CLARION, Ia. — The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys football team returns to the grid iron on Friday Night, as they host the Bulldogs of MFL MarMac in their Class 1A First Round Playoff matchup at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Middle School. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows enters at 7-1 and ranked #6 in Class 1A, as MFL MarMac enters at 4-4, as Friday’s meeting is the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
MFL MarMac enters at 4-4 with wins over Clayton Ridge, Lisbon, Camanche and district-champion Northeast, with losses to Crestwood, New Hampton, Beckman Catholic and Cascade. The Bulldogs enter with one of the top rushing attacks in the state, rushing for over 2,400 yards and averaging over 300 yards per game in the Wing T attack. Sophomore Easton Lange leads the offense at quarterback, throwing for 540 yards and 4 touchdowns, while rushing for 2 more. Kashton Decker is a dual-threat out of the backfield, rushing for 607 yards and 2 touchdowns, while catching 11 balls for 341 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tyce Wikner is the Bulldogs leading rusher, with 664 yards and 10 touchdown, with sophomore Daxton Diemel adding 424 yards and 6 touchdowns, senior Blake Schutte adding 345 yards and 6 touchdowns, and senior Rylan Schroeder contributing 275 yards and 4 touchdowns. The offensive line is a younger unit, led by senior Cameron Hagensick and junior Tristan Hoopes.
Defensively, the Bulldogs front-seven has been a tough group. Cameron Hagensick leads the unit with 27.5 tackles, 5.5 TFL and 3 sacks, as Tristan Hoopes has added 19 tackles and 6 TFL. Senior linebacker Blake Schutte leads the team with 41.5 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks and 2 interceptions, with Daxton Diemel adding 27.5 tackles, 3.5 TFL and an interception, as Noah Troester has 24 tackles, 4.5 TFL and 2 sacks. The defensive backfield is led by senior Kashton Decker, who has 25 tackles and a pick, while Tyce Wikner has 2 interceptions. Sophomore’s Easton Lange and Mason Hollar each have interceptions as well.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows looks to keep their high-level play going into the postseason, as the Cowboys look to impose their Class 1A-leading rushing attack early on the Bulldogs. Linebackers Huxley Lingenfelter, JD Morrical and Colin Sesker will have a test against the Bulldogs Wing T attack.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Friday Night from Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Middle School.