The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows football team rushed for 411 yards to bring home the program’s first playoff win, 48-27 at Columbus Catholic in a Class 1A first round matchup on Friday. According to the IHSAA, Clarion-Goldfield last won a playoff game in 2011, but this marks the first win with all three communities together as a program.
The start of the game was delayed by an hour due to a blown transformer that caused a power outage at the stadium. After a scoreless first quarter, the Cowboys scored three second quarter rushing touchdowns, as Kolton Hefti, Colin Sesker and Selvin Gonzalez each scored one apiece to deliver a 20-6 advantage at the half. A Joel Meier five yard touchdown run and a Easton Beyer goal line touchdown carry put the Cowboys up 34-6 in the third. The Cowboys leading 34-12 kept the ground game rolling into the fourth quarter, as Sesker and Gonzalez each scored their second rushing touchdowns of the evening to insure the lead would be insurmountable in the time remaining at 48-21. The Sailors scored a late touchdown to get within a 48-27 deficit but the Cowboys were able to close out the game from there. Head Coach Caleb Vogel notes what allowed for a big night running the ball.
“We just gotta get after it and be more physical than they are. That’s exactly what we did. That starts with the guys up front. Our offensive linemen have worked super hard this year, they are starting to figure things out week by week and get better week by week,” says Vogel. “Without them, our running backs, Colin Sesker, Selvin Gonzalez, Joel, Easton in there and Kolton Hefti our quarterback, wouldn’t have the production that they do. Kudos to our offensive line for just doing a great job and trying to score on every possession. That is our goal. We certainly did that. It was just a great production offensively.”
Gonzalez rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Sesker had 95 yards and two touchdowns. Meier had 95 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cowboys.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (6-3) will travel to #2 (1A) Grundy Center for second round matchup on Friday, October 31.
