RBC — The Rio Blanco county championship is annually one of the best games of the year for both Meeker and Rangely. This year the Meeker Cowboys scored seven touchdowns and two two-point conversions while holding the host Panthers to just seven points to win the game 46-7.
The Panthers had the ball first, but the Cowboys were able to stop the Rangely offense and forced a punt. Taking over on the Rangely 45, Meeker overcame penalties with a series of Mazzola, Gerloff and Brown runs to move the ball to the Panther 5-yard line. Here Mazzola lit up the scoreboard for his first touchdown of the evening. The point after attempt failed, and Meeker had a 6-0 lead.
Rangely again had trouble moving the ball and tried a fake punt on fourth down that failed with the Cowboys taking over on the Panther 36. Here, Brown moved the ball down to the 20 before Mitch Jacob broke into the end zone for another Meeker touchdown. Again the point after attempt failed.
In the second period, Rangely still had trouble moving the ball against the Meeker defense. Cowboy quarterback Colton Brown was able to slip through the Panther defense on Meeker’s first possession of the second for 58 yards and another touchdown, again a failed extra point attempt, but an 18-0 lead carried the Cowboys through the halftime.
Meeker marched the second half kickoff down on their first series, and Mazzola scored again this time from three yards out, Brown converted the extra point for a 26-0 lead. Again, Rangely was held to three offensive plays and forced to punt the ball.
An inside reverse to Brock Campbell had the Cowboys up 32-0 before a 25-yard pass to Rangely’s Dahl got the Panthers on the board at 32-7.
Brown called his own number on a quarterback sneak and followed up with the 2-point conversion before the younger Meeker players took the field. Meeker’s final score of the game came when backup quarterback Trevor Matrisciano broke free for a 42-yard sprint to the end zone and a 46-7 final score.
Around the League
In last week’s league play, Hotchkiss throttled Hayden 49-14, Paonia pounded West Grand 47-0. This week Hotchkiss hosts the Grand Junction JV, Rangely travels to West Grand, and Paonia has nothing on their schedule. With the season winding down, each of the next two games is crucial for the Cowboys. This week is homecoming for the Cowboys as they host the Hayden Tigers.
“We ought to have an exciting game against Hayden this week” said Cowboy coach Shane Phelan. Game time is presently scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Starbuck Stadium.
