Reversing close defeats key to Wolves’ playoff hopes

2017 IKM-Manning Football Preview

 MANNING -- The IKM-Manning football team missed the playoffs for just the second time in nine years last fall, but the Wolves were much closer to a postseason berth than their 5-4 overall record and 4-3 district mark would indicate.
 In a 14-8 home loss to Class 1-A, District 7 champion Logan-Magnolia, IKM-M’s final drive stalled at the 5-yard-line. One week later, the Wolves let a 17-point third-quarter lead slip away in a 28-24 loss at Missouri Valley. The following Friday, they led AHSTW 8-7 at the half before falling 27-16.
 Outside of that three-game slide, the Wolves dominated their remaining four district opponents and still would have earned a playoff berth under the state’s previous 32-qualifier system (reduced to 16 per class).
 IKM-Manning’s only real sound defeat was a 50-8 Week 2 setback at Class 2-A playoff qualifier South Central Calhoun.
 So with 11 returning letter winners back on a 38-player roster, including quarterback Jared Johnson and top rusher Stephen Grimm, the Wolves enter the 2017 season with some axes to grind and motivation to reverse some of last year’s close defeats.
 “The only game that we were actually out of was the (South Central Calhoun) game and they’re a very good 2-A football team, so they did that to several teams,” said IKM-Manning head coach Tom Casey (208-111 in 32 years at IKM and IKM-M).
 “I hope the guys that are coming back have some confidence gained last year that they can build on. We have a good nucleus to build around.”

2017 IKM-M Varsity Football Schedule
Aug. 25 - at East Sac County, 7:00 (at Wall Lake)
Sept. 1 - South Central Calhoun, 7:00
Sept. 8 - OA-BCIG, 7:00*
Sept. 15 - at Logan-Magnolia, 7:00*
Sept. 22 - Missouri Valley, 7:00* (Homecoming)
Sept. 29 - at AHSTW, 7:00*
Oct. 6 - ACGC, 7:00*
Oct. 13 - at Treynor, 7:00*
Oct. 20 - at Tri-Center, 7:00*
Home Games in Bold Type
* District Games
Class 1-A Playoff Dates: Oct. 27, Nov. 3, Nov. 11, Nov. 17.

2016 IKM-M Results
5-4 Overall, 4-3 in District 7 (T-3rd)
8/26    IKM-M 20, East Sac Co. 14
9/2    South Central Calhoun 50, IKM-M 8
9/9    IKM-M 40, OA-BCIG 15*
9/16    Logan-Magnolia 14, IKM-M 8*
9/23    Mo. Valley 28, IKM-M 24*
9/30    AHSTW 27, IKM-M 16*
10/7    IKM-M 47, ACGC 6*
10/14    IKM-M 48, Treynor 0*
10/21    IKM-M 48, Tri-Center 21*

* District Games

 
 

 

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