MHS Cowboys win third in a row

MEEKER I Just like the Denver Broncos, lightning delayed the first home game for the Meeker Cowboys. However, instead of a delay at the start, lightning delayed the second half for Meeker, although both teams went on to win.
The Cowboys led the Coal Ridge Titans 22-6 at halftime and came out to receive the opening kick when lightning struck south of the field. Referees removed the teams from the field and it was announced the game would start 30 minutes after the last flash in the sky, which was more than an hour later.
“We had a delay in our first game against Central and didn’t perform well after it, and I thought we would learn from it but we didn’t play well again,” head coach Shane Phelan said of his team’s second half effort. “We had a tough time refocusing.”
It was Meeker’s defense making the first big play of the game and it was another defensive play that ended it.
The Cowboys kicked off to the Titans to start the game. After two first downs by the Titans, Jake Phelan intercepted a pass and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown. Meeker sophomore T.J. Shelton added a two-point conversion and the Cowboys led 8-0, which was short lived.
The Titans returned Meeker’s kickoff for a touchdown, but the team did not convert the extra point, closing the gap to 8-6, with seven minutes left to play in the first quarter.
Meeker drove down and Phelan scored on a one-yard run and the Cowboys led 14-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Coal Ridge put together an impressive drive, but Shelton intercepted a pass, then returned it 86 yards for Meeker’s final score of the first half. Meeker’s defense again stepped up in the second quarter with another interception, this time by cornerback Tristin Pelloni.
After the lightning delay, Meeker’s offense continued to struggle and fumbled the ball to the Titans, who didn’t capitalize.
When Meeker got the ball back, Phelan scored again on a 55-yard run and added the two-point conversion to give his team a 30-6 lead with 29 seconds left to play in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was highlighted by another Meeker touchdown and interception. With eight minutes left to play in the game, Shelton took a direct snap from center, followed his blockers to the outside, then the defending state 100-meter dash champion sprinted down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown.
After a touchdown by the Titans and a punt by the Cowboys, the Titans were driving again when junior defensive end Joe Newman intercepted a pass with 17 seconds left to play.
“Defensively, we did some good things and helped our offense,” Coach Phelan said. “In some games, our defense has to help the offense get going and sometimes it the other way around. We need to put it all together.”
Jake Phelan finished with 146 yards rushing, 60 passing and was in on 15 tackles. Shelton ran for 105 yards and was in on six tackles.
Senior Willis Begaye led the Cowboys with 16 tackles on defense and freshman Casey Turner was in on 14.
The Cowboys have a bye week and prepare for Del Norte at 1 p.m. on Sept. 21, in Olathe.