Destined for the Dome: Sigourney-Keota Clinches a spot in the semifinals for the first time since 2005

Published by editor on Wed, 11/11/2020 - 12:08pm

Carson Sprouse (51) celebrates with (19) Colten Clarahan, (70) Aiden Schuster and (22) Jack Clarahan after a big third-down sack last Friday night.
Clinging to a three point lead last Friday, Nov. 5, every single Sigourney-Keota fan, player and
coach within the Snake Pit awaited the incoming onside kick with nervous anticipation.
 
The anxiety filled butterflies quickly turned into raucous celebration as Columbus Catholic’s
onside kick slowly rolled out of bounds, securing Sigourney-Keota’s 35-32 victory.
“I knew when he clipped it, that it was staying short. I swear it hit one of their guys, our guys up
top kept telling me it was going out,” said Sigourney-Keota head coach Jared Jensen. “It was a
stressful time and our kids were ready for it, but we were happy we didn’t have to actually
recover it.”
 
The victory earned the Cobras’ a spot in the Iowa Class 1A Semifinals and a chance to play in
the UNI Dome for the first time since 2005, the last time Sigourney-Keota won a State
Championship.
 
“This is huge, it’s been since 2005 since we had a chance to get up there,” Jensen said. “We’ve
had so much effort put in from the time I got here. We’ve taken so many steps forward and just
continued our progress. The culture has been built, these kids have bought in, the parents are
completely bought in for their kids within the program. I’m so proud of these guys to get this
opportunity in the Dome.”
 
Columbus Catholic fired out of the gates opening the game with a 12-play 80-yard drive that
ended with a four yard touchdown run. A failed PAT, a common theme for Columbus on this
night, kept the score 6-0.
 
After a disastrous onside kick attempt failed, giving Sigourney-Keota excellent field position, the
Cobras’ responded with a 21-yard touchdown run by senior Brady Duwa to take a 7-6 lead.
The Sailors retaliated on their next possession with a one yard touchdown run to take a 13-6
lead into the second quarter.
 
Brady Duwa’s dynamic duo running back partner, fellow senior Sam Sieren, gave
Sigourney-Keota a 14-13 lead on a one yard touchdown run of his own.
 
On Columbus Catholic’s next possession, the Cobra defense made their first big play of the
game.
Facing third-and-9, Columbus Catholic quarterback Carter Gallagher dropped back to pass, but
before he could get the pass off he was corralled by Cobra senior Carson Sprouse.
The huge sack and Sprouse’s celebration with his teammates fired up the Cobra faithful.
 
“That was a big play by Carson, it really helped swing the momentum our way,” Jensen said.
 
With momentum on their side, Brady Duwa struck again, this time on a 47-yard touchdown run
pushing the Cobra lead to 21-13.
 
Duwa finished the game with nine carries for 125 yards with two touchdowns.
 
Before the first half came to a close, Columbus Catholic reached the end zone once again on a
17-yard touchdown run. A missed two point conversion attempt kept the score 21-19 at the
break.
The third quarter is where Sigourney-Keota took control of this contest. The Cobras' had
possession of the ball for more than ten minutes of the quarter and extended their lead to 28-19
with another one yard touchdown run by Sam Sieren.
 
Cobra junior Levi Crawford set up the touchdown with an interception on the Sailors' third down
conversion attempt during their previous possession.
 
“That was the best offensive team we faced all year, so keeping them off the field was huge for
us,” Jensen said. “Defensively we were able to get off the field when we needed to in the third
quarter.”
 
In the fourth quarter, Columbus Catholic pulled within three on an 87-yard touchdown pass
before Sam Sieren once again reached the end zone on his third one yard touchdown run of the
game.
 
Sieren had a monster of a game, carrying the ball 39 times for 194 yards with three scores.
Anytime the Cobras needed a crucial conversion, Sieren was their go to guy.
 
Trailing 35-25 with under a minute to play, Columbus Catholic pulled from their bag of tricks and
executed a hook and ladder, setting them up for a three yard touchdown pass pulling them
within three once again, before their onside kick attempt rolled out of bounds ending their 2020
season.
 
This Saturday, Nov. 14 the Cobras travel to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls to play the No. 1 team
in Class 1A, OABCIG (10-0).
 
“Our focus this week will be to continue to be us,” Jensen said. “We’re not going to change
anything we do, we have to stay focused and continue to hammer out the things we were
successful on. It’s going to be an exciting week.”

Category:

Contact

The News-Review

120 East Washington
Sigourney, Iowa 52591
Phone: 641-622-3110
News: news@sigourneynewsreview.com
 

601 G. Avenue/PO Box 245
Grundy Center, IA 50638
Telephone: 1-319-824-6958
Fax: 1-319-824-6288
News: editor@gcmuni.net
Sales: registerads@gcmuni.net
 

Mid-America Publishing

This newspaper is part of the Mid-America Publishing Family. Please visit www.midampublishing.com for more information.