Showdown At The Snake Pit: Sigourney-Keota vs Pleasantville Preview

Sigourney-Keota looks to take the field last season at Pleasantville.

Written by Clint Dye

The Iowa Class 1A District 6 has itself a prime time showdown tonight as Pleasantville (3-1) travels to take on Sigourney-Keota (3-1). 

Both teams began the season with a week one loss before rattling off three impressive wins in a row. 

Sigourney-Keota felt the sting of a week one loss to a physically imposing Class 2A PCM. The following week they hit the road and put on a convincing win over Mediapolis, 23-7. 

Week three the Cobras were on the road again and played spoiler to Mid-Prairie’s Homecoming, defeating the Golden Hawks, 21-14. Last week during their own Homecoming celebration, Sigourney-Keota dominated Cardinal 60-0. 

“We took care of business like I felt we should have,” said Cobra head coach Jared Jensen. “The kids were focused and ready to go before the game and they kept that excitement all game long.”

Pleasantville takes the field a year agao against Sigourney-Keota.

Pleasantville began the season with a home loss of their own, falling to I-35. Bouncing back on the road the following week, the Trojans defeated Woodward-Granger, 42-30. 

Lynville-Sully was their next opponent, but once again Pleasantville emerged victorious, defeating the Hawks, 34-24. 

Which brings us to last week and the Trojans biggest regular season victory in a long time as they defeated Pella Christian, 20-13. 

“Beating PC was definitely big for us, mostly because it was the start of district play and allowed us to start out right with a victory, but also because PC is such a quality program,” said Pleasantville head coach Mack Jorth. “Our team believes in themselves and in each other, so it just helps keep us focused on the next step in the journey.”

With both teams riding high on a wave of momentum, the stakes are high when they meet inside the Snake Pit.

The winner will be in the driver’s seat for a District 6 Championship. Something Sigourney-Keota has done four years in a row. 

This colossal collision is best summed up as a contrast in styles. 

On one hand you have Sigourney-Keota, known for a bruising, run heavy offensive approach. Across the field from them Friday night will be the air it out, spread it around attack of Pleasantville. 

Both teams are averaging nearly 30 points per game and both have playmakers on the offensive side of the ball.

 Isaac Bruns has been at the fore front of the Cobra offense this season.

At the forefront of the Cobra offense is senior running back Isaac Bruns.

So far this season, the electric Bruns has 487 rushing yards and has scored seven touchdowns.He is also a threat in the return game each time the ball is kicked to him. 

Joining Bruns in the three headed Cobra rushing attack is sophomore Ike Molyneux who has 153 yards on the season and two touchdowns and senior Brady Clark who has also ran for over 100 yards. 

The unique offensive approach and physicality is something Coach Jort knows will be a big challenge Friday night. 

“I expect a very physical, aggressive, and disciplined football team,” Jorth said. “It will be a battle all night long.  Sigourney is very well coached and difficult to prepare for so we will have our hands full.  The single wing always presents your defense with challenges because it is so different and requires such discipline and physicality to stop.”

Pleasantville has their own trio of offensive weapons to look out for Friday night in sophomores Braylon Bingham, Brayden Kennedy and JJ Phillips. 

Braydon Bingham leads the Trojan offense.

Bingham in just his second year of varsity ball, has become one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in Class 1A. So far this season he has thrown for 889 yards and ran for 175 while providing the Trojans with 14 touchdowns. 

His leading receiver has been Kennedy with 292 yards and one score. Meanwhile JJ Phillips has been a dual threat out of the backfield with 261 rushing yards to go along with his 117 receiving yards. 

Coach Jensen knows his defense will have their hands full with such an explosive offense Friday night. 

“They’re going to be a big challenge for us Friday night,” Jensen said. “They have probably the best quarterback we will face in the regular season. We’re going to have to be on the same page at each level of our defense and everyone’s going to have to do their jobs.”

There’s history heading into this contest, especially recently. Last season these two teams met in an instant classic when Sigourney-Keota came back from an 18-7 deficit to earn a 31-24 overtime victory. 

Will Sigourney-Keota keep their District dominance alive Friday night or will Pleasantville make their ascent to the top of the standings?

Only one way to find out and that’s to make the trip to the Snake Pit, tonight at 7pm.