The Exira-EHK Spartans will open up their 2019 football season with a road trip to Tabor to face the Fremont-Mills Knights and we’ll have coverage on KJAN. The Spartans are coming off a 9-2 season in 2018 that ended with a loss to Fremont-Mills on November 11th in the State Quarterfinals 61-20. The two teams will look very different this year with a lot of seniors gone from last season. Fremont-Mills Head Coach Jeremy Christiansen said of all the games the Spartans and Knights have played in the last few years, this might be the one with the most unknowns.

The Knights are replacing a four-year starter at Quarterback in Mason Vanatta. Vanatta threw for 1,170 yards and 16 scores last year and also ran for 1,075 yards and 25 more touchdowns. Coach Christiansen said Colton Hauschild will take over under center, a senior that has been biding is time to step into that spot. The Knights also lost longtime back Jaeger Powers to graduation but they do have the most proven offensive threat back for either team with Seth Malcom at tailback. Malcom had a breakout season last year with 1,202 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also led the team in tackles with 101, including 18 solo tackles for loss. Coach Christiansen said Malcom will be expected to carry a big load.

Exira-EHK is also replacing their starting quarterback from last year, Josh Pettepier. He threw for 1,891 yards and 23 touchdowns last year. Tyler Petersen who has played at qb off and on for the Spartans will assume the full-time duties. Creighton Nelson is expected to be the workhorse back this season with Cole Burmeister and Jayden Goodwin gone. Exira-EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen said the Spartans will need to get that ground game working to be successful.

Coach Petersen has liked the work ethic of this new team and he hopes guys are ready to step up and take on bigger roles. He said the key in week one against a great team will be to take care of themselves and limit mistakes.

The Spartans and Knights are set for a 7:00pm kickoff in Tabor. Chris Parks and Mike Smith will have the call on KJAN. You can tune in on-air or online. You can also watch live streaming video on KJANTV. Our football night will start with our weekly pick ’em show Who’s Gonna Win? at 6:00pm followed by the Dvorak Tire and Service Pregame Show at 6:30pm. After the game stay tuned for post-game interviews and the Iowa High School Scoreboard Show from 10:00pm-11:30pm.