Week 6 gridiron preview

Week 6 will bring new challenges for the Washington County area football teams as we hit the two-third portion of the season.

After this week, only three games will remain to decide playoff races and a few teams will need strong finishes to push themselves into postseason play.

For previews of the Washington/Keokuk contest and the WACO/Lone Tree contest, check out Thursday?s edition of The Journal.

Sigourney-Keota (4-1) at Columbus (1-4)

Sigourney-Keota rebounded well from a loss at Regina with a blowout, 66-6, victory over Van Buren last week.

They will look to carry that momentum into a regional contest against another area school, Columbus.

Sigourney-Keota is led by their strong rushing attack, which was once again on display last Friday.

Luke Greiner earned 120 of his 347 rushing yards on the season in the victory over Van Buren, while Avery Moore has flashed his big-play ability, averaging 17.3 yards per touch so far this season, accounting for 17 touchdowns on the year.

The Cobras are currently looking to stay where they are in the district standings before a big matchup with Wilton at the end of the season, which could be a fight for a playoff position.

Columbus, however, will be looking to get back on track after dropping three straight contests.

The Wildcats saw senior quarterback Carter Colby post one of his stronger games of the season in the recent loss to Wapello, posting 75 rushing yards and 87 passing yards, with a score through the air.

On the year, Colby leads the Wildcats with 344 rushing yards and 261 passing yards, combing the two for five total touchdowns.

The Wildcats will look to force some turnovers against Sigourney-Keota, as they have only forced four on the season.

The Cobras will be turning to Noah Boender to keep up his strong season, notching team-highs in tackles (31) and tackles for a loss (7).

Kickoff in Columbus is set for 7 p.m.

Highland (2-3) at Van Buren (0-5)

After dropping three straight games to open the district season, the Highland football team will look to rebound against a Van Buren team that is still searching for its first victory of the season.

The Huskies are coming off a 36-0 loss to Regina at home, but a game against the winless Warriors might be what Highland needs to get back on track.

Highland?s offense was held to just 100 yards of total yards in Friday?s contest, but they will turn to running backs Trey Lasek and Bill Burton, who are both averaging more than 6.5 yards per carry on the year.

Senior quarterback Jake Wood has had a strong season through the air, accounting for 647 yards and nine touchdowns, with three different receivers on the receiving end of at least two of those strikes.

The Huskies? balanced offense could have a chance to shine against a Van Buren defense that has given up more than 56 points in three of its five contests.

Kickoff in Keosauqua is set for 7 p.m.

Mid-Prairie (2-3) at Williamsburg (4-1)

The Golden Hawks are fresh off a blowout victory over Camanche, but will be tested on Friday night, going up against the Raiders, who are riding a four-game win streak, which has seen them score more than 40 points in the last three contests.

Mid-Prairie?s 61-14 victory over Camanche was a welcome sight after falling in their previous three contests, as the Golden Hawks saw their rushing game account for 325 yards and eight touchdowns, with four scores each from senior Ricky Vargas and junior Keaton Duwa.

Many eyes will be on Levi Duwa, the Iowa football commit, on the defensive side of the ball, as he leads the team with 29 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss and three sacks, but that attention should open things up for other defenders such as Vargas, who has six tackles for a loss and a sack this season.

Kickoff in Williamsburg is set for 7:30 p.m.