Football look-ahead: Columbus

COLUMBUS JUNCTION — The Columbus football team made some strides in 2021. The Wildcats won three games on the year, an improvement from the previous season, and flirted with a winning record.

Columbus had a couple of nail-biter losses down the stretch, falling to North Mahaska 12-10 and Alburnett 13-9 in October. If those two games had went the other way, the Wildcats would have enjoyed a 5-3 mark.

Even with just three wins, however, the Wildcats had a season to build on in 2021. With few seniors on the roster, Columbus can bring back the vast majority of its offense, so the Wildcats could be in good position to challenge for a playoff spot this season.

Kaden Amigon was one of the best players in the Union coverage area last season. As a sophomore, Amigon rushed the ball 1,185 yards and found the end zone 10 times on the ground and once through the air.

Quarterback Jeff Hoback didn’t need to throw the ball much, only attempting 32 passes in his junior season and completing 18. He passed for 169 yards, 81 of those to Amigon, and completed two touchdown passes.

The Wildcats’ defense will bring back five of its Top-6 tacklers, including Amigon, who led the way with 48.5 tackles, 35 being solo. Fellow junior-to-be Cole Storm finished last season with 31.5 tackles, third-best on the squad. Miller had 27.5 tackles. Other juniors-to-be Cael Phillips and Trenton Hoback finished with 23.5 tackles and 22 tackles respectively.

The Columbus defense had seven takeaways last season. One of those was a 99-yard fumble return touchdown by Amigon.

2022 Columbus football schedule

Aug. 26 at Louisa-Muscatine

Sept. 2 at Highland

Sept. 9 vs. Wapello

Sept. 16 vs. Lisbon

Sept. 23 at Pekin

Sept. 30 vs. North Mahaska

Oct. 7 at North Cedar

Oct. 14 vs. Alburnett