Cobras on the cusp of trip to Cedar Falls

What a ride it’s been for Sigourney-Keota football this season.

It didn’t start out so hot, with two straight losses to begin the season.

Since then, the Cobras have been one of the hottest teams in the state, winning eight straight games and putting themselves in position to make a trip back to the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.

Just one team stands in the way of that goal and that’s No. 1 Van Meter.

Last season, the Corbas made it to the quarterfinals as well, but were topped by Dike-New Hartford. They will look to flip the narrative this time around.

Sigourney-Keota will have to make the long trek to Van Meter on Friday. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m.

The Cobras haven’t been fazed this season.

In the first two games of the season, the Cobras were handled by Durant, 38-14 and Mid-Prairie, 23-20.

They haven’t been defeated since and it wasn’t an easy road.

Following the pair of losses, the Cobras took on then No. 10 Centerville and they had no problem, taking the game 42-7.

They followed that victory with wins over Pleasantville, 35-13 and then No. 1 Pella Christian in a tight battle, 15-13.

Over the course of the next four games, the Cobras never won a game by less than 30.

Heading into the Class 1A quarterfinal matchup, Sigourney-Keota is coming off an overtime thriller against Mediapolis, 20-14.

Sawyer Stout leads the Cobras passing attack with 613 yards and nine touchdowns. Stout also had 377 yards and one score on the ground.

Sigourney-Keota has been stellar on the ground.

Cole Clarahan has tallied 1,139 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. He’s averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Issac Bruns follows with 497 yards and four scores.

Reid Molyneux and Cole Kindred both have over 240 yards rushing as well and have a combined 10 touchdowns.

As a team, the Cobras have 2,744 yards rushing and 39 touchdowns.

On the receiving end, Aidan Anderson leads with six catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Clay Morse had 186 yards on nine receptions and three scores. Kindred leads in catches with 10 for 171 yards and four touchdowns.

Defensively, Jack Clarahan lead with 61 total tackles. Molyneux follows with 48.5.

As for Van Meter, the Bulldogs have just one blemish on the season.

That loss came in the second game of the season to No. 2 (Class 2A) Williamsburg, 18-13.

Not including that one loss, Van Meter has given up just 33 points all season long.

Van Meter comes into the quarterfinal bout off a 42-0 victory over Woodward-Granger.

The Bulldogs are led by Ben Gilliland under center. He has thrown for 1,009 yards and 19 touchdowns.

On the ground, Ben Gordon leads with 1,303 yards and 22 touchdowns. Gilliland follows with 655 yards and has found the end zone nine times.

Will Gordon paces the Bulldogs in receiving. Gordon has 313 yards and four touchdowns on 16 receptions. Aydn Netten has 179 yards and one touchdown. Carter Durflinger has 152 yards and seven touchdowns.

On defense, Michael Banks had 42 total tackles. Porter Doggett follows with 41.5.