Pekin prepares for showdown with BGM

Pekin will play its biggest football game of the year tonight in Packwood.

BGM marches into Pekin with an 8-0 record and plenty of players returning from the team that made it to the state semifinals last season.

BGM?s quarterback and top two running backs are each seniors. Running back Jack Kline already has more than 1,000 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns. Pekin coach Joe Donovan knows his Panthers will be staring down their toughest task of the season.

?Our keys will be not to turn the ball over and not give up the big play,? Donovan said. ?Along with that, our offense must sustain drives. Field position will also be a key, and we can?t play on our end of the field like we did against Montezuma.?

Pekin will need to keep the ball in its hands to keep it away from BGM.

?They have maybe the best tandem of linebackers in the state,? Donovan said. ?So they are very good.?

Pekin (7-1) is already guaranteed a playoff spot, but a victory over BGM would give them home field advantage through the first three rounds of the playoffs. This would be a huge boost, considering in Class A last season, 13 of the 16 home teams in the first round won their playoff game. Home field advantage continued to be important in the following rounds.

District Look

Pekin vs. BGM is by far the biggest matchup that Class A District 6 will offer this week. The four playoff teams that will come out of this district are already decided, but the seeding is not. BGM and Pekin will battle for the one seed will Montezuma and Lynnville-Sully will battle for the three seed.

Team, Overall Record, District Record

BGM (Brooklyn) 8-0 6-0

Pekin 7-1 6-0

Montezuma 6-2 4-2

Lynnville-Sully 4-4 4-2

Pleasantville 3-5 2-4

North Mahaska 2-7 1-5

English Valleys 1-8 1-5

Southeast Warren 0-8 0-6

Class A District 6 Games (10/25)

BGM @ Pekin

North Mahaska @ Southeast Warren

Pleasantville @ English Valleys

Lynnville-Sully @ Montezuma