—Submitted photo Clarion-Goldfield/Dows player Selvin Gonzalez runs the ball earlier this season.

It was early, but a one-point loss in Week 2 was a reality check for the Clarion-Goldfield/Dows football team.

The Cowboys had dropped a 7-6 contest to Hampton-Dumont-CAL and were then tasked with familiar foe Estherville-Lincoln Central, which had won the last seven games in the series.

It was the ultimate challenge for C-G/D, which was on the verge of a 1-2 start.

The Cowboys knocked off the Midgets (26-14), though, and then opened district play with a 33-0 shutout of Central Springs.

“It was a reality check after that one-point loss to (H-D) in a game we should have won,” said C-G/D head coach Caleb Vogel. “Heading into that Estherville game was huge against an opponent that had beaten us a lot. After that one, we started improving, beating Central Springs, Eagle Grove and then Garner-Hayfield.

“We realized that one play could change things in any type of game. We saw that on the first drive against Grundy Center (the first time around) when we got punched in the mouth.”

The Cowboys have bought into the gameplan. They proved the naysayers wrong last week, ending a 14-year playoff hex by beating Waterloo Columbus (48-27) for their first postseason win since 2014.

Now they’ll hit the road to square off with second-ranked Grundy Center (9-0) on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

“Our guys have been staying positive all this week,” Vogel said. “We are a good, physical football team, and we can beat anyone if we keep believing in each other.

“We have to have faith in the Lord and the Holy Spirit. He will lead you to where you want to go. We’ve just preached all week to stay positive.”

When the Cowboys step on the field, you know exactly what you’re going to get. They’re going to run the ball right at the opposition.

C-G/D has rushed the ball for 2,549 yards, and has two backs near the 1,000-yard mark with another close to 400. They have only passed the ball 69 times for 25 competitions on the entire season.

With that kind of offense, a team needs strong blocking in the trenches. Vogel has five horses and two tight ends who create the holes.

“We have a good group up front with one junior (JT Kelso) and the rest are sophomores,” Vogel said. “They have repetition and our backs believe in their blockers. Our line opens the holes for the backs.

“We have to go to the next level now. They have to continue to believe in themselves.”

Kelso anchors the line as a 280-pound center. Armando Melendez (tackle) and Daven Duncalf (guard) are on the left side. Making holes on the right are guard Ryland Morgan and tackle Traesyn Cope.

Junior tight ends Cooper Nosbush and Huxley Lingenfelter are also key in schemes.

Seniors Selvin Gonzalez and Joel Meier have been the groundhogs. Gonzalez has 939 yards for a 6.3-yard per carry average. Meier has rushed for 914 with a 7.7 per carry mark. They have 11 and 12 touchdowns, respectively.

Sophomore Colin Sesker has 398 yards and six touchdowns, carrying the ball at a 6.9-yard clip.

“Our running backs have a great relationship,” Vogel said. “We go with what is working and mix things up. They believe in their linemen and know a hole is going to be there.

“They all understand their role, and know sometimes they’re going to have to block. We have trust and faith in all three.”

If the Cowboys want to take down their second straight playoff opponent, they’ll have to beat a district opponent in the Spartans. In the first meeting, the Spartans earned a 56-8 victory. The Cowboys still managed to push the ball on the ground, running for 171 yards.

The Spartans ran for only 105 yards and threw for 201 and four touchdowns. All six of Grundy Center’s offensive touchdowns were on plays of 20 or more yards. They returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown.

“We’re a better team than we were in Week 5,” Vogel said. “We are so much improved. We’re just glad for this opportunity to play again in the second round. They are a very well-coached team and talented.

“We have to fix what we were doing wrong and to get better at it. All levels of the game are super important. We can’t be timid or scared…we have to be physical and have fun playing Cowboy football.”