Sigourney-Keota looking to avenge last season’s loss to Panthers

Last year the Panthers came to Cobra Field and maintained a steady lead throughout, eventually downing the Cobras 37-13. The Cobras will open their football season by facing Pekin in another edition of the Backyard Brawl on August 24 in hopes of notching another win in the historic series.

Many of the same contributors will take the field for the Cobras, but they will be missing a couple key pieces as Luke Greiner, Jack Eakins and Hunter Wilson all graduated after last season. Greiner wasn’t just the signal caller and ran the show for the Cobras, he also posed as a dual threat with his ability to run and pick up first downs and needed yardage.

In the Brawl game last season, Greiner completed just over 50 percent of his passes for 76 yards and tacked on another 78 with 18 carries. Eakins and Wilson were factors in the receiving core and combined for 53 yards on four receptions.

The good news for the Cobras is their talented back and one of their top tacklers on defense will be suiting up in his final game against the Panthers. Carson Crawford was lethal throughout last season and toted most of the load in the Backyard Brawl loss, rushing for 204 yards on 24 carries and scored once. On defense he accounted for 6.5 tackles, three of which were solo with only Greiner finishing with more tackles.

“Offensively you know what you get with us,” Cobras coach Jared Jensen said. “There will be some new wrinkles on offense, but we are sticking to our identity.”

Eight other seniors will be playing alongside Crawford in their last attempt to beat the Panthers in the longtime early season rivalry. Kyle Weber, Tristan Sypherd, Sebastian Arduser, Mac Conrad, Trey Carlson, Zech Boender, Kolton Strand and Greg Gott will all be hoping to help put their team in position to get the win and take back the bragging rights.