Experienced Spartans open 2018 on strong note
EXIRA (Aug. 24) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton football team opens the 2018 season with non-district games against last year’s two playoff qualifiers from the old 8-Player, District 7.
So far, so good.
Rallying from three scores down to three scores up last Friday night, the Spartans defeated a highly-renowned Fremont-Mills team 45-27 and now enters their Week 2 game at Sidney ranked fourth in the state in the first Associated Press poll of the year.
Exira-EHK already had high expectations going into the season, returning its starting quarterback, leading rusher, top three receivers and many of its tackler leaders from last year’s 5-4 campaign.
Quarterback Josh Pettepier, who passed for 1,323 yards and 21 touchdowns last fall (only five interceptions) opened his senior season with an outstanding game against F-M, completing 15-of-26 passes for 266 yards and three TDs. He also led the team in rushing with 115 yards (one TD) on just 14 carries.
Versatile running back Cole Burmeister, meanwhile, scored five total TDs last week, rushing for 50 yards and three scores and adding eight receptions for 118 yards and two TDs. Trey Nelson caught five balls for 132 yards and one TD.
The Spartans boast another weapon in Jayden Goodwin, who finished last year with nearly 700 combined yards rushing and receiving and 10 total touchdowns.
Defensively, Cade Bruns (62 tackles), Trever Schulz (60 tackles, 17 TFL, 5 sacks) and Ian Leader (59 tackles) are the top three returning tacklers from 2017. Goodwin had four interceptions last year while Burmeister (one pick-six) and Nelson both had two INTs.
2018 Exira-EHK Varsity Football Schedule
Aug. 24 - Fremont-Mills (W 45-27)
Aug. 31 - at Sidney, 7:00
Sept. 7 - Audubon*, 7:00
Sept. 14 - Glidden-Ralston*, 7:00
Sept. 21 - at CAM*, 7:00
Sept. 28 - West Harrison*, 7:00 (Homecoming)
Oct. 5 - at Woodbine*, 7:00
Oct. 12 - Boyer Valley*, 7:00 (Senior Night)
Oct. 19 - at Coon Rapids-Bayard*, 7:00
Home Games in Bold Type
* District Games
Exira-EHK 2018 Football Roster
1, Trever Schulz: 6-2, 190, sr., OL/DL
2, Cole Burmeister: 5-7, 130, sr., RB/DB
3, Trey Nelson: 6-2, 160, sr., WR/DB
4, Tyler Petersen: 6-0, 175, so., QB/LB
9, Jayden Goodwin: 5-10, 144, sr., RB/DB
10, Hunter Andersen: 5-10, 150, so., RB/DB
13, Ethan Marxen: 5-7, 142, jr., RB/LB
14, Josh Pettepier: 5-10, 175, sr., QB/LB
15, Creighton Nelson: 6-3, 180, jr., RB/LB
17, Ian Leader: 5-11, 170, sr., WR/LB
32, Jamie Stewart: 5-5, 120, so., WR/DB
33, Dane Paulsen: 6-0, 170, fr., RB/LB
34, Cade Bruns: 5-11, 205, jr., OL/LB
40, Dawson Carey: 5-8, 170, sr., RB/LB
45, Carson Anderson: 5-11, 190, jr., OL/DL
52, Wyatt Fahn: 6-0, 200, so, OL/DL
55, Kellie Haas: 5-5, 224, jr., OL/DL
58, William Paulsen: 6-3, 205, jr., OL/DL
66, Jacob Rattenborg: 5-10, 210, jr., OL/DL
68, Hudson Kitelinger: 5-9, 200, jr., OL/DL
72, Aaron Allen: 6-1, 230, sr., OL/DL
76, David Nelsen: 5-11, 200, jr., OL/DL
77, Jackson Shores: 5-7, 180, fr., OL/DL
82, Everette Carroll: 5-10, 152, jr., WR/DB
84, Will Carroll: 5-10, 152, jr., QB/DB
87, Aiden Potts: 5-7, 115, fr., WR/DB
88, Brock Schlueter: 6-0, 150, so., WR/DB
89, Tyler Kingery: 5-4, 100, fr., WR/DB