Cowboys run over Mustangs

MEEKER — “The first half was like a track meet,” Meeker’s head football coach Shane Phelan said of the league game last Friday in Kremmling against the West Grand Mustangs. “There were touchdowns flying up and down the field on both sides.”
The game started off well for the Cowboys as they recovered a fumble on the opening kick to give them the first offensive possession, which they capitalized on when junior quarterback Colten Brown scored on a nice run. Meeker’s extra point attempt failed but the Cowboys led early 6-0.
Meeker’s defense stopped the Mustangs the first two plays of their possession but a Mustang receiver got behind Meeker’s defensive backfield and caught a pass for an 80-yard touchdown. After a successful extra point, the Mustangs led 7-6.
The Mustangs intercepted a Meeker pass and capitalized quickly with a touchdown pass of their own to lead 14-6.
Meeker’s return specialist, Brock Campbell, followed his blockers up the middle and returned the Mustang kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown to bring the Cowboys to within two after the first quarter.
After an unsuccessful fake punt by the Mustangs, Meeker took the ball over at the 25-yard line, where Brown scored another Cowboy touchdown to take the lead back 18-14.
The Mustangs punted away their next possession but Meeker fumbled to give the ball back and the Mustangs capitalized again with a 40-yard touchdown run to take the lead again, 20-18.
After a touchdown run by Mitch Jacob was called back because of a penalty, Brown connected with Dakota Rowlett for a touchdown, while Jacob ran in the two point conversion to give the Cowboys a 26-20 halftime lead.
“We did allright at times but we struggled too,” Phelan said. “We turned the ball over a little bit in the first half but we cleaned things up in the second. We still have penalty troubles and several things we need to improve on.”
Phelan credited the offensive line, consisting of Jared Waldref, Ever Olivas, Ryan Wix, Caleb Ball, Quinn Wix, Rowlett and Andrew Lawrence for scoring another 26 points in the second half and shutting out the Mustangs.
“Our linemen did a good job on both sides of the ball,” Phelan said.
The Cowboys will host the Paonia Eagles this Friday in Starbuck Stadium, with the kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
“Paonia just beat Hayden, they are a good team,” Phelan said.