Past glories equal present culture

CEDAR FALLS - It's tricky, deceptive, hard to stop and it is distinct. It's the single wing offense and it gives Sigourney-Keota a basis for a culture that has meant success for the two schools' one football team.

If Sk was on a schedule, it was usually a loss for a team and the Cobras are rekindling old triumphant memories with a date in the UNI-Dome in a Class 1A semifinal Saturday.

Last season, SK went 8-1 and didn't get into the playoffs. In 2018, it was 5-4 and didn't have a playoff game for the first time since 2013. SK was 5-5 in 2017 and 8-2 in 2016 with a playoff loss to Pella Christian both years. The Cobras were 6-4 in 2015, 5-5 in 2014, 5-4 in 2013. The 2012 season was the last losing season at 4-6, but there was still a playoff game. The 2011 season was 4-5 with no playoff, but the year before was 11-1 and a specific memory of Nov. 1, 2010.

The date might not seem like much to the general public, but Cobra fans know that until Oct. 23, 2020s win over Cardinal, it was the last time the Cobras won a playoff game, beating Camanche 48-22.

Starting in 2011 as head coach is Jared Jensen, who is also Offensive Coordinator. 'Once I got here I realized the spin back offense is their identity, so I was all for it.”

His assistant coaches are Defensive Coordinator Klynt Weber, Line Coach Aaron Sellers, Linebackers Coach Gunner Mohs, and Bronson McCully, Special Teams Coordinator.

The time is now for the Cobras to return to the top of the heap and be kings of the mountain that is prep football. King Cobras, yes that has a nice ring to it.

'Coach is really important to us and so are the rest of the coaches,” SK junior Colten Clarahan said. 'I don't think it's just one. Everybody helps everybody with specific aspects of the game. I think they're all incredible coaches. They're awesome.”

Luke Greiner, Carson Crawford, Sellers and last year's lineman, Dawson Baumert, were mentioned by players on this year's team as former players from the past that have established a culture.

Sigourney won a state championship in Class 2A in 1979 (16-0 over Hudson) under coach Chuck Henry and was second in 1976 (Central Lyon 14-0). The combined SK program had an undefeated season in 1995 with all-staters Derrick Miller, Greg Hammes, Mark O'Rourke, Tim Flynn, Brad Kitzman and Dustin Dobbins that resulted in a 2A championship under Bob Howard with a 14-10 win against Inwood West Lyon. Howard and SK accomplished the incredible feat of 2A undefeated state champion twice more, in 2001 and 2005. The 2001 victory was 27-14 to top Dike-New Hartford. All-staters Andrew Geil, Derek Greiner, J.D. Greiner, Dan Hammes and Aaron Sellers had a playoff run of wins; 54-7 over Chariton, 34-6 over Highland-Lone Tree, 28-15 over Mount Vernon.

The last title was achieved with a 27-24 win over Sheldon. The most pivotal SK play of that game was a late interception by Ryne Schwenke. Jon McLaughlin toted the football 40 times and gained 182 yards. Kyle Bermel, Tyler Sheets, Joel Peiffer, Brandon Berg and Chase Greiner were all-state players that season.

To reach the 2005 finals, SK defeated Class 3A Fort Madison (63-6), Class 3A semifinalist Williamsburg (28-12), EBF (56-0), Central Lee (63-0), Van Buren (69-0), Albia (61-0), New London/Danville (68-14), West Burlington-Notre Dame (68-14) and Davis County (63-21) before beating Albia (49-0), Mid-Prairie (49-14) and No. 3 West Union North Fayette (34-20) in the playoffs.

Jensen said the single wing offense, which Howard put in long ago is 'something special. It brings consistency. It pays dividends in a lot of ways.”