The Exira-EHK Spartans Football team is gearing up for a big 8-Man District 1 road game at Newell-Fonda on Friday night.  Both teams come into the game sporting 6-0 records and a win would go a long way toward winning a district title.  The Mustangs are the defending State Champions in 8-Man football and Exira-EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen says he knows his team will need to play a great game in order to knock off a great team. Newell-Fonda returns 7 of 8 offensive starters from last season and Quarterback Jason Hess actually entered the championship game at that position last year due to injury.  Hess has thrown for 737 yards and 13 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions this season.  Newell-Fonda likes to keep the ball on the ground though and they are lead in rushing by Senior Cole Wise wtih 680 yards and 13 scores on the year.

The Spartans have also gotten some great play out of a Running Back in Junior Drew Buckholdt whom is averaging over 8 yards per carry and has rushed for 10 touchdowns and caught 4 more.  Newell-Fonda Head Coach Brian Wilken says he has a lot of respect for the Spartans and expects a tough game from them.  The Mustangs come into the game having won 17 straight games and Coach Petersen says his team knows the type of focus and execution they need to try get the win.

We’ll have coverage of the game on KJAN.  Chris Parks and Seth Christensen will bring you the broadcast with a 6:30pm Pregame and 7:00pm Kickoff from Newell.  You can listen on AM1220, FM101.1, online at kjan.com, or on the KJAN mobile app.  You can also watch a live video stream of the game online on the KJANTV page at kjan.com.  Our football night begins with our weekly high school pick ’em show Who’s Gonna Win? at 6:00pm.

The Atlantic Trojan football team gets a different kind of match-up this week, that is one not against a top ten ranked opponent.  The Trojans have lost big the last two weeks to top ten rated foes Harland and Dallas Center-Grimes.  This week the Trojans get to take a break from District play and take on fellow Hawkeye Ten Conference member Shenandoah whom is 4-2 on the season. Atlantic Head Coach Eric Waldstein says his team is ready to bounce back and prove they can win this week.

The Trojans (1-5) have battled through a wide variety of injuries forcing a lot of young players to see the field in a variety of positions.  The Trojans are hopeful that they will be a little healthier this week after making it through the Dallas Center-Grimes game with no major setbacks.  The Trojans will rely on leaders like Wide Receiver Brenden Holmes and Running Back Drake Roller to get the Trojans back in the win column.

The Trojans will try to slow down the Mustang rushing attack that is led by Running Back Logan Roberts (574 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Quarterback Jake Johnson (462 yards, 6 touchdowns). Coach Waldstein says assignment defense will be the key and thinks the Trojans offense can have some success on the ground themselves.

You can hear an extended interview with Coach Waldstein on Trojan Preview at 4:45pm Friday on KJAN.

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech looks to rebound from back-to-back losses to top-five teams when the Red Raiders take on Iowa State on Saturday. The Cyclones are aiming for a second Big 12 road win after beating Kansas last week. Texas Tech coach Kliff Kinsgbury sees a much improved Iowa State (2-2, 1-0) team led by quarterback Sam Richardson. The Red Raiders are No. 124th in the nation — fourth from the bottom — in total defense, giving up 581 yards per game.

Texas Tech (3-2, 0-2 Big 12), which leads the nation in passing offense and ranked third in total offense, lost to then-No. 3 TCU two weeks ago and fell to then-No. 5 Baylor last week. The Cyclones hope a new defensive scheme will help stifle the Red Raiders.