Focusing on the Falcons: An Interview with the Sports Editor of the Ida County Courier, Mike Thornhill

The No. 1 OABCIG Falcons are taking on the No. 3 Sigourney-Keota Cobras in the semifinals of 1A playoffs in the UNI-Dome on Saturday, Nov. 14.

JL: The Falcons are 10-0 this season after winning the 2A Title last year, 1A seems to be even easier for the Falcons. Who makes this Falcon offense go? 

MT: DeJean gets all the attention and rightly so. It all starts with him, but the team overall has above average athletic ability and speed. They are not the biggest team when it comes to linemen. In the last two seasons I don’t think they have ever been the bigger team on the field, but the kids’ quickness makes up for some of that. They also have a very good defensive coordinator in Travis Chizek who is very good at game planning and making adjustments on the fly.

JL: Besides DeJean, who are some names on the offense that Cobra fans should focus on for Saturday? 

MT: They are deeper at receiver this season than last year. It isn’t uncommon for five to six receivers to catch passes during a game. They have the ability to throw both deep and short, based on what the defense is doing. The leading receiver seems to change from game to game, but the top  receivers include Easton Harms, Cameron Sharkey, Kollton Knop, Trust Wells and Griffin Diersen. Treyten Kolar has also filled in nicely as a backup. DeJean is the leading rusher. He went over 1,000 yards for the season this past week. Diersen has rushed for more than 400 yards.

JL: The closest game of the season was at Spirit Lake in a 27-21 win for OABCIG, what kept the Indians in that one? (OABCIG has outscored all other opponents this season 411-98) 

MT: Spirit Lake went into that game ranked 10th in the state in class 2A by Max Prep Sports. They had a very good defense and play a similar style of offense as OABCIG. The score was close, but OABCIG missed out on three additional scoring opportunities largely due to a young and inexperienced offensive line. This was just the second game of the season and the starting line included three sophomores. The line has steadily improved throughout the season.

JL: Defensively, there are four Falcons with over 25 individual tackles. Who is a name that comes up time and time again when you watch OABCIG football? 

MT: OABCIG plays a lot of kids on defense. In the quarterfinal game against West Sioux 20 kids had tackles. The standouts have been Ethan Shever, Geo Ehrig, Easton Harms and of course DeJean. DeJean was initially recruited by Iowa as a safety. He has the ability to cover the field sideline to sideline. Josh Peters is another kid who doesn’t get much mention, but is a very good player in the secondary.

JL: What keys to victory do you have for both the Falcons and the Cobras? 

MT: OABCIG has been able to score quickly and early in most of its games this season and that has been a big factor for them. In the last couple of years when the Falcons have been behind in games the kids don’t get flustered. They just go about their business. I don’t know much about your team, other than what OABCIG’s coach told me that they are a running team. I think the big thing for them will be to try and contain DeJean and/or score a lot of points.

JL: Finally, if you have a score prediction (or any other Falcon facts) please share them. 

MT: I’ve given up trying to predict scores for OABCIG. I really thought the Hull Western Christian game in the third round of playoffs and the quarterfinal against West Sioux (West Sioux was ranked second in the state by Max Prep Sports) would be in a two to three touchdown range, but both games were blowouts.