The Sigourney-Keota Cobra football team is dreaming of the Dome as they get ready for Friday’s Class 1A State Quarterfinal contest at No. 2 Van Meter. SK advanced through the second round in exciting fashion on their home turf last week, taking down No. 10 Mediapolis in Overtime 20-14. The Snakes survived by holding MEPO on fourth and goal at the three. The Cobras got by Mediapolis despite never owning a lead until overtime and being outgained 326 to 211 in total yards including 302 to 99 on the ground. SK did win the passing game battle 112 to 24. Junior Sawyer Stout owned the skies, going three for eight for 112 yards and a touchdown and a pick. His scoring toss was a 70 yard connection with senior Clay Morse. Cole Clarahan had a pair of rushing scores on 12 carries with 24 total yards. Jack Clarahan and junior Reid Molyneux combined for 26 tackles with Molyneux recovering a fumble and senior Cole Clarahan picking off a pass. On the season, Sigourney-Keota is 8-2, unbeaten champions of Class 1A District six. They score 36 points per night and give up 14. They average 341 yards per contest, 274 on the ground. SK is led individually by Cole Clarahan with 182 rush attempts for 1,139 yards and 21 touchdowns. Sawyer Stout is 27 of 49 in the pass game for 613 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions, his top target is junior Cole Kindred with 10 catches for 171 yards and four scores. Senior Jack Clarahan has 61 tackles, seven for loss and a sack to key the Cobra defense.

Defending state champion Van Meter is 9-1 this season. They were unbeaten champions of Class 1A District 7. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 2 in the final 1A poll of the season issued by the Iowa Associated Press. Their only loss was to No. 1 in Class 2A Williamsburg in week two 18-13. The Bulldogs got through the second round last week with a 42-0 shut out of the Woodward-Granger Hawks. Ben Gordon led the Bulldog attack with 21 carries for 220 yards and three rushing scores. Ben Gilliland was 10 of 14 through the air for 178 yards two scores, and a rushing touchdown. Will Gordon and Carter Durflinger caught touchdowns. The Bulldogs forced three turnovers. On the season, Van Meter scores 46 points per game and gives up just five. They have outscored their opponents 457 to 51 in total this year and have not given up a point since October 7th. They average 355 yards per game including 243 on the ground. Individual leaders for the Bulldogs include Gilliland with 1,664 all-purpose yards, 1,009 through the air on 63 of 94 with 19 touchdowns and four interceptions to go with 76 carries, 655 yards and nine scores on the ground. Ben Gordon has 153 carries 1,303 yards and 22 touchdown runs. Will Gordon has 16 catches for 313 yards and four touchdowns. Michael Banks has 42 tackles, 16 and a half for loss and six sacks. The Bulldogs have forced 16 turnovers on the season.

This week, Sigourney-Keota head coach Jared Jensen talked about the win over Mediapolis and the challenge ahead in Van Meter. “Yeah! It was an exciting game! That’s what playoff football is about! They got up on us early and we answered back. They score again. Right before half we put a drive together to go down and score, get a two point conversion, tie the game at 14 and I think we have a little bit of the momentum. From there it was a defensive battle the rest of the game. They had an opportunity to kick a field goal with a little time left on the clock to potentially win and they came up short. They had the last shot, our defense had good coverage and an incomplete pass sent it to overtime. Ten yards and in. We are a three and a half yard football team. That’s what we pride ourselves on. We knew it was time to step up. Everybody knew what was at stake and really put it together. Defense stepped up huge. MEPO had four chances, their first three plays they got it down to the three yardline. Last play our defense stuffed them and sealed the victory. Tonight we’ve got a challenge in front of us. At this point in the season every team is as good as you or better. It’s going to be about execution. They have a heck of a program at Van Meter. Coach Trudo does a phenomenal job. I don’t think anyone really had us picked last week against MEPO and it’s going to be the same this week. No one’s going to give us a chance, but we don’t have anything to lose. We’re going to go out, play our brand of football and get our shot to go to the semifinals.”

A win for the Cobras would send them back to the UNI-Dome for the first time since 2020 and the 12th time in program history, in search of their fourth state title. The Bulldogs are looking to get back to the Dome for the 11th time in school history, their eighth time in a row, and capture back to back state titles. Action gets underway Friday at 7p.m. at Bulldog Stadium in Van Meter.