The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys football team returns to action on Friday night, as they make the long trip up into Emmet County to take on the Midgets of Estherville-Lincoln Central at ELC High School in Class 2A, District 2 action. CGD enters with a record of 2-2 after a 41-6 win over Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, while ELC enters with a similar 2-2 record after a 34-23 win over Okoboji, Milford.
ELC comes into Friday’s game led by the play of their quarterback in senior Owen Larson. Larson ranks #4 in Class 2A in total offense, amassing 1,056 yards of total offense through the first half of the season, rushing for 510 yards and 8 touchdowns, while throwing for 546 yards and 6 touchdowns, but 4 interceptions. Larson’s favorite target has been senior Aiden Swanson, who’s caught 17 balls for 348 yards and 3 touchdowns, but his big-play receiver has been Tate Hoyer, who’s caught 4 balls for 126 yards and 4 touchdowns. Junior Kale Shatto is the running back, who’s carried for 179 yards through the first 4 games, but the Midgets offense has shown to be run through Larson. ELC will need to find ways to protect Larson in dropback situations, with CGD’s 3-3-5 defense and disguised blitzes.
Defensively, the heartbeat of the Midgets defense has been 6’6, 245 lbs defensive lineman Jordan Jensen, who’s one of Class 2A’s top tacklers with 40.5, along with 2 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. He’s supported by a solid linebacker core with juniors Tate White and Kale Shatto, White has tallied 27 tackles, a sack and 5 tackles for loss, while Shatto has totaled 25 tackles with 3 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. Production-wise, the defensive backfield has been led by senior Aiden Swanson, as Swanson has 17 tackles, a tackle for loss and a team-high 3 interceptions. Owen Larson has also been productive, with 19.5 tackles, a tackle for loss and 3 interceptions of his own.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows will likely look to establish the ground game against a ELC team with quality speed, to try and bog the game down. Diego Gonzalez comes off a near-200 yard performance against GHV a week ago, as quarterback Carson Nesheim did a good job of keep plays alive with his feet throughout the game. The Cowboys defense will look to keep Owen Larson out of a rhythm from the get out.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM at Estherville-Lincoln Central High School in Estherville on Friday.