GRUNDY CENTER, Ia. — The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys football team returned to action on Friday night, as they made the eastern drive into Grundy County to take on the Grundy Center Spartans in the 2nd round of the Class 1A Playoffs at Spartan Stadium in Grundy Center. CGD entered with a record of 6-3, while Grundy Center entered with a record of 9-0 and riding a 48-game winning streak.
Friday’s game would see Grundy Center go 3-and-out to begin the game, as CGD would put together a long, time-consuming drive but could not convert on a 4th down in Spartan territory. The first play of the ensuing drive saw Judd Jirvosky go deep and find Aiden Hook for a 74-yard touchdown pass as the Spartans opened a 7-0 lead. A short drive and and a poor punt on the ensuing CGD drive set Grundy Center up deep in Cowboy territory as Judd Jirvosky scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to put Grundy Center ahead 14-0. The Cowboys would have a response on the following drive as Joel Meier broke a handful of tacklers before racing for a 62-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 14-7, but Grundy Center would open things up after that as Judd Jirvosky broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run to put the Spartans ahead 21-7. CGD would punt the ball back to Spartans once more as Jirvosky would use his legs to score for the 3rd time in the first half on an 18-yard touchdown run as Grundy Center led 28-7 at the halftime break.
CGD would get the football back to begin the 2nd half, but an interception by Judd Jirvosky set up Jirvosky’s 5th overall touchdown of the night on a 2-yard run to make the score 35-7. Jirvoksy would add a 6th touchdown on a 9-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Meester to seal a 42-7 win for the Spartans.
Joel Meier had the top game for the Cowboys, rushing for 168 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries and Selvin Gonzalez added 58 yards on 18 carries.
Grundy Center advances to face Beckman Catholic in the 1A quarterfinals on Friday Night at 7 PM in Grundy Center. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows season ends with a record of 6-4.