SSI Football: Playoffs Resume Tonight! Game Previews For Action Across Siouxland!

PLAYOFF PREVIEWS PRESENTED BY:

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PLAYOFF PREVIEW CLASS 3A QUARTERFINAL

KICKOFF: 7:00 PM

WEATHER: 44* Game Time Temp

Sioux Center (9-1) @ Bishop Heelan (7-2)

GAME SET UP: Two familiar opponents lock horns tonight at Memorial Stadium for a re-match from a Crusader 28-15 victory back on September 26th. The Warriors are a very good opponent and challenged the Crusaders in the earlier matchup. Tonight's game will be interesting as these two high caliber opponents have prior game film to study. I do feel each team will have a few new wrinkles to feature. The Warriors defeated Des Moines Christian in the first round 28-10. The Crusaders are in off a 28-6 victory over Atlantic in the first round.

The Warriors of head coach Tim Van Regenmorter enter tonight's playoff game having won five straight games following the early season loss to the Crusaders.

The Warriors are led on offense by junior Ezra Hibma who has put together a great season while completing (60%) of his passes for (1,564) yards and (20) touchdowns . Hibma has also been valuable in the run game with (7) rushing scores. The main threat in the run game is senior RB Cody Sandbolte who has (676) yards and (9) scores. Another key contributor in the run game is senior RB Joseph Molina who has racked up (591) yards and (4) scores. QB Hibma's key receiving targets include Molina with (22) receptions for (371) yards and (7) touchdowns. Next in line at WR is junior Braedon Perez-Heitbrink with (20) catches good for (486) yards and (3) scores.

The Warrior defense is led by LB Sandbolte with a team high (56.5) tackles and (13.0) TFL. Senior Jake Lane has (41.5) tackles and (4.5) TFL. Junior Tate Swager has (38.0) tackles on the season. The Warriors have (16) interceptions on the season.

The Crusaders of head coach Jon LaFleur took care of business last week at home winning 28-6 over Atlantic. Senior RB/LB Kasen Thomas moved the needle last week with (119) yards rushing and (2) scores. Thomas has rushed for (1,195) yards and (21) touchdowns. Senior QB Noah Conley has passed for (1,187) and (8) scores. Senior RB/LB Avery Favors has tacked on (307) yards rushing and (2) scores. Senior WR/S Caden Lester leads the Crusaders with (30) receptions for (404) yards and (4) scores. Junior WR/CB Grant Whitcomb has been busy with (15) catches for (416) yards and (2) touchdowns.

The defense is led by first-team All-Stater OLB Kasen Thomas with (35.0) tackles and (12.0) TFL. Senior MLB Zach Harpenau has collected (59.0) tackles and (4.0) TFL. Senior OLB Matt Meyer has been a factor with (58.5) tackles and (11.0) TFL. Junior CB Whitcomb has (6) interceptions on the season.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW CLASS 4A QUARTERFINAL

North Polk (8-2) @ SBL (9-1)

KICKOFF: 7:00 PM

WEATHER: 45* Game Time Temp

GAME SET UP: The North Polk Comets (8-2) are in Sergeant Bluff tonight to take on the Warriors (9-1). The Comets of head coach Tim TeBrink enters tonights game off a solid 35-21 win over Glenwood in first round playoff action. SBL head coach Justin Smith and the Warriors are fresh off a first round playoff victory over LeMars 42-7. This will be an intriguing matchup with contrasting offensive styles of play.

The Comets have a solid QB in senior James Armstrong who has passed for (1,737) yards and (13) touchdowns. Armstrong who has also rushed for (272) yards and (4) scores is completing (65%) of his passes entering tonight's game off a 18-23 passing night for (230) yards and one score in their first round victory. The running game is paced by junior RB Carson Rhinehart who has piled up (1,059) yards and (14) touchdowns. Junior RB Calvin Heitzman has tacked on (233) yards and (6) touchdowns. Senior WR Bryce Burke has (42) receptions for (762) yards and (6) scores. Junior WR Brady Cathcart has hauled in (36) passes for (453) yards and (4) touchdowns. The defense is anchored by senior DE Micah Sands 6-4 (230) with (48.0) tackles and (6) TFL. Senior Benjamin Glasgow has racked up (39.5) tackles.

The host Warriors have run off 9-wins in a row and have been steadily improving as the season has moved along. The offense is led by senior QB Isaiah Jervik who is a good fit for this power ground game offense. Jervik has passed for (513) yards and (8) scores. Jervik does most of his damage on the ground with (421) rush yards and (8) scores. The backfield has been in good hands with junior Beckett Verros who has cruised to (1,134) yards and (13) scores. Senior Joey Hardy has rushed for (443) yards and (7) touchdowns. Senior WR Gavin Warren is the playmaker on the outside with (19) receptions for (305) yards and (8) scores. The Warrior defense is paced by junior OLB Xavier Jones with (57.0) stops and (9.5) TFL. Senior Hardy at OLB is also a key contributor with (21.0) tackles with (6.0) TFL. Junior Aden Konopasek has been steady with (31.5) tackles.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW CLASS 5A QUARTERFINAL

SIOUX CITY EAST (9-1) @ WAUKEE NW (9-1)

KICKOFF: 7:00 PM

WEATHER: 50* GAME TIME TEMP WINDS 9 MPH (NNW)

GAME SET UP: Two red hot teams meet in Waukee tonight for the showdown between the Black Raiders and Wolves. The Black Raiders of head coach Mike Winklepleck enter tonight on a 5-game winning streak and advanced with a first round win over Dallas Center Grimes (28-14). The Wolves led by head coach Corey Kopatich enter the contest on a 2-game win streak following a 31-28 upset to Waukee back on October 17. The Wolves defeated Indianola 28-7 in the first round.

The Black Raiders are led on offense by three year starting senior QB Cal Jepsen who has put together an outstanding career as the signal caller. Jepsen has passed for (2,274) yards and (23) touchdowns this season while completing (68%) of his passes.

The Black Raider running game features senior RB Mandell Groetken who has picked up (305) yards and (3) scores returning from injury. Another key player is junior RB Amos Collins has rushed for (493) yards and (4) touchdowns. Jepsen has one of the best receiving targets in the state with electric sophomore WR Isaiah Grant who has (44) receptions for (707) yards and (8) trips to the end-zone. Junior playmaker WR Chris Ford has (30) catches for (501) yards and (3) scores and is a dangerous return man as he has housed (3) kick returns on the season. Sophomore Slot/WR Tanner Boonstra has had a great season with (35) receptions for (447) yards and (5) scores. Junior TE Kason Clayborne is a solid option with (23) catches for (234) yards and (4) touchdowns.

The Black Raider defense features a pair of senior DE's in Jack Ohman (38.5) tackles and (12.5) TFL. Senior Colin Pittenger has had an outstanding season with (49.0) tackles and (15.5) TFL. Senior LB Jake Breyfogle has a team leading (66.5) tackles and (12) TFL.

D-1 prospect Kason Clayborne is a playmaker with (45.5) tackles and (9.0) TFL.

The visiting Wolves feature junior QB Mack Heitland 6-1 (175) who has thrown for (2,635) yards and (27) touchdowns while completing (80%) of his passes. The running game showcases senior RB Ryan Woodruff with (709) yards and (10) scores. Another key contributor in the backfield is sophomore Paulo Tobongye with (543) yards and (8) scores. The key WR targets for Heitland include senior Iowa football commit Isaiah Oliver with (53) receptions for (911) yards and (9) touchdowns. Junior WR Jordan Greene has been electric with (56) catches for (1,032) yards and (13) touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball the Wolves feature team leading tackler senior Austin Van Horn 5-10 (175) with (81) tackles and (4.0) TFL. Senior Bodie Morrison has been active with (40.5) tackles and (9.5) TFL. Another key player is senior Brady Fitz (40.0) tackles and (2.5) TFL.