The Cowboys kept the game tight on the road at Pocahontas Area last Friday night, but in the end just didn’t have enough to stay with the Indians in a 24-17 loss, Preston Gardner hit Jaxon Carpenter on a pair of TD passes, the longest a 71-yard strike, but it just wasn’t quite enough to pull out the win.
Gardner finished 9 of 11 for 196 yards and a 24.5-yard average. His rating finished at 222.4. His favorite target was Carpenter, who caught five balls for 157 yards (31.4-yard average. Nevan Foss caught three for 39 total yards. The ground attack was led by Gardner as he rumbled for 37 total yards on 19 carries. Foss gained 19 yards, Garett Seaba twelve yards and Cole Kirstein three yards to add to the total.
Gomez kicked off four times for 120 yards and a 30.0-yard average, while Cale Kirstein punted four times for a 20.8-yard average. Landon Olson ran back one punt for three yards, with Foss making three returns for 51 total yards (17.7-yard average) and Olson two for 11.5 yards.
Foss led the tackle chart with seven solo and 8.0 total stops. Eric Perez made five solo and 7.0 total, while teammate Garett Seaba made three solo stops and 4.5 total. Gardner had four solo and 4.0 total, with Mack Seaba at one solo and 4.0 total. Mason Allen made one solo and 3.5 total stops.
Jaxon Carpenter had one solo and 2,5 total, Cale Kirstein two solo and a 2,5 total and Landon Olson two solo and 2.5 total. Daniel Chavez had two solo stops and 3.0 total, while Ethan Traub and Caden Hankins both made one solo and 1.5 total. Colin Kirstein and Nash Lienemann all had one solo and a 1.0 total, with Colin Kirstein and Nash Lienemann both had one solo and 1.0 total. C. Olson picked off a pass as well.
“We did not play our best football last Friday,” said head mentor Caleb Vogel. “We made too many mental mistakes on both sides of the ball. I believe my team will clean up these mistakes as we go into this week. We have a tough task ahead as we play Southeast Valley, I know my team is ready for the challenge. As long as we continue to do our stuff every single day and not change who we are as Cowboy football. Just because we’re not playing a highly competitive team we will all be just fine, We must continue to trust the process and be 1-0 everyday.”
Cowboy notes: A stat recap from last week’s game shows 299 yards of total offense, with 11 first downs and 110 return yards while being whistled seven times for 60 total yards. Individually, Gardner was 6 of 11 for 173 yards and two TD tosses. L.Olson had three tackles and two picks. G. Seaba had 52 yards, one interception and five tackles. Jaxon Carpenter had 10 tackles and an interception along with a 24-yard catch for a score. Coady Olson had three catches for 129 total yards and one TD. Foss finished with eight tackles.
