A season to remember
The Sioux City East Black Raiders capped the 2025 campaign with a 9-2 record, the most wins since the 2007 team that finished 10-1. The offense averaged almost 35 points per game, propelling the club to four straight victories to open the season before a 26-20 setback at Ankeny in Week 5. A four-game winning streak to close the regular season secured the third seed in District 3, where the Raiders finished 4-1 alongside Johnston and Ankeny.
The 2026 slate promises another gauntlet of playoff qualifiers from the previous year. The season opens on August 28 at home against intra-city rival Sioux City North, and the team will not leave Sioux City until October 1 for a road trip to Des Moines Roosevelt. High School On SI Iowa has already placed the Black Raiders fourth in the preseason Top 25 rankings for 2026.
Looking ahead to 2026
A key storyline is the departure of standout quarterback Cal Jepsen, who threw for 2,587 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2025 before committing to Western Kentucky University to play NCAA Division I baseball. Replacing his production will be sophomore Callan Koch, who completed 28 of 47 passes for 286 yards with four touchdowns last season and added 31 rushing yards. Koch is expected to inherit the starting role alongside a revamped receiving corps.
The offense returns several playmakers. Running back Amos Collins led the team with 506 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while Quintin Pollard averaged 14.3 yards per carry as a sophomore. At receiver, Chris Ford (committed to South Dakota) posted 39 catches for 661 yards and four scores, and Kason Clayborne (committed to Minnesota) added 27 receptions for 302 yards and six touchdowns. Isaiah Grant emerged as a deep threat with 734 yards and eight touchdowns, and Tanner Boonstra contributed 472 yards and five scores.
Defensively, the Raiders will lean on a core of experienced tacklers. Clayborne recorded 13 tackles for loss and one sack, while Ford posted 62 total tackles and two interceptions. Both players also excelled on special teams, with Ford averaging 48 yards per kickoff return and scoring three return touchdowns. Nolan Demke, Tanner Hamilton, Lincoln McCaffrey, Titan Nation, Jack Ryan, Kuper Fritz, Landan Monk, Brecken Wagner and Teegan Surber all logged double-digit tackle totals in 2025 and will be back to anchor the front seven.
The district battle remains fierce. Finishing 4-1 alongside Johnston and Ankeny, the Black Raiders will face familiar foes again in 2026. Head coach Dan Mullen emphasized that the team’s experience, combined with a challenging schedule, positions the club to contend once more for a deep playoff run.