Semifinal features rushing, passing leaders

CEDAR FALLS - When there are only four teams remaining to challenge for a class championship, it's no surprise that those four football teams and players of Sigourney-Keota, OABCIG, Van Meter and South Central Calhoun rank among the leaders in some statistical categories in Class 1A.

The top-ranked OABCIG Falcons (10-0) and third-ranked Sigourney-Keota Cobras (10-0) will meet Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls in a semifinal with the winner playing the winner of the 9 a.m. semifinal between No. 2 Van Meter (10-0) and No. 7 South Central Calhoun (9-1).

SCC's playoff path included wins over Sioux Central (2-6) 46-7, 30-22 over Dike-New Hartford (6-3), 20-8 over South Hamilton (8-1), then the Titans avenged a Sept. 25 32-23 loss to Southeast Valley (9-1) with a 26-6 triumph in the quarterfinal.

Van Meter, which lost 50-14 to West Lyon in the 2019 Class 1A title game, had a bye, blanked ACGC (4-5) 36-0, downed Pella Christian (6-4) 49-23 and won 33-14 over Underwood (9-2).

OABCIG had a bye, won 49-7 over East Sac County (3-6), walloped Western Christian (5-4) 41-14, and blitzed West Sioux (7-3) 63-14.

The Cobras had a bye, shut out Cardinal (5-4) 49-0, ran past Dyersville Beckman Catholic (6-3) 35-14 and edged Waterloo Columbus Catholic (8-2) 35-32.

The Falcons made it to the dome with quarterback Cooper Dejean as a leader in a number of categories in the state regardless of class.

The 8-player Class has Eddie Burgess far and away leading in touchdowns at 76. Dejean is fourth with 51, first in Class 1A. Van Meter's Jack Pettit is second with 32.

In the following categories, he is first in 1A, but in the state: fourth in passing TDs (27), second all-purpose yards (4058), second yards passing (2718), second offensive yards (3807), second pass attempts (270), second completions (164).

Dejean is fourth in the state in offensive touchdowns with 48 and first in Class 1A. It's no skin to shed for the Cobras as their third round win was against Beckman Catholic's Nick Offerman, who is third in that category (18-for-33 for 181 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions against SK), and their fourth round victory was over Waterloo Columbus' Carter Gallagher, who is fifth in TDs (5-for-13 for 161, two TDs, one INT against SK).

In 1A, Dejean is fourth in quarterback rating at 145.3, but the Cobras' venom has defeated Cardinal's Maddux Jones (first at 158.5) and Gallagher (fifth at 144.3). As a team, the Cobras are first in QB rating (170.2) with Cade Molyneux (28-for-39, 478 yards, eight touchdowns, one interception), Colten Clarahan (7-for-17, 168, four TDs, one INT) and Sam Sieren (1-for-1, 80, TD). Van Meter is 146.5 for fourth and SCC's Titans are sixth at 141.8.

Sieren is first in the class in rushing TDs (24), fourth in yards rushing (1475), and fifth in carries (175). Van Meter's Bulldogs have Dalton Van Pelt first in rushes (221), second in yards rushing at 1,597, fourth in rushing TDs at 21.

OABCIG has Easton Harris first in the class in receptions (47), TD receptions (10) and second in receiving yards (742).

The Cobras were stepped on by Alex Feldmann's 87-yard TD reception (second in 1A) in the Columbus win and Harris has the longest at 88 yards.

SK's Colten Clarahan is third in number of kickoffs at 65 and second in yardage but the Falcons have the No. 1 in each category with Caden Wareham, who is third in touchbacks with 16 to Clarahan's seven, which is ninth. Clarahan has the third longest made field goal at 39 yards and is third with 44 made point after touchdown kicks in 55 attempts. Wareham is first at 58-of-63.

Brady Duwa is tied for first with Feldmann at two kickoff returns for scores but Dejean has the longest one at 95 yards with Feldmann and Duwa tied for second at 90. Duwa is first in punt return yards at 325, but tied with Dejean with two returns for TDs. SK's Levi Crawford has the fourth longest punt return for a touchdown at 67 yards.

South Central Calhoun is first with Cole Corey's interception return yardage at 148.

As a team, the Falcons have 71 TDs, first in 1A, and in third with 62 is SK, Van Meter fourth at 57 and South Central Calhoun sixth with 48. Falcons are first in passing TDs (29) and receiving yards (2929) while the Bulldogs are seventh with 18 TDs. The Cobras are first in rushing yards (3107) and first in rushing TDs (43), but the Falcons are fourth with 36. The Falcons are first, SK third, Van Meter fourth and SCC eighth in all-purpose yards at 5141, 4719, 4318 and 3861.

On defense, total tackles are Van Meter fifth (501.5), OABCIG sixth (485), SK 19th (450.5) and SCC 11th (448.5). SCC is third with 14 interceptions, the Falcons have 13, Cobras 10 and Van Meter nine while fumbles have the Bulldogs in eighth with 11, Falcons eight, Titans seven and SK six.