SPORTS
Cowboys Earn Home Playoff Game With Victory
After falling behind by 10 points early, the Culbertson Cowboys regrouped and ran their way to a 35-22 home victory over Circle in a battle to decide the second-place spot in the Eastern football conference.
Trailing 16-6 with 4:54 left in the half, the Cowboys started the momentum-shifting drive on their own 15 and quickly moved to the Circle 24 on long runs by tailback Reese Moon and quarterback Bridger Salvevold.
Moon then took off for a 20-yard gain for a first down at the four. On the next play, Salvevold battled in the end zone with 3:33 left in the half. Moon ran in for the conversion to cut the margin to 1614.
“We had a reality check that we had to get a score,” Culbertson Coach Brian Manning said of the drive. “Overall, it was the best that the boys performed under adversity and bounced back.”
The Cowboys made a big defensive play late in the half when Mark Kirkaldie recovered a fumble at the 33. The speedy Moon took advantage by dashing for first down to the Circle 29 and then to the 11.
On a second down play at the four, Moon reached the end zone for a 20-16 lead with only 24 seconds left in the half. Circle’s last possession of the half ended on an interception by Moon.
Culbertson kept rolling to start the third quarter as a completion from Salvevold to Dawson Bergum covered 13 yards. Salvevold then reversed fields on a 24-yard gain into Circle territory. The hard running of Moon resulted in a pair of additional first downs to the two. Moon went on to score the touchdown and conversion for a 28-16 advantage with 7:19 left in the period.
The Wildcats responded by using the passing of Owen Beery to Duke Williamson and Kashus Ereaux inside the Culbertson 20, but the threat ended when Salvevold intercepted a fourth-down pass in the end zone.
The Cowboys struck first in the fourth quarter when Moon broke loose for a 70yard touchdown run. The conversion kick by Josue Mena put the score at 35-16 with 8:26 remaining.
Circle quickly answered on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Beery to Ereaux to close the margin to 35-22 with 8:26 remaining.
The Wildcats had the ball near midfield a few minutes later, but three incompletions including one defended by Bergum ended the threat.
Circle’s final possession ended on an interception by Bergum with only 17 seconds remaining.
Moon finished the game with 226 rushing yards while Salvevold ran for 132 yards.
Defensive leaders for the Cowboys included Gavin Deen, Moon and Bergum.
“This game was won in the trenches,” Manning said. He credited the offensive line with an excellent game.
The Wildcats scored the contest’s first touchdown on a 42-yard run by Breckyn White, but the play was costly as the senior suffered a major leg injury.
Culbertson cut the margin to 8-6 on a 25-yard touchdown run by Salvevold with two seconds left in the opening quarter.
Circle added two points when a bad snap exchange by Culbertson resulted in a safety with 9:17 left in the half.
A four-yard pass from Beery to Ereaux put Circle ahead 16-6 with 4:54 remaining in the half.
Culbertson will host a firstround playoff game against Ennis at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2.
“I just hope we get after it right way,” Manning said.
Getting Him Down
Culbertson’s Bridger Salvevold attempts to stop Circle’s quarterback Owen Beery. (Photo by Bill Vander Weele)
