The Cowboys (10-1) won the game 43-6, and they will travel to Buena Vista to play the undefeated (11-0) Demons on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Cowboys played the Thunderbolts in the first game of the season, and the rematch was similar to the first. Meeker won the first game in zero-week 26-14, scoring all of its points in the first half. On Saturday, the Cowboys jumped out to a 28-0 lead after two quarters of play.
The Cowboys needed less than two minutes to get on the scoreboard, after receiving the opening kickoff and after senior classmates Jake Phelan and Raul Lopez started playing catch. Phelan completed 14 of 19 for 220 yards and half of the completions were to Lopez, who complied 170 yards and three touchdowns, including the first two of the game.
Meeker’s defense forced the Thunderbolts to punt their first two possessions and senior Tristin Pelloni intercepted on Rye’s third possession. The Cowboys capitalized when junior T.J. Shelton scored his first of two touchdowns.
After another punt by Rye, Phelan connected with Lopez again, this time for a 45-yard touchdown pass, and a two-point reception by Devon Pontine gave the Cowboys a 28-0 lead at halftime.
“They are a team that likes to run the ball and when we got up on them early, we put ourselves in good position,” Coach Phelan said.
The Thunderbolts had the leading rusher in the state, Trey Zupancic, who rushed for 200 yards against the Cowboys in the first game. However, a tough defense held him to only 71 in the playoff.
“Rye had to get out of its game plan and it helped us out,” the coach said.
Coach Phelan said the coaches warned the team of being in the “exact same spot” in the first game and needed to come out strong in the second half, which they did.
Lopez, who recovered a fumble in the first half, intercepted a pass to stop Rye’s first drive of the second half, but Meeker did not capitalize on it.
The Cowboys did take a 36-0 lead after senior Dillon “Dozer” Frantz recovered a fumble and Shelton scored from one yard out.
“Our offense complemented our defense,” Coach Phelan said.
Sophomore Casey Turner led the Meeker defense with 14 tackles while Shelton and sophomore Chase Rule each were in on eight. Phelan, Pelloni, Frantz and Jensen were each in on six tackles, and senior Cade Rowlett finished with five.
Rye finally scored late in the third quarter. However, on their next drive, senior Robby Jensen recovered a fumble and freshman Doak Walker scored his first touchdown in a playoff game to end the scoring.
Coach Phelan said Buena Vista is “a lot like us.”
“They have some offensive weapons, like we do, but now, every team left in the playoffs is a really good team,” he said.
Coach Phelan was appreciative of the large hometown crowd and he is ready for the journey to continue.
“We are excited we get to be together for another week, practice together for another week, then make the trip to Buena Vista and see what happens from there,” he said.
