Sigourney-Keota heads north

DYERSVILLE — Don’t look now, but the Sigourney-Keota football team is red-hot at the right time.

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The Cobras, just 2-4 earlier in October are now 5-4 with three-straight blowout victories, while sitting just two wins away from the UNI-Dome.

In the past three weeks, the Cobras beat down Durant, 44-14, to clinch a playoff spot, shut out Cardinal, 49-0, and then blasted Interstate 35, 45-0, to become one of the most dangerous teams in Southeast Iowa.

Now, one week after ransacking the Roadrunners, the Cobras will look to lock up the Trailblazers when Sigourney-Keota (5-4) faces Beckman Catholic (8-1) in Dyersville.

The two teams don’t face each other often, but when they do, they make it count. SK last played Beckman Catholic in the Round of 16 in 2020, beating the Blazers 35-14 en route to the Cobras’ latest dome appearance.

This year’s Beckman Catholic squad, however, isn’t the one from 2020. The Trailblazers have just one loss this season and have been on a tear ever since that 17-7 defeat at the hands of Maquoketa Valley.

In late September, Beckman Catholic scored 56 points in its Homecoming game. Since then, the team has dropped 48 points, 69 points and 63 points twice, giving up a combined 39 in those five victories.

The SK defense that has been so good lately will get a monster test, facing sophomore Jude Kramer (706 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and senior Mack Wolfe (609 rushing yards, 15 TDs).

Quarterback Brady Gogel hasn’t needed to throw the ball much this year, but he has been deadly when he does, completing 62.6% of his passes for 952 yards and seven scores, while throwing zero interceptions.

On the other end, the Cobras look very similar, pounding the ball with junior standout Ike Molyneaux (938 rushing yards, 12 TDs), while also getting over 200 yards rushing from both Brayden Wood and Landon Conrad. In all, SK has scored 32 times on the ground.

Wood has only thrown the ball 31 times this year, completing 16 passes for 239 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

The Cobras are looking to sneak up on the Class despite a wealth of talent after losing four of their first six games to start the season. The opponents in those four losses have all reached the Round of 16 in their respective classes.

If SK can pull off the road win, the Cobras will play either Grundy Center on the road of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows at home in the quarterfinals.