Meeker senior Chase Rule (57) is pictured making a tackle in a game against the Hotchkiss Bulldogs last Friday, which the Cowboys won 37-7 to remain undefeated after five games. Rule led the Cowboys with 17 tackles in Hotchkiss and he has been in on 55 tackles in the first five games and he has recovered two fumbles. Rule and his teammates will host the Grand Valley Cardinals this Friday in Starbuck Stadium.
MEEKER | After a dominating 36-7 league victory over the Bulldogs in Hotchkiss last Friday, the Meeker Cowboy football team remains undefeated at 5-0 but will have another league test Friday, when the Grand Valley Cardinals come to Meeker. “Hotchkiss is a good football team and we knew going in, it would be a tough battle but our kids answered the bell,” Meeker head coach Shane Phelan said. “It was a total team effort; our offense played well, our defense played well, our whole team did a lot of things well.” Offensively, the Cowboys continue to use a balanced attack to beat their opponents on the ground and in the air. Meeker did not have a 100-yard rusher but five players carried the ball and gained 241 yards and scored two touchdowns. Five receivers also caught passes, gaining 166 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Defensively, the Cowboys only allowed the Bulldogs to gain 98 yards on the ground and 71 in the air and they gave up one touchdown, late in the game. Meeker quarterback Logan Hughes completed 10 of 18 passes to multiple receivers, including touchdown passes to senior Cole Brown, juniors Trapper Merrifield and Doak Mantle, who also rushed for a touchdown and led all rushers with 79 yards. Meeker senior Korey Hood also rushed for a touchdown. Senior Hunter Garcia caught four passes from Hughes for 98 yards and his classmate, Sheridan Harvey caught two. Harvey also caught a pass from Hotchkiss’ quarterback, to record his first interception of the season. Defensively, coach Phelan said his “linebacking corp played well.” Senior Chase Rule led the Cowboys with 17 tackles, while classmate Casey Turner finished with 15 and Harvey was in on 10. The Cowboys had 17 players record tackles for the stat book. Coach Phelan expects his team to be tested Friday in Starbuck Stadium against the Cardinals. “They keep getting tougher from here,” coach Phelan said of the upcoming schedule. “The Grand Valley (4-1) bunch is vastly improved from last year and they are coming off a big win over Olathe. Their only loss is to Basalt, who is in a bigger class.” The kickoff against Grand Valley is scheduled for 7 p.m.
