Cobras, single wing now 7-0

CEDAR RAPIDS - Head football coaches might change at Sigourney-Keota, but offenses don't. Ask Jared Jensen.

When he took over the Cobras program in 2011, it was implied the old single-wing was staying, no matter what. After doing a little research, he was more than OK with that.

'I had no idea what it was,” said Jensen, a Creston native who had previously coached at Twin Cedars. 'When I interviewed, I talked to the coaches and understood kind of that this is what S-K is known for ... It's something that I could tell from the coaching staff and the kids that this is their identity. I kind of took a look at it, and I liked just kind of the deceptive factor of what it brings. I fell in love with it.”

Hall of fame coach Bob Howard won a state championship and a ton of games at Sigourney and the combined Sigourney-Keota program with the unique offense in which there is an unbalanced offensive line and every snap is taken from shotgun.

The quarterback literally spins on most snaps, whether he or a running back gets the snap.

'I was luckily the only guy having to learn when they got a new coach,” Jensen said, with a chuckle. 'They were still doing what they've always done.”

Very, very well this season. Sigourney-Keota is 7-0 after destroying Columbus Community, 59-6, Friday night. Friday against Columbus,

'The game went really well,” Jensen said. 'We played a really good first quarter scoring 26 points, followed by 21 in the second quarter. We had an early fumble recovery in the first quarter and a punt return for a TD in the second to go into halftime up 47-0. We got the opportunity to play and evaluate our reserve players the whole second half.”

The Cobras are averaging 51 points and haven't had a game closer than 20, that in the opener against Pekin.

They are second in the state in rushing yardage, their 3,012 total just 20 less than Saint Ansgar. They lead the state with an eye-popping per-carry average of 10.0.

'I think we all knew we could be pretty good, but we didn't know how good,” Jensen said. 'Up to this point, our guys have been playing great. Being 7-0 right now is something we'll never forget, but we've got to realize it's not over. Don't be satisfied. I think we are a veteran enough group to where the satisfaction is not there until it's all said and done for a state championship.”

Senior J.D. Stout leads S-K's prolific ground attack with 1,214 yards and 19 touchdowns. He's the spinner back.

Junior Sam Sieren has 945 rushing yards and 11 scores. Sigourney-Keota's defense has forced 23 turnovers, including seven interceptions by junior Brady Duwa.

As Jensen mentioned, the Cobras knew they'd be good because a ton of guys returned from last season's 5-4 team. The final two regular-season games are against Wapello (4-3) and Mediapolis (6-1).

'Throughout the summer, we saw the motivation and commitment during weights and field work,” Jensen said. 'We went to Camp Dodge for three days as a team and tried to really bond there. You could just see while we were there that we had something special with this group. They have taken that and probably become one of the closest teams I've had since I've been here. That just shows every night when we step out onto the field.”