Cowboy football starts Friday

MEEKER I The 2012 football season begins Friday night when the Cowboys host Central High School’s JV team from Grand Junction, a 5-A school. The Black and Gold have 22 lettermen returning and 16 starters from 2011. Not all these returning veterans will be able to play Friday night. The state requires nine days of practice and with school starting later many of these young men are still working and will not have reached that total. Many have nine practices but do not meet the nine-day requirement. All in all, eight starters will not suit up for the ‘Boys.
Returning starters include twins Scott and Alex Smith. Scott was the leading tackler and Alex the leading receiver returning from the 2011 squad. Scott was all-conference from his defensive end position. Alex caught 22 passes for the Black and Gold.
Other starters returning on the defense are all-conference defensive linemen J.R. Crawford, safety Nate Walsh, defensive backs Raul Lopez, Sebastian Clarke and Jake Phelan, plus linebacker Tala Atoafa and defensive tackle Fernando Olivas. Defensive corner back Willis Begay, a 2011 all-conference selection returns also.
On offense, leading rusher Sebastian Clarke returns, blocking back and receiver Justin Giao, offensive linemen Joseph Newman, Ruben Roybal, Ricky Jeffrey, Jake Roland and Austin Brown plus Alex Smith at end.
Lettermen returning include Dylan Mobley, Tristin Pelloni, J.C. Henderson, Aaron Cochran, Jeff Wagner, Matt Frantz and Tony Collins.

2012 MEEKER COWBOY FOOTBALL *RETURNING STARTER ~ RETURNING LETTERMAN
## Athlete Height Weight Class
3 Costin Pallach 5-9 155 Jr
44 Tyler Pollock 5-E 166 Fr
4 Raul Lopez*~ 5-8 153 Soph
49 Justin Giao*~ 6-0 168 Jr
5 Nathan Walsh*~ 6-1 164 Sr
50 Devon Pontine 5-E 157 Fr
9 Dylan Mobley~ 6-0 160 Jr
52 Kash Atwood 5-8 208 Fr
10 Robby Jensen 5-6 117 Fr
53 Abrahn Gaeta 5-7 166 Soph
11 Jake Phelan*~ 5-T 150 Soph
55 Joseph Newman*~ 6-6 242 Soph
16 T.J. Shelton 5-T 170 Fr
57 Adrian Shroyer 5-8 210 Sr
19 Tristin Peloni~ 5-3 115 Soph
59 Nakoma Bailey 5-E 217 Fr
21 Scott Smith*~ 6-2 170 Sr
61 Ruben Roybal*~ 5-8 200 Soph
22 Alex Smith*~ 6-1 172 Sr
63 Ricky Jeffrey*~ 5-E 252 Jr
24 Sebastian Clarke*~ 5-8 141 Jr
65 Austin Brown*~ 5-8 183 Sr
25 Dillon Frantz 5-E 133 Fr
68 Noah Overton 6-4 208 Fr
27 Tala Atoafa*~ 5-E 162 Sr
70 J.R. Crawford*~ 5-E 197 Sr
28 J.C. Henderson~ 5-8 135 Jr
74 Jake Roland*~ 6-1 260 Soph
30 Fernando Olivas*~ 5-E 185 Sr
80 Matt Frantz~ 6-1 144 Soph
31 Willis Begay*~ 6-0 157 Jr
83 Taylor Slaugh 6-3 163 Jr
32 Aaron Cochran~ 5-9 140 Jr
84 Jocob Nielson 5-E 136 Fr
33 Jeff Wagner~ 5-8 162 Soph
86 Jake Henderson 5-8 126 Fr
34 Cade Rowlett 5-9 166 Soph
88 Tony Collins 6-0 125 Soph
35 Truman Titler 5-9 131 Jr
41 Connor Pfister 5-3 125 Fr

2012 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Home Away Time
Aug 24 Fri Grand Junction Central JV <> 7 p.m.
Aug 31 Fri Grand Valley <> 7 p.m.
Sept 7 Fri Coal Ridge * 7 p.m.
Sept 22 Sat Del Norte @ Olathe 1 p.m.
Sept 28 Fri Lake County * 7 p.m.
Oct 5 Fri Paonia <> 7 p.m.
Oct 12 Fri Cedaredge * 7 p.m.
Oct 19 Fri Roaring Fork <> 7 p.m.
Oct 26 Fri Hotchkiss * 7 p.m.

Junior Varsity schedule
Sept 10 Mon Moffat County <> 4 p.m.
Sept 17 Mon Grand Valley * 4 p.m.
Sept 24 Mon Steamboat * 4 p.m.
Oct 1 Mon Moffat County * 4 p.m.
Oct 9 Tue Coal Ridge <> 4 p.m.
Oct 15 Mon Grand Junction JV-Fresh <> 4 p.m.
Oct 22 Mon Grand Valley <> 4 p.m.