savage Cobras will look more to their spinback [quarterback] Luke Greiner to carry the offense.

Expect Trever Northup to have more of an impact in the game this time around. He was effective when called upon last year, completing four of his nine pass attempts for 66 yards and a touchdown. He did not throw an interception in the game. The signal caller also ran twice for 18 yards, something we?ll see him do more this season. Northup also generated the only Pekin defensive turnover with a 15-yard interception return.

Chase Eckley caught Northup?s touchdown from the tight end position and with another year of experience under the junior?s belt, he could be a factor in the passing game along with his brother Chandler.

Blakely is a fan of Pekin tradition, so expect that his first game as the Panthers? head coach will be more tuned to what fans expect, a win or at least a more competitive game than the last time these two teams met.