(Exira) Exira-EHK is eager to return to the football field Friday night after a one week hiatus.
The Spartan football team was healthy and able last Friday night for their scheduled game with Woodbine, but the bulk of the coaching staff was in quarantine. Coach Tom Petersen fills us in, “It is what it is, it’s the world we live in right now. It’s better to be safe than sorry. As coaches we want to be there more than what anybody can tell. I miss the kids and love the kids. I just want to be with them day in and day out. We just didn’t feel comfortable going into Woodbine with anybody that isn’t part of the staff. That would be putting kids into a situation that’s not good for anybody. Obviously you have to have coaches there. Hopefully we can move forward here and get ready to roll.”
Some of the junior high coaches and others have stepped up to help conduct practices. “We were able to have Alex Hansen, thank goodness, and Tony Santisteban up there to watch the kids. It’s not quite the same, but the kids have been practicing. They are getting reps and doing things they need to be doing.”
Petersen himself has been unable to go to practice for the past week plus. He’s watching as much film as he can and preparing the practice schedule. Travis Nelsen is the acting head coach and will call the shots on Friday. “It’s going to be a tough task for him. I just need our kids to stay the course and stay focused.”
The task at hand is West Harrison/Whiting. The Hawkeyes are 1-3 but have already had to take on the three headed monster of Woodbine, Coon Rapids-Bayard, and Audubon. “So athletic in the backfield. Grant Gilgen has lighting speed and then Gabe Gilgen and Walker Rife. Those three guys in the backfield are extremely fast. They’ve improved so much from what I watched on film early in the season.”
Trey Petersen took over the quarterback role for Exira-EHK after Week 1 and has had some good results. The sophomore is 26/53 for 507 yards, 6 touchdowns, and no interceptions in two starts. He passed for 314 yards in their last outing, a 57-34 loss to Glidden-Ralston. Tyler Kingery caught 10 passes for 209 yards.
