Cole Filloon is enjoying a breakout season with Southeast Polk. He’s received some help from his dad, Jon, who played for Iowa under Hayden Fry.
PLEASANT HILL — Cole Filloon’s dad, Jon, played receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1988-91, so of course Cole is going to ask him about the finer points of being a receiver when he has questions. Lately, the two have talked a lot about … blocking. Really. “Just to help take my game to the next level,” says Cole Filloon, a senior receiver for Southeast Polk. “After every game, he’s got something else to teach me.” Look no further than Week 2, in the Rams’ 40-21 win over West Des Moines Valley. Filloon had five catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns that night — a 61-yarder where he flashed his all-state track speed after the catch, and a 30-yarder where he used his 6-foot,200-pound frame to hold off the defender in the back of the end zone. But the play Filloon thinks of first was actually a block that sprung Titus Christiansen’s 55-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. He included it in his Hudl cutup after the game — which dad thought was pretty cool. “He’s having fun, that’s for sure,” Jon Filloon says. “I’m happy to see he’s getting the chance. It’s been fun to watch him.” That was the breakout week in what’s become a breakout season for Cole Filloon. He currently leads all 5A receivers with eight touchdown receptions after six weeks. His 457 receiving yards are the third-most in 5A, and his 19.9 yards-per-catch rate is fourth. He is a big reason why the Rams are 5-1 and ranked third in the Register’s latest Class 5A poll, behind only unbeaten Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Iowa City High. Filloon has always felt like he’s had something of a receiving cheat code at home in Jon. If he ever has questions about the position or is seeking advice on the nuances of receiving, Jon normally knows the answer. “He’s played at a high-level and knows the ins and outs of the position,” Cole Filloon says. “It’s been a blessing. What else can I ask for? I’ve got a receiver with some high-level experience at home. He taught me everything I know.
