Preseason football capsules

We are only a couple of weeks removed from the start of a new fall sports season, with volleyball and cross-country opening their first competitions on Aug. 22, and football officially opening on Aug. 26 for many of the area teams.

As we take a look at the opening of the season, it?s time to take a quick glance at where each team sits coming into the year.

In Monday?s edition of The Journal, we took a look at the Washington football team, with Tuesday giving a glance at Mid-Prairie and Highlnad. Today, we take a look at a few of the other squads that will be taking to the gridiron.

Sigourney-Keota

The Cobras went 6-4 on the season in 2015, finishing the season strong with four straight victories, before falling by two points in a first-round playoff matchup.

That year-end momentum is something the Cobras hope they can carry over to 2016, with a number of returners set to help out.

With the single-wing-option attack the Cobras employ, the returners in the running game will be critical this season.

Despite losing a top-tier rusher in Peyton Crawford, who accounted for more than 1,700 yards and 25 touchdowns last year, the Cobras are penciled in to bring back a number of talented rushers.

That group is led by Luke Greiner, who picked up 564 yards on 6 yards per carry, scoring seven touchdowns on the season.

Jacob Wickenkamp accounted for 440 yards and seven touchdowns, while sophomore Carson Crawford posted four touchdowns last year.

Defensively, the Cobras will be anchored by Alex Schuster, who picked up 53 tackles a season ago, the top returner in that category, while Noah Boender (four sacks) and Avery Moore (47.5 tackles) will look to help on that side of the ball.

The Cobras will open the season with a rivalry game at Pekin this season on Aug. 26.

Columbus

The Wildcats went 3-7 in 2015, and lose a few key pieces from last season?s team, but still have plenty of athletes to help them in the new campaign.

The loss of Mauricio Ramirez (who is walking on at Iowa State) at running back and defensive back will be a blow, as will the loss of Trace Taylor on both sides of the line.

However, the Wildcats will look to get things going, with their returning quarterback, Carter Colby.

In a run-first offense, Colby threw for 1,332 yards and 16 touchdowns on the year, adding 427 yards and four rushing scores to his season as the top returning rusher.

Colby will have three of his top four receivers coming back this season, led by junior Abel Mena, who caught 21 passes for 271 yards and four scores.

The next two receivers on the team are seniors Ruben Paz and Ricky Briones, who combined for 17 catches, 421 yards and four scores.

Defensively, the Wildcats will have a pair of juniors in Mena and Nick Hernandez looking to lead the way.

The pair led the team in tackles a season ago, with Hernandez notching 77.5 and Mena next with 66.5.

The Wildcats will open the season at Durant on Aug. 26.

WACO

The Warriors will perhaps see the most change this season in the area, as they make the transition to 8-man football.

As they prepare for a new style of play, the Warriors will turn to a crop of returners who hope to make a big impact this year.

Jackson Roth is penciled in as the returning quarterback for the Warriors, after throwing for 775 yards and five scores last year, while his top receiving threat, Colton Horak, enters his sophomore season after catching 19 passes for 395 yards and three scores in 2015.

In the backfield, Gabe Black will be the team?s top returning rusher, going for 535 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Warriors will also turn to Black on the defensive side of the ball, as he will be the team?s top returning tackler, notching 33 stops last season.

WACO will open its season one week earlier than most squads, playing HLV in a season opener on Aug. 18.