Trojans visiting Keokuk with three seed up for grabs

The Fairfield football team will likely feel like it?s looking into a mirror when it steps on the field Friday and lines up across from the Keokuk Chiefs.

Whether it?s the balanced offenses, 4-2 records in district play or Southeast Conference tradition, the teams simply have very few differences aside from the color schemes and mascots.

Keokuk is third in Class 3A, District 7 in rushing yards and first in passing yards, while Fairfield is fourth in the district in rushing and second in passing. In six district contests apiece, both Fairfield and Keokuk have put up 34 points per game.

The defenses aren?t all that different, either. Against the rest of the district, Keokuk has allowed 17.3 points per game while Fairfield has allowed 20.2 points. Outside of games against Pella and Oskaloosa, both teams have found success stopping the run.

The Chiefs and Trojans have already clinched postseason spots as the No. 3 and No. 4 teams representing the district. However, a win for either team on Friday would result in a first-round match-up at 11th-ranked Norwalk (7-1), while a loss would mean a trip to play undefeated, No. 3 ADM, Adel.

One look at Keokuk?s leader on offense, junior quarterback Gabe Vandenberg, and it?s clear the Chiefs aren?t afraid to pass. Vandenberg, the brother of Iowa Hawkeye?s quarterback James Vandenberg, has been paving his own path this season and currently sits fourth in Class 3A in passing yards (1,583). He also has completed 61.5 percent of his passes and has 22 touchdowns to just three interceptions in his first season under center.

It would be easy, then, to distinguish the team as a pass-heavy offense, but that?s not the case.

The Chiefs have ran the football 267 times compared to 159 pass attempts, and they have a bruising rusher in Trevor Roth, who is fifth in Class 3A in rushing yards. The junior halfback has carried the ball for 1,169 yards and 10 touchdowns with an 8.8 yards per carry average.

?You can?t sit on one thing against them,? said Fairfield head coach Mike Schenck. ?They may pass on third and short or run on third and long. Offensively, they?re probably as good a team as we?ve played all year.?

For the Trojans, their balanced offense has ran the ball 251 times compared to 193 passing attempts.

Fairfield has its own junior leader in quarterback Dillon Fry, who is 12th in Class 3A in passing yards with 1,209. Fry has gained 751 yards on 82 carries and has accumulated 17 touchdowns overall.

Running back Zach Vivier is second on the team in rushing yards, and fifth in the district, with 626 yards on 113 carries. Out wide, Davis Lowenberg is fourth in the district in receiving yards with 383. Spencer Peterman and Corbin Harwood aren?t far behind with 314 and 303 yards, respectively.

Both teams also are coming off lopsided match-ups last week, though the teams were on opposite sides of the lopsidedness. Fairfield was downed 43-0 in a game where they couldn?t get anything going on offense, while Keokuk cruised past Mount Pleasant 41-0.

Schenck said he?s looking for a better effort from his players Friday after last week?s hard defeat to Pella.

?We?re going to have to show a lot more intensity and hopefully not have the mental breakdowns we had last week,? Schenck said.

As always, Schenck also is looking for his team to eliminate the turnovers, win the special teams battle and give up few big plays.

The regular season finale for Fairfield is set to kick off at approximately 7:30 p.m. Friday in Keokuk.