CLARION, Ia. — The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys football team returned to the field on Friday Night, as they hosted the South Hardin Tigers in Class 1A, District 3 action at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Middle School. The Cowboys entered at 5-1 and ranked #8 in Class 1A, while South Hardin entered at 5-1 and ranked #9 in Class 1A.
CGD took the opening kickoff and marched down the field, but were held to 3 on a 24-yard field goal by Matthew Tijull Villatoro to put the Cowboys ahead 3-0. South Hardin would then come out fast out of the gate, marching the field and scoring on a Braden Weig quarterback sneak, before a Colby Zollar interception set up a short drive and a 1-yard touchdown run by Manning Pfantz as the Tigers took a 13-3 lead. CGD then found their footing after that, as the Cowboys ensuing drive saw JD Morrical go to the air and find a wide open Colin Sesker for a 22-yard touchdown pass to make it 13-10. Just before halftime, the Cowboys then were on the right end of a bounce, as a JD Morrical pass to Maxton Downing was tipped by South Hardin DB Aspen Briggs, right into the hands of Downing who scampered 66 yards for a touchdown as the Cowboys led 17-13 at the halftime break.
The first drive of the 2nd half saw South Hardin turn it over on an Easton Beyer strip sack, as the Cowboys marched a shortened field and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by Maxton Downing as CGD took a 24-13 lead. South Hardin had a rally in them, as the Tigers would march the field and score on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Braden Weig to Aspen Briggs to make it 24-19, as penalties backed up CGD on their ensuing drive, as JD Morrical was sacked in the endzone by Logan Kolbe for a safety, as South Hardin cut the lead to 24-21. The Tigers offense would be stopped on their ensuing drive, as the Cowboys bled their next drive into the 4th quarter, and with 8:40 to go, Charlie Campbell ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run to put CGD ahead 31-21. South Hardin had two more drives to cut the deficit, but the final one ended in a Drew Smith interception with 30 seconds to go, as Clarion-Goldfield-Dows kneeled out a 31-21 win, giving the Cowboys a district title for the first time in program history.
LISTEN: Clarion-Goldfield-Dows coach Caleb Vogel recaps Top 10 win and district title clincher against South Hardin
The Ace of the Game, presented by Ace Hardware of Webster City, was Cowboys senior Huxley Lingenfelter, who put together a monster game defensively with a game-high 12 tackles, 5.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks. Colin Sesker led the Cowboys with 14 carries for 87 yards and a receiving touchdown, as Charlie Campbell had 11 carries for 75 yards and a score. JD Morrical would go 3-for-5 for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns, while rushing 13 times for 51 yards.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows football returns to action on Friday Night, as they host the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinals in Class 1A, District 3 action for senior night, with kickoff at 7 PM.