Schedule deep dives: VBC

KEOSAUQUA - The Van Buren County Warriors went 1-8 in 2019. VBC struggled on offense, but found some success on the defensive side of the ball, particulatrly in their lone win, a 24-6 defeat of Columbus Community.

The Warriors will be one of six teams in Class 1A District 5 this season. The Warriors, like most Class 1A teams, will play four nondistrict games to begin the season and four district games to close it out.

Van Buren opens the year with three teams they didn't face last season. The Warriors will take on Highland in a Week 1 road game before returning to Keosauqua for two home games, against Central Lee in Week 2, and West Burlington-Notre Dame in Week 3.

In Week 4, the Warriors will take on Columbus to defend their one victory from last year.

'I'm very excited to play our non-district games this year,” Van Buren head coach Brian Johnson says. 'We got most of the games we were wanting. I feel we will have a lot more competitive non-district games this year, compared to last year.”

The Warriors will play three of their five district games at home, starting with a home contest against Mediapolis. Van Buren fell 46-6 against defending district champion Mediapolis in their final home game last season.

Van Buren will then play Sigourney-Keota on the road and Louisa-Muscatine at home, two teams the Warriors lost to last season.

Van Buren will end its regular season against the other two Fairfield area small schools, playing at Cardinal in Week 8 and hosting Pekin in Week 9.

'Looking at District games, we have a good mix of teams we have played the past couple of years and teams that are new,” Coach Johnson says. 'Cardinal is now in our district, so that one will be a big deal for (us).”

The Warriors have not yet set homecoming, but there are five home games in 2020 to choose from.

Listed below is the full list of VBC football games with home games in bold and district games marked with an asterisk.

Aug. 28 at Highland

Sept. 4 vs. Central Lee

Sept. 11 vs. West Burlington-Notre Dame

Sept. 18 at Columbus Community

Sept. 25 vs. Mediapolis*

Oct. 2 at Sigourney-Keota*

Oct. 9 vs. Louisa-Muscatine*

Oct. 16 at Cardinal*

Oct. 23 vs. Pekin*