Pekin hopes to solve Sigourney-Keota offense

Panthers, Savage-Cobras amped for battle

By Carson Tigges
Ledger sports editor
Published:
Thursday, August 27, 2009 2:55 PM CDT

Friday night will be power vs. power when Pekin and Sigourney-Keota meet in Packwood to kick off the 2009 season.

Last year’s power struggle gave Sigourney-Keota a win by the slimmest of margins after its come from behind victory gave them a 20-19 win to start the season. Pekin hopes to bounce back and get a win, but maybe more importantly, head coach Tom Stone just wants to see his team on the field.

“The guys are really tired of practicing, playing against ourselves and just want to see somebody different,” he said. “Some people say they’re not ready to play, but we are ready to go. We’ll make some mistakes, but I know we’re going to work hard.

“I’m pleased with the excitement the kids have been showing. No doubt, they’re geared up and ready to go.”

The Panthers may need the kind of intensity that Stone speaks of to match up in the trenches with a big, talented Savage Cobra line. The Panthers do have size of their own however, including last year’s all-state linemen Darin Adam, but also may need a little more to solve the Sigourney-Keota offense.

“They run that single wing offense and it’s just a hard thing to prepare for because it’s about the only time we’ll see it all season,” Stone said. “It’s hard to come up with keys for the boys to look for because they do such a good job concealing the ball and make it hard to find.”

Offensively for Pekin, Dalton Stone will be running the show from the quarterback position for his third straight year, and Trenton Northup steps in at running back and figures to receive a majority of the carries for the run-heavy offense.

Kickoff for the non-district game is slated for 7 p.m. at Pekin.

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