Cowboys Are 2-0 Following Homecoming Win

With a dominating performance against Camas County on Homecoming the Cowboys have begun their season 2-0 for the first time in fifteen years.  In 2010 North Gem opened with two very close wins beating Grace by four points and Mackay by eight.  This season’s 2-0 start differs significantly.  The 2025 Cowboys have opened the season with two blowout victories.  After beating Utah Military Academy in their opening game by twenty points North Gem took down Camas County last Friday winning by the score of 48-12.

The Cowboys continued to give some of their younger players opportunities to shine.  Clay Johnson once again found paydirt scoring on offense and coming up big on defense with a pair of interceptions.  The coaching staff also seemed to give the ball to William Wakely more in this game.  The 190 pound junior fullback didn’t break any big runs but did plenty of work running into the belly of the defense.  Despite the younger guys being so heavily relied on it was clear to all in attendance that the senior leaders rose to the occasion to ensure a victory in their final homecoming game.  Craig Yost seemed to gain yards at will tearing off big play after big play.  Meanwhile center Haydn Frandsen along with fellow senior lineman Hyrum Barnes literally plowed through and ran over the Mushers front line.  Yost and Frandsen who are the emotional leaders on the team also came up big on defense each tallying several tackles while putting on some big hits.

The teams themselves looked like almost mirror images of one another to the casual observer.  Camas County may be the only team that North Gem will face this season with fewer players on their roster.  The Mushers had just ten players dressed while the Cowboys have twelve players on the team this season.  Some of the Mushers fans and coaching staff lamented their pawltry numbers but they found no sympathy from the Cowboys who are now in their third season playing with numbers between nine and twelve players. Perhaps that is what gave the Cowboys the upper hand.  They have had to learn to play as the underdogs with ironman wills to last full games and seasons playing both sides of the ball.

Coach Hatch is thrilled with his teams great start to the season and he is excited to see where they can go from here.  He knows what he has in his seniors but he also has been very impressed with his six new freshmen.  One thing is for sure, Coach Hatch won’t bask in his wins for long.  He knows every week will be a battle for his team but they are ready for the challenge.  This week’s challenge is taking on a solid Shoshone team.  In last year’s match up the Cowboys practically led the Indians in every statistical category but too many turnovers cost them the game.  The Cowboys will look to avenge that game Friday afternoon in Bancroft at 4 p.m.