Meeker junior running back Doak Mantle prepares to make a cut against the Monte Vista Pirates last Friday. Mantle carried the ball 25 times for 249 yards, three touchdowns and two, two-point conversions. Mantle is also a linebacker on defense, where he finished with eight tackles and one interception. The Cowboys will play their first league game of the season against the Bulldogs Friday in Hotchkiss.
MEEKER | The Meeker Cowboy football team remains undefeated (4-0) after a 45-9 win in Monte Vista last Friday in the fourth and final non-conference game of the season. The Cowboys will now start league play in Hotchkiss Friday. Meeker’s junior running back Doak Mantle carried the ball 25 times against the Pirates for 249 yards, three touchdowns and he scored two, two-point conversions. “Doak had a good day and anytime a back has that kind of day the guys up front are doing a lot of good things,” Meeker head coach Shane Phelan said of his running back and linemen; Tanner Slaugh, Eli Newman, Ridge Williams, Tyler Ilgen, Chase Rule, Eli Hanks and Casey Turner at fullback. “We were a little sluggish on our first drive but after we woke up from the long bus trip, we jumped out to an early lead,” coach Phelan said. Meeker did jump out quickly, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter and another in the second to lead 24-3 at halftime. The Cowboys put the game away in the second half, scoring three more touchdowns in the second half and never allowing the Cougars into the end zone. “We were able to control the line of scrimmage, making it a good day for us running the ball,” Phelan said. Turner carried the ball eight times for 42 yards, junior quarterback Logan Hughes also carried the ball eight times and gained 32 yards on the ground. Hughes completed three of six passes for 95 yards, including one for a touchdown to senior Sheridan Harvey, who finished with two catches for 70 yards. “It was a little windy, so we didn’t throw it much but we didn’t need to with our running game going,” Phelan said. Phelan was also pleased with his team scoring four 2-point conversions, kicking another and he was also pleased with his defense. “We had several good fourth down stands when they got into the red zone,” coach Phelan said. “Our linebackers (Rule, Turner and Mantle) flew around the ball and did a lot of good things.” Turner led the team with 21 tackles, Rule had 16, while Harvey and Mantle each finished with eight tackles and Mantle also had an interception. Hunter Garcia was in on eight tackles and he also returned five kickoffs for 72 yards. “Monte Vista had a good bunch but we didn’t let up on them,” Phelan said. “We kept the intensity up the whole contest.” Phelan hopes to keep things going as they start league play Friday against the Bulldogs in Hotchkiss. “Our league is really competitive and we are going into a string of tough games,” Phelan said. “It will be critical for us to get after the teams early and maintain our intensity and focus for the whole game.”
