Sig-K rushing for postseason

It?s a simple concept surrounding Friday night?s game in Sigourney.

Win, and you are in.

The Sigourney-Keota Cobras will host Wilton, with both teams sitting at one loss in the district competition.

The winner will claim second place (and an automatic playoff berth) in the district, while the other will have to wait and see on a wild-card berth.

The Cobras aren?t planning on taking any chances.

?They?ve know all year since the Regina loss that our backs are against the wall, and from here on out if we lose we are out,? Sigourney-Keota head coach Jared Jensen said. ?They are all big games to us. They don?t need a picture painted for them. They are on board to win games and that?s what we are doing.?

To get the win on Friday, the Cobras will rely on their stable of rushers who have been prone to big games all season.

Avery Moore has posted nearly 1,700 total rushing and receiving yards on the season, while picking up 27 total touchdowns, while Luke Greiner has rushed for 709 yards and 12 touchdowns from his quarterback position.

Carson Crawford has also been strong for the Cobras, posting 556 yards on the ground, including a 200-yard game last week against Wapello.

They all credit this season?s success to the men up front.

?It?s awesome,? Moore said. ?I know I can rely on (the offensive line) on every single play. I can just follow them and know what?s happening.?

For those guys up front, they have just as much fun seeing their backfield break off big runs.

?It?s really fun,? senior Noah Boender said. ?You block for a few seconds and then you see him running down the sidelines and it?s pretty exciting.?

For Greiner, a junior, he has developed well as the team?s quarterback, adding 519 yards and six touchdowns to his production this season.

?This season has come pretty easy because our line has been great up front,? Greiner said. ?We have huge holes in the run game and that helps to have Carson, Avery,  Tristan (Sypherd) and Will (Magill).?

The Cobras have also been the beneficiary of a strong defense, helmed by Boender, who has picked up 39 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and a sack on the season.

The defense has only given up more than 12 points in a game twice this season, one coming in their lone loss to Regina.

?Each week we are getting better,? Jensen said. ?We aren?t making huge leaps, but each week has been a little better and you see that in a game. Last week they hit us with some stuff we weren?t expecting and got us with it once. Then when (Wapello) ran it again, we were ready for it. Little things like that, with this team, they understand they have to get their job done.?

Kickoff against Wilton is set for 7 p.m. in Sigourney, and the Cobras are ready to get back to the postseason.

?We have to be confident,? Greiner said. ?We can?t go in thinking we are going to lose, otherwise that?s going to be the outcome. We are going in with the mindset we are going to win and be in the playoffs.?