CLARION — The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys football team returned to action on Friday night, as they hosted the Midgets of Estherville-Lincoln Central for homecoming at the Clarion Football Field. CGD entered Friday at 1-1, while Estherville-Lincoln Central entered at 0-2.
It would be a slow start for the Cowboys on Friday night, as following an opening possession 3-and-out, JD Morrical’s punt was blocked and trickled out of the back of the endzone for a safety as the Midgets gained an initial 2-0 lead. Scoring would be at a premium throughout much of the 1st half, until JD Morrical hit Colin Sesker for a 40-yard touchdown pass down the far sideline to give CGD a 6-2 lead after a botched PAT, which would remain the score at halftime.
CGD would start the 2nd half off much faster, as Henry Holmes intercepted a Lake Rezac pass on the opening series and immediately turned it into points as Joel Meier broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run to put the Cowboys ahead 12-2. Estherville would respond by marching the field through the air as Rezac found Layton Yager for a 16-yard touchdown pass to make the score 12-8 CGD. The rest of the 3rd quarter resulted in punts and turnover on downs, but it was the Cowboys mounting a drive early in the 4th, capping it off with a 4-yard touchdown run by Joel Meier to put the Cowboys ahead 19-8. Selvin Gonzalez would put the finishing touches on things with a 30-yard touchdown run late in the 4th to put the Cowboys ahead 26-8. Estherville would return the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown on a 90-yard runback by Garrett Smith, but CGD would capture a 26-14 victory.
The Cowboys would roll up 281 yards on the ground, as Selvin Gonzalez led CGD with 131 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown, while Joel Meier had 120 yards and 2 touchdowns on 17 carries. JD Morrical went 3/10 for 88 yards and a touchdown, while Meier had a monster game defensively, tallying 4.5 sacks as sophomore Traesyn Cope had 2.5 sacks and 3.5 TFL.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows football returns to action on Friday, as they travel north to Manly to take on the Central Springs Panthers in their Class 1A, District 3 opener at Central Springs High School with kickoff at 7 PM.