Cobras Maul in Backyard Brawl, Win 49-0

No. 5 Sigourney-Keota (5-0, 3-0 1A-6) defeated Pekin 49-0 in the largest scoring margin in Backyard Brawl history.

 

The shutout is the first in the series since 1977 when Sigourney won 7-0.

Quarterback Cade Molyneux was 2/5 passing for 95 yards and a touchdown on the night, Sam Sieren had 185 yards on 14 carries with four of those being touchdowns and Brady Duwa had two receptions for 61 yards, both of them ending up as touchdowns, including a punt return for a touchdown.

 

Defensively, Jack Clarahan had seven tackles on the night.

 

Here’s how the night unfolded.

 

Cobra captain Brady Duwa correctly called tails and Sigourney-Keota would defend the south endzone for the first quarter with a wind at their backs of about 12 miles per hour.

 

“As soon as we get on the field there’s something special about this game, lots of grit, but once the game is over we show each other a lot of respect and wish each other the best,” Duwa said.

 

Pekin started their drive on their own 13, but a three-and-out occurred and would only punt about 14 yards.

 

Sam Sieren would quickly score for the Cobras from one yard out and Clarahan would convert the PAT to put Sigourney-Keota up 7-0 with 8:56 left in the first quar-

ter.

 

The ensuing kickoff would go back for a touchback and the Panthers would struggle to find forward momentum and eventually punt the ball for (per my notes) eight yards.

 

Sam Sieren’s 28-yard rush would set up a touchdown pass to Brady Duwa, however, the PAT would go wide this time and the Cobras would lead 13-0 with 5:56 left in the opening quarter.

 

This kickoff, too, would be a touchback. Pekin would convert a fourth down and “30 centimeters” as the PA put it, but had nothing else go for them on that drive so they had to punt it away.

 

Sieren scored his third touchdown of the night and Cade Molyneux reached across the goal line to put the Cobras up 21-0 with 9:33 left in the second

 

quarter. Pekin returned this kickoff to their own 41-yard line, but the Sigourney-Keota defense held strong forcing a punt.

 

The Cobras had their own troubles on the next possession, muffing the snap on a punt which led Pekin to start on the Cobra 16.

 

A sack on third-and-ten made it fourth-and-24 and the Panthers couldn’t convert which led to another Sieren touchdown to put the Cobras up 28-0 at half.

 

To start the second half, the temperature dropped from the 80° to about 73° and the wind was barely noticeable.

 

Sieren scored his fourth and final touchdown with 9:57 in the third quarter.

 

“Tonight was a big win, I didn’t think it was going to go this way. Our kids are having fun, that’s what it’s about, having fun with your brothers on a Friday night,” Coach Jensen said.

 

The final two scores were both by Brady Duwa: a 55-yard pass reception and a 55-yard punt return with 5:26 in the third quarter and 7:51 in the fourth quarter.

 

“We dedicated this game to Isabelle Ireland and really anyone out there battling some kind of cancer, anybody battling hardships. We wish them the best, and I hope that score makes them happy,” Duwa said.

 

Next up, the Cobras take on the Bulldogs of Mediapolis.