The last few falls has seen steady improvement in Wildcat Country for the Columbus Community football team and they will try to take that next step in 2022 with their opener being Friday at rival Louisa-Muscatine. 

The Wildcats just missed out on the class A playoffs last year with a 3-5 record, matching their win total from the previous three years combined. Plenty of experience returns with a boat load of speed in the skill position department headlined by Kaden Amigon. The third year running back ran for 1,185 yards in 2021 with 10 touchdowns and led the team with 48.5 tackles defensively. Jeff Hoback is back under center after completing 56% of his passes and rushing for 209 yards with three scores. The offense put up 21 points a night and gave up 46. Columbus brought the fireworks in last year’s showdown with L&M winning 9-6 on a walk off field goal. The Falcons were 1-7 and lost their two top running backs to graduation. Xander Bieri is a threat outside hauling in 16 receptions for 231 yards and Kendall Pugh is back after leading the team with 37.5 tackles. 

This Louisa County rivalry goes way back and third year Wildcat head coach Dave Lekwa tells KCII Sports this is always a special one. “This rivalry hasn’t changed much since I was a kid. Two close communities with a lot of great people. L&M has a good program and they had our number for awhile the last 10 years. It is a good rivalry across all sports.”

The season gets underway at 7 p.m. Friday in Letts.