The Cowboys hosted the #1 ranked Richfield Wildcats (4-0) in the 3A division last Friday night, and the Cowboys were excited for the challenge. The Cowboys struggled early on, after getting stopped on three downs, Bone dropped back to punt and got it blocked. The Wildcats converted that turnover and found the endzone to make it a quick 7-0 lead in the first. After another Cowboy punt, the Wildcats punched in another score to make it 14-0.
The Wildcats were able to get their hand on another punt from the Cowboys and block it, but this time Kanab’s Nate Stewart recovered a Wildcat fumble to shed some momentum to the home team. The Cowboys weren’t able to convert, giving it back to the Wildcats, who added to their lead 21-0 when a familiar name and relative, Reggie Hafen dropped in a beautiful ball for another touchdown.
Left to right, photos by Jeremy Houston:
Coach Brandon Brown hypes up his defense to get the best out of them under the Friday night lights.
Troy Federkiel slashes through the Wildcat defense, dragging one behind him.
The Cowboys wouldn’t go away, and Bone found Maddix Baird in the endzone, floating one right over the defenders’ arms. A questionable call by the refs at the end of the first half took away the momentum the Cowboys were building, when Kash Kabonic intercepted a Wildcat throw in the endzone to end their drive, but the refs gave it to the Wildcats for a 28-7 lead.
The second half stayed in favor of the wildcats as they pushed the lead to 35- 7, when Bone found Draden Stubbs in the endzone for another score to make it 35- 14. The end wouldn’t play out as the Cowboy proud hoped, as Richfield finished the game off scoring two more times to end it 48-14.
Coach Quarnberg didn’t hold back saying, “we got our butt kicked. We lost Gubler for the year as well. It hurts to see Hayden Gubler and Preston Brown standing on crutches. My heart goes out to both of them. After a Friday night like that, it’s easy to feel bad for yourself. But the sun came up the next day and we had a great Monday practice this week. So, we will Cowboy up and find ways to get better.”
The Cowboys face off against big time rival Beaver Beavers (4-1) at home on Friday at 7 p.m., in Arlyn Hafen Stadium. Both teams come into the region matchup with four wins and one loss, and according to Coach Quarnberg, “Beaver will do what Beaver does. They play fast and execute their brand of football. We don’t expect them to do anything different.”
