The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys football team returns to action on Friday night, as they make the trip north on Highway 69 to take on the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinals in Class 1A, District 3 action at GHV High School in Garner. CGD enters at 4-3 and 2-2 in district play, while GHV enters at 0-7 and 0-4 in district play. Friday’s game is the 29th all-time meeting between the 2 programs, as GHV leads the all-time series 18-10 as GHV won last year’s meeting by a score of 21-0.
GHV enters Friday still in search of win number one with losses to West Hancock, Osage, Aplington-Parkersburg, Grundy Center, South Hardin and Central Springs and their most recent loss to Eagle Grove. The Cardinals offense is led by sophomore quarterback Preston Davison, who’s thrown for 273yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, while also rushing for 143 more yards. Davison’s favorite target has been freshman Chance Derr, who’s caught 7 balls for 56 yards and a touchdown, while Zander Rosauer has 4 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals have had more success running the ball, as junior Parker Stearns leads the rushing attack with 499 yards and 3 touchdowns on 108 carries, while junior Zane Black has 201 yards and a touchdown on 75 carries.
Defensively, the Cardinals linebackers have seen a bulk of the work in 2025. Parker Stearns leads the unit with 30.5 tackles and 3 TFL, as Kaden Kral has 21.5 tackles and 3 TFL and Carson Madsen has 19 tackles and 1.5 TFL. Freshman Chance Derr leads the defensive back unit with 2 interceptions along with 6.5 tackles, as Demascus Ealey Jr. leads the secondary in tackles with 16. Kaleb Stuart is the top defensive lineman with 13 tackles and 1.5 TFL, as Ethan Goodlund has added 9 tackles.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows will look to bounce back following a 29-0 loss to South Hardin in which the Cowboys defense forced a stellar 6 turnovers, but the offense failed to crack 100 total yards.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night from Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School.