Merkel Stops Plowboys 28-14

Caden Smith (12) scores Plowboy TD in first quarter.

Hopes were high Friday night for the Roscoe Plowboys as they looked to rebound from last week’s loss to Stamford by beating up on their old nemesis, the Merkel Badgers.  Some of the intensity of the traditional rivalry between the two schools has faded in recent years as Merkel has grown and moved from Class A up to 2A and is no longer a district foe.  Still, the Badgers undoubtedly remembered recent losses to the Plowboys and came into the game intent on spoiling Roscoe’s homecoming.

The Badgers came out clicking on all cylinders and before the first quarter was half over, they were already up by a score of 14-0 and moving the ball down the field at will.  After the second Merkel touchdown, the Plowboy offense finally woke up and was able to put together a long drive that culminated in a Caden Smith touchdown from the two, but then Merkel responded with another drive of its own, and by the end of the quarter the Badgers were ahead 21-7.  It appeared that the rout was on.  

The Plowboys defense stiffened, though, and the two teams were equally matched throughout the second quarter.  Caden Smith capped off another Plowboy drive with a touchdown, and at halftime the score was 21-14.  

The third quarter was similar to the second with both teams playing well and neither able to score.  The Plowboys had chances to tie the game but never managed to do so.   Merkel began the fourth quarter on the Plowboy 12-yard line, but the Plowboy defense held for four plays and the ball went over on downs. 

Unfortunately, they fumbled the ball away on the next play, and Merkel capitalized a couple of plays later with their final touchdown, putting the game out of reach at 28-14, which turned out to be the final score.

After the disastrous start, the Plowboys played tough, but they were plagued by poor tackling off and on throughout the contest, and the failure to wrap up ball carriers, along with critical turnovers, cost them the game.  Quarterback Caden Smith had another good night both running and passing, and halfback Collin Smith also had several good runs.  Merkel was led on both sides of the ball by Frankie Harris.

Life doesn’t get any easier for the Plowboys next week as they go to Munday to play a 3-1 team that has recovered from an opening loss to Stamford with strong victories over Olney, Jim Ned, and Haskell.