Cowboys clash with Titans, 2-0 record

The previous matchup of the Coal Ridge Titans and the Cowboy football teams ended with a Meeker victory but not before the game went into overtime. This year the Cowboys worked both sides of the ball so that before the first half ended the Cowboys were 40 points ahead and “mercy rules” took hold, the Cowboys now have a record of 2-0.
“It was a total team effort,” began head coach Shane Phelan, “The boys did so well—offense, defense, and special teams—we are all very pleased with the effort.”
After the dust settled from the decisive victory, the Cowboys put up a total of 372 yards, 202 passing, and 170 rushing. Leading receivers Cole Rogers, Colby Clatterbaugh and Jake Shelton, and leading rusher Jeremy Woodward were supported by the work of the offensive line. “Our offensive line did an excellent job,” Phelan said. “We can contribute passing and rushing to line and the coaching of Darby Finley and Matt Scott, whose hard work will pay off for the rest of the season.”
The varsity defense rotated out early in the second half, but showed strength by all but stopping the Coal Ridge running back. The JV defense in the fourth quarter stopped the Titans at the two yard line which shows the depth on the bench. The number of boys the Cowboys can look to will keep the defensive and offensive line rested and at the ready for tough games like the one they are about to face this coming weekend when the Cowboys travel to Aspen Friday to take on the Skiers.
“Aspen is a really good opponent,” Phelan said. “They like to throw a lot, their quarterback and receivers are all really good, and they are returning the core nucleus of great players from a year ago.”
The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. at Aspen High School.
Only two games into the season there is a lot of real estate for the Cowboys to maneuver. CHSAA has the Cowboys ranked fourth in the state; Limon (which is coming to Meeker on Sept. 20), Strasburg and Holyoke are ahead. The top six schools in 1A football are undefeated, but none have played more than two games.
Meeker is the only team in the Western Slope League ranked in the top 10. Right now Hotchkiss sits ahead of Cedaredge and Paonia and they are ranked 15, 16 and 17. During the coming weeks the Western Slope League will be flushed out to see who is on top and has an automatic bid to the playoffs.

By Tiffany Jehorek
Special to the Herald Times