Homecoming week is always an exciting week, but this week had a little more flare as it was the Cowboys first home game of the season. As the rowdy crowd filled the stands, the hometown faithful also piled in just as the customary helicopter flew in the Homecoming royalty. Queen Haylie McQuivey, princess Kayleigh Brinkerhoff and Duchess Maci Fox all stepped off the helicopter onto the field to an excited ovation from the crowd. Britton Little was announced as Homecoming King, with Maddix Baird as prince and Corbin Kerr as the Duke.
From left to right, photos by Jeremy Houston:
Junior Logan Veater smashes a Millard Eagle in their endzone for a safety, giving the Cowboys two of the three points leading to their margin of victory 19-16. Photos by Jeremy Houston.
Freshman Latimer Glover goes up high against two Eagle defenders for the long ball.
The Millard Eagles took the opening drive and marched down 80-yards to punch in the first score of the game but missed the extra point leaving a critical point off the scoreboard, making it 6-0. The Cowboys weren’t deterred, as they snapped back with a huge drive of their own, with Hayden Gubler doing what he does best, dragging opponents into the endzone for touchdowns. After the extra point by Bone, the Cowboys took the lead 7-6.
The Cowboys then picked it up on defense on the next Eagles drive as Bone intercepted an Eagles pass at the fifty-yard line just as the first quarter ended. The Cowboys would turn it over themselves after driving to the Eagles fiveyard line, when Bone threw an interception on fourth and five, handing the ball back to the Eagles. Junior defensive end Logan Veater stepped up big time and found his way in the backfield sacking the quarterback in the endzone for a huge safety, adding two points to the Cowboys lead, making it 9-6. The Cowboys found their way back to the Eagles endzone with under a minute left before halftime, the Cowboys failed to convert on 4-1, leaving the halftime score 9-6. When asked what the toughest part about the game was, coach Quarnberg replied, “We had the ball inside the 10-yard line six times and scored only one time. We have to correct that, the penalties, the execution and play calling.”
The Cowboys came out of halftime with a big punching drive, when Bone found Kash Kabonic streaking across the middle of the field and dropped a dime into Kabonic’s outstretched hands for a touchdown, making it 16-6. The Eagles wouldn’t be deterred and had an answer of their own when Eagles Quarterback Kaden Turner found Preston Sanchez for an 80-yard bomb, pushing the score 16-13, and definitely keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. Logan Veater stepped up again on a crucial third down and eight play from the Eagles, as Veater sacked the quarterback forcing them to punt on fourth and 18. Coach Quarnberg added, “Logan was the player of the game up front. I was proud of him because he actually struggled on their opening possession but he settled in and had a huge impact, and he even took the homecoming queen to the dance!”
Cowboys were able to seal the victory 19-16 after Bone took a fake punt on a fourth and five play to extend the Cowboys drive and run the clock down to within minutes. Cowboys couldn’t convert their last drive, but Bone and Cooper Anderson broke up a last ditch throw by the Eagles to seal the deal, and then it was time to boogie. The Cowboys move to 4-0 on the season, but face a really tough Richfield team who is also 4-0 and number one in the 3A rankings. Quarnberg responded to their upcoming game, “Richfield is good. They have a balanced spread attack offensively by a good senior quarterback with a familiar Kanab last name of Hafen. They are the #1 3A team and we will be the underdog in most people’s eyes. So, we are very excited for the opportunity to have them come to town.”
The Cowboys face off against Richfield on Friday, September 8, at Arlyn Hafen Stadium, in Kanab.
