MEEKER | A 12-7 against the Holyoke Dragons earned the Meeker High School Cowboys football team another week of practice and a trip to the quarterfinals this Saturday in Limon.
“We didn’t play our best,” said head coach Shane Phelan of the game against Holyoke. “Both sides of the ball played OK, but not as consistently as we would have liked. But we still have a golden opportunity and we are happy to practice for one more week.”
The Cowboys’ Ryan Phelan finished with 158 yards in the air, connecting with Kelton Turner, Andy Kracht and Tristan Wille three times each. On the ground they ran for 210 yards, led by Turner and followed closely by Tannen Kennedy.
The Cowboys were still plagued by a few injuries but had players stepping in to fill roles efficiently.
For the second time this season, and for the second playoff game in two years, the Cowboys will take on the Limon Badgers in an away game.
“We feel we’ve grown and are excited to match up again,” Phelan said. “This is the exact same spot we were in last year.”
In their second attempt to bring home the “W” against the No. 1 team in the state, the Cowboys will need to come ready to battle.
Offensively, Limon will run the ball but they also have a very effective passing game. The Badgers have an experienced quarterback. Meeker’s Phelan is much younger, but also has an excellent pass completion of 63 percent that Limon will have to get ready for. Defensively Meeker has leadership in Luis Villalpando and James Amick, team leaders in total tackles, who are adept at finding gaps in the offensive holes.
Meeker will need to be ready for Limon’s “nucleus of seniors that have played together for a long time,” Phelan said. “We are ready for another shot at them.”
Limon and Meeker will kick off Saturday, Nov 10 at 1 p.m. in Limon.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK | Special to the Herald Times
