Meeker whips West Grand, 56-0

MEEKER I Ask any football coach what he thinks about homecoming and you are likely to get mixed results.
Attention spans are not as they should be during the week’s practice, and the focus for the game on Friday usually doesn’t even start until after the day’s activities are done. Float building, gym decorating, window painting, parade and pep assembly all seem to be the focal point of the day.
Meeker’s head coach Shane Phelan had little to worry about come game time as the Cowboys scored early and often en route to a 56-0 victory Friday night at Starbuck Stadium.
Things started out going Meeker’s way as they won the opening flip, but deferred until the second half. The Cowboy defense shut down the Mustangs and forced a punt. Senior return specialist Brock Campbell gathered the ball in at the Cowboy 21 yard line and returned it 79 yards for Meeker’s first score. Mitch Jacob converted the point after and Meeker held an 8-0 lead with 8:20 to go in the first quarter.
West Grand was unable to get any offense going and didn’t record a first down against the Meeker defense until midway through the second quarter. Meanwhile, Colton Brown was scoring relatively easily as he was running the option with scores from 10, 50 and three yards. Cole Steiner and Campbell recorded extra-point conversions and at the end of the first quarter Meeker was up 30-0.

The second quarter was more of the same as the Cowboy offense continued to roll up the points. Campbell scored again from eight yards; Jacob intercepted a deflected pass, and then finished it with a four-yard run. Tyrell Gerloff added a two-point conversion and the ’Pokes ended halftime up 44-0. The score may have been worse if not for penalties. Toby Casias had a long punt return called back because of a Cowboy penalty, and Trevor Matrisciano had a touchdown taken away with a holding penalty.
In the third period, West Grand tried to get the ball back and tried an onside kick to start the half, but the Cowboys recovered. Jacob converted the drive with a two-yard run to start the mercy clock. Meeker’s last score of the night was provided by Toby Casias, as the sophomore speed merchant turned on the jets and ran 93 yards for the touchdown. Casias outran the entire secondary of the Mustangs to get to the end zone. Meeker ended the game with a lopsided 56-0 victory.
Friday, the Cowboys travel to Paonia to take on the Eagles for another Western Slope League game.