A difficult first half schedule has positioned the Sigourney-Keota Cobras (3-3 overall; 2-2 Class 1A District 5) for a return trip to the Class 1A playoffs. The combined record of the Cobra’s first five opponents is 26-4, and includes losses to Class 1A  No.1 Iowa City Regina (6-0 overall) and Class A No. 1 B.G.M Bears (6-0 overall). Sigourney-Keota handed the Pella Christian Eagles (4-2 overall) one of their two losses of the season, and the Cobras are the only team this season to beat the Pekin Panthers (5-1 overall) on the gridiron.

Sigourney-Keota’s schedule got significantly easier last Friday. The Cobra’s were able to cruise past the Eddyville-Blakesburg Rockets, 48-6, in a district matchup in Sigourney. The Rockets have won just one football game so far this season.

Senior Peyton Crawford ran for 308 yards and scored an additional six touchdowns in the victory. Crawford, KCII’s Hedge Above Lawncare Athlete of the Week on September 23, is one of four running backs in Class 1A football with over 1000 yards rushing through the first six weeks of the season. He has amassed 1010 yards on 95 carries, an average of 10.6 yards per rush and has scored 14 rushing touchdowns.

Sigourey-Keota head football coach Jared Jensen says the Cobras have positioned themselves for a run at a postseason berth. “We have played a playoff ready schedule where you are playing teams that will play in the playoffs to get you ready.” Jensen said, “These last three games are against teams that have had some struggles this season and are trying to find themselves this season. Every matchup is going to be a tough one and we know what’s at stake.”

Jensen says if his squad can win out, the Cobras will secure the district’s second seed and a home playoff game in the first round of the playoffs. The Regals are sitting as the district’s number one seeding heading into this week’s play. The final third of the Cobras’ 2015 schedule includes district opponents with a combined record of 7-11 overall.

Sigourney-Keota returns to the field this Friday, traveling to Washington County for a showdown with the Highland Huskies (3-3 overall). The Cobras won last year’s meeting, 55-42, in Sigourney.