BELMOND, Ia. — The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys football team opened their 2026 season on Friday night, as they made the short trek up Highway 69 to take on their long-time rivals in the Belmond-Klemme Broncos in non-district action at Belmond-Klemme High School.
CGD took the football first and would score on the 2nd play of the contest on a 71-yard touchdown run by Charlie Campbell as CGD took a 7-0 lead. Belmond-Klemme answered on an impressive opening drive, capped by a 9-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brody Heifner as the Broncos tied the game at 7-7. Clarion then put together a more substantial drive, this one also capped by a touchdown from Charlie Campbell on a 16-yard run as CGD took a 14-7 lead, as the Cowboy defense stopped Belmond-Klemme inside their own 10-yard line on the ensuing drive. Two plays later, Charlie Campbell bolted off right edge and ripped off a 91-yard touchdown run to put CGD ahead 21-14 late in the 1st half. Belmond-Klemme got back on the board right before halftime off a 20-yard touchdown pass from Brody Heifner to Braeden Wright to bring the score to 21-14, but the Cowboys would score as time expired in the first half on a 65-yard touchdown pass from JD Morrical to Charlie Campbell, as CGD led 28-14 at halftime.
In the 2nd half, the 3rd quarter went scoreless, until the Cowboys would score just 2 plays into the 4th quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by JD Morrical to put CGD up 34-14 after a missed PAT. Belmond-Klemme answered on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Heifner to Blaze Paulsen to put the bring the score to 34-20, before the Cowboys led a clock-bleeding drive, capped by a Colin Sesker 6-yard touchdown run to put CGD up 41-20. The Broncos would score a late touchdown to bring the final to 41-26.
The Ace Hardware of Webster City Ace of the Game was CGD senior Charlie Campbell, who touched the ball 8 times for 258 yards of total offense, 4 touchdowns and had a sack on defense. Colin Sesker added 76 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, as JD Morrical had a touchdown through the air and the ground, as well as a team-high 10.5 tackles on defense.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows football returns to action on Friday, when they host the Hampton-Dumont-CAL Bulldogs in non-district action at the Clarion Football Field, with kickoff at 7 PM.