Spartans hope for season-long improvement
EXIRA (Sept. 8) -- The first two games of the 2020 football season have literally been a tale of two halves for Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton.
In a Week 1 contest at 2nd-ranked Audubon, Exira-EHK fell behind 49-0 at halftime in a 55-0 defeat.
In Friday’s home game vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard, the Spartans trailed just 26-19 at the break but were outscored 40-0 in the second half and lost 66-19.
Competing for four full quarters will be the biggest challenge early this year for Coach Tom Petersen’s squad as some players adjust to the varsity level and others adapt to playing full-time on both sides of the ball.
“Number one: we’re going to have to learn playing some different positions that they haven’t in the past few years,” Petersen said. “(We don’t have) a lot of experience on both sides of the football. We have kids that played quite a bit a year ago - I think we have three starters back - but playing the full game and just not having a lot of depth, it’s something that our kids are going to probably struggle with.”
Going into Friday’s game with CR-B, Petersen said the goal right now is to try to improve from week to week, something that was realized with a competitive first half.
The Spartans finished 4-5 overall last year and went 3-4 in 8-Player, District 8 to tie for fourth place. This year’s roster includes 23 players but only three seniors: Tyler Petersen, Hunter Andersen and Wyatt Fahn.
Petersen, the team’s starting quarterback, middle linebacker, placekicker and punter, missed the CR-B game and is not expected to return until Week 4 against Woodbine.
Coach Petersen feels that his oldest son’s ability to throw the football should be a strength for the Spartans this year offensively. Last season, Tyler completed 77-of-192 pass attempts for 1,075 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
His top receiving targets will be Andersen (10 catches, 165 yards last year) junior Tyler Kingery and sophomore Trey Petersen (14-116, 1 TD). Trey Petersen is playing quarterback in Tyler’s absence.
2020 Exira-EHK Football Schedule
Aug. 28 - at Audubon (L, 55-0)*
Sept. 4 - CR-Bayard (L, 66-19)*
Sept. 11 - Glidden-Ralston, 7:00*
Sept. 18 - at Woodbine, 7:00*
Sept. 25 - at West Harrison, 7:00*
Oct. 2 - Ar-We-Va, 7:00*
Oct. 9 - Boyer Valley, 7:00*
Home Games in Bold Type * District Games
8-Player Playoffs: Oct. 16, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 6, Nov. 12, Nov. 19.
2019 Exira-EHK Results
4-5 Overall, 3-4 in District 8 (T-4th)
8/30: Fremont-Mills 50, Exira-EHK 2
9/6: Exira-EHK 46, Sidney 44
9/13: Audubon 48, Exira-EHK 6*
9/20: E-EHK 43, Glidden-Ralston 20*
9/27: CAM 56, Exira-EHK 0*
10/4: Exira-EHK 50, W. Harrison 14*
10/11: Exira-EHK 28, Woodbine 12*
10/18: Boyer Valley 30, Exira-EHK 15*
10/25: CR-B 42, Exira-EHK 7*
* District Games
Exira-EHK 2020 Starters
OFFENSE
LE: 10, Hunter Andersen - 6’, 160, sr.
LG: 52, Wyatt Fahn - 6’, 215, sr.
C: 77, Jackson Shores - 5’11”, 210, jr.
RG: 1, Easton Nelson - 6’4”, 190, so.
RE: 22, Tyler Kingery - 5’10” 145, jr.
QB: 6, Tyler Petersen - 6’3”, 195, sr.*
FB: 8, Dane Paulsen - 6’2”, 180, jr.
TB: 3, Trey Petersen - 5’11”, 155, so.*
PK: 6, Tyler Petersen - 6’3”, 195, sr.
* Starting Experience on Offense
DEFENSE
OLB: 1, Easton Nelson - 6’4”, 190, so.
DT: 52, Wyatt Fahn - 6’, 215, sr.*
DT: 77, Jackson Shores - 5’11”, 210, jr.
OLB: 3, Trey Petersen - 5’11”, 155, so.*
ILB: 8, Dane Paulsen - 6’2”, 180, jr.
ILB: 6, Tyler Petersen - 6’3”, 195, sr.
DB: 10, Hunter Andersen - 6’, 160, sr.*
DB: 22, Tyler Kingery - 5’10” 145, jr.
Punter: 6, Tyler Petersen - 6’3”, 195, sr.*
* Starting Experience on Defense