Area Coaches Sound Off Heading Into The Playoffs

The Playoffs are a special time as so many in the past have said the playoffs are the season within a season. It’s a time where it all comes down to one game at a time, it’s “survive and advance” or lose and go home. It’s not about what you did for the last two months it is about what you do for the next 4 quarters. It is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting 1st round of the playoffs all over the listening area.

On 105.9 “The Beach” South Central Calhoun is in a familiar spot at home in the 1st round. The Titans have won a playoff game in 4 of the last 5 years and 3 straight years coming in. They host Sioux Central in the 1st round. SC Calhoun comes in 5-1 their lone loss was to unbeaten Southeast Valley on Sept. 25th which snapped SCC’s 30 game regular season winning streak. They bounced back from that loss in a major way last week handling Belmond-Klemme 44-7. It’s the same tried and true formula for Coach Brian Case’s squad of the run game offense and hard hitting stingy defense. Sioux Central comes in 2-5 and they are riding a 5 game losing streak. South Central Calhoun has won their 1st round playoff game 3 years in a row and has won at least one playoff game 4 of the last 5 years. Join veteran sportscasters Mark Williamson and Brian Peters on the call of the game starting with the pregame show at 6:45 PM, kickoff at 7.

St. Edmond is at home in the playoffs for the 1st time since 2014. They are 5-2 which matches the program’s highest win total since the 5-4 season in 2015. The Gaels have had a turnaround year in Coach Matt Dillon’s 3rd year at the helm and the Gaels 5 wins this season matches the total of the first two seasons of his tenure. Dillon led Dowling Catholic to back to back state titles in 2000 and 2001 and led North Polk to the playoffs in his tenure their as well. While the group of players at St. Edmond doesn’t have playoff experience they can lean on a coach who has plenty.

On “Sunny” 99.7 and here on our website, tonight St. Edmond hosts Madrid at Dodger Stadium. Pregame Show coverage starts at 6:45 PM, kickoff set for 7 PM. Coach Matt Dillon says his message this week has been capitalizing on this special opportunity.

Elsewhere around the area

Humboldt hosts Bishop Heelan, it’s the first home playoff game for Humboldt in 6 years. The Wildcats are 4-3 their 1st winning regular season in that same span and have done so in the 3rd year of Coach Derrick Elman’s tenure. QB Caden Matson is the catalyst of their offense, a dual threat with over 1,800 combined yards and 21 total TD’s this season. Here’s Humboldt Coach Derrick Elman on his message going into the playoffs.

Manson NW Webster has an unenviable task in the 1st round traveling to take on West Hancock. The Cougars fell to the defending State Champs in the regular season finale last week 48-0. Manson NW Webster Coach Marty Hart says tonight his team’s mentality is “playing with house money”.