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The No. 7 in Class 1A Sigourney-Keota Cobra football team saw their year come to an abrupt end Friday in the first round of the postseason, falling to West Branch Bears 41-33. It looked like smooth sailing for the Snakes early as they put up the first two touchdowns, one, a 45 yard rush by Isaac Bruns, the other a five yard Brayden Wood scamper to lead 14-0. West Branch got on the board by returning the ensuing kickoff for a score. The Bears would tie it minutes later on a tipped touchdown pass. SK would respond with Brun’s second scoring run of the night, a seven yarder, to take the lead back at 20-14. The Bears went to the air for a touchdown and their first lead of the night at 21-20 and the offenses continued to control action as SK would stick the ball in the end zone one more time, using a reverse pass from Wood to Bruns making it 26-21 Snakes at the break.
After half, the Bears picked off a Cobra pass and put together a drive to take a 28-26 lead and added on with more points off turnovers, using an SK fumble to setup another scoring drive to lead 35-23. The Cobras came back with an Ike Molyneux touchdown run of eight yards to get within a pair at 35-33 at the end of three. The only points in the fourth belonged to the Bears, a key 72 yard touchdown toss at the 10 minute mark, put West Branch ahead by 8, after Ashton Schwab swatted away the PAT. Down to their last chance, SK strung together one more drive, but an interception in the end zone ended threat. Sigourney-Keota head coach Jared Jensen joined the KCII Radio Coaches Corner Saturday to talk about what decided the game, and his seniors.
Jensen said, “(West Branch) was a four seed, but they weren’t a typical four seed. Five of their losses were against top 10 teams. We just had way too many mistakes that they capitalized on. Four turnovers, two fourth and short stops that we would typically convert. Gave up a kick return for a touchdown, other big play touchdowns. When we needed a play, we didn’t make it. We moved the ball on the ground, but they did a good job defending our run game, we had to work for everything we got. We hit some balls over the top. We scored five touchdowns. This does hurt. We know and we feel that we were the better team, but football is football. It’s that one night, that’s why you play the game. (These Seniors) are a great group of kids. They bought into the work and what it takes to be successful. They continued to grow this season as leaders. They were the glue of this team.”
SK won the total yards battle 410-247 including 303-19 on the ground. The Bears had 228 yards passing to the Cobras 107. West Branch also won the turnover battle 3-1. SK’s offensive leaders included Bruns with 176 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries. Wood and Molyneux added rushing scores. Wood was also seven of 12 throwing for 107 yards, a touchdown and two picks. On defense, Jace Chalupa had six tackles and Jacob Libe recovered a fumble. Nolan Staker led West Branch at nine of 14 passing for 228 yards and four touchdowns. The Bears are now 3-6 and move on to face No. 1 Grundy Center in the second round of the 1A playoffs while the district champion Cobras end their year at 7-2. SK says goodbye to 15 seniors including Brady Clark, Isaac Bruns, Caden Clarahan, Jace Chalupa, Brody Greiner, Jayden Thompson, Landyn Greiner, Cael O’Rourke, Kaen Kopp, Ashton Schwab, Mison Milam, Billie Kindred, Jonathan Wheeldon, Jax Weber and Zach Guffey.