The 2021 high school football season starts Friday night (8/27).  Oskaloosa kicks off its season with a game at Ottumwa.  This will also be the first game for Brett Doud as Indians’ head coach.  He moved up from offensive coordinator after Jake Jenkins stepped down over the summer.  Doud was asked about moving up to the top job.

“I don’t know that I look at it any differently.  I’m just trying to help get a team ready.  I’m one of many coaches.  The only difference between being a head coach and an assistant coach is I have to deal with the other stuff behind the scenes.  So nothing changes at practice.  We just have to preach a mentality and get the kids ready.”

Ottumwa is looking to rebound from an 0-7 record last season.  Osky was 2-6 in 2020, including a victory over the Bulldogs.  Kickoff is 7:30 at Shafer Stadium.  KBOE-FM will have live coverage of the Indians and Bulldogs starting at 7:15.

Meanwhile, Sigourney-Keota is looking to improve on a 10-1 record and a trip to the 1A State semifinals. Cobras Coach Jared Jensen doesn’t want his players to take success for granted.

“At times, I think maybe some of our guys are a little too confident.  But at other times we see them working hard, we see them doing what we’ve got to do.  And if that confidence equals wins, we’ll take it.  We can’t be over-confident against anybody.  It’s not the same team as we were last year.”

Sigourney-Keota plays at Durant Friday night at 7.  Live coverage on KMZN AM & FM starts at 6:45 with AJ Helgeson calling the action.