A two touchdown performance from Joey McGowen and Israel Kaloso lifted the Rangers past Paschal 34-0 on Friday, Oct. 21. The win also marked the Rangers' first shutout since 2016.
Chisholm Trail got the scoring started on the very first drive of the game. On the third play from scrimmage, McGowen connected with Alex Delgado for 18-yards, setting up the Rangers inside Paschal's territory. Two plays later, Kaloso had a 17-yard run, and capped off the drive with a touchdown from three yards away and a 7-0 lead.
The Ranger defense was tough from the opening possession. After a long pass completion on their first drive; Thad Thames halted any momentum with a quarterback hurry, forcing an incomplete pass and a Paschal punt. The defense was consistently putting Paschal in unfavorable situations all night long.
On their next offensive possession, McGowen found Gavin Clark for an 18-yard catch and run, setting up Kaloso's second TD run following the blocking of Darion Reed and the offensive line.
Eli Raya got a big third down sack on the ensuing possession, and the Ranger offense continued moving the ball. McGowen had a 27-yard run that set up a 31-yard field goal by Roman Hernandez to give Chisholm Trail a 17-0 lead in the second quarter.
Before the half, McGowen hit Dadrian Calhoun for a score from 29-yards away, and Hernandez kicked a 43-yard field goal giving Chisholm Trail a 27-0 lead at the half.
In the second half Paschal put a drive together, but Matthias Leach intercepted a pass deep inside Chisholm Trail territory that set up a touchdown strike from McGowen to Jordan Dews. Dews won the jump ball over his defender for the score and the 34-0 lead, that held for the rest of the game to secure the win.
"Our kids have stayed strong all season long," Head Coach Byron Bode said. "We've been on a little bit of a slide, but we challenge our kids to have a great Monday every week to start the week off right, and we responded tonight."
Kaloso finished the night with 124-yards rushing, while McGowen finished 16/27 passing for 233-yards and two scores.
"Kaloso has had a really great few weeks, and that starts up front with our offensive line," Coach Bode said. "Joey {McGowen} is a sophomore, and he's progressed all season long. He's an athlete, a smart kid, and he's very calm under pressure. He's settling into his role, and he played great. Dadrian {Calhoun} had some big catches tonight."
Defensively, Kelsey Tshipamba and Jeremiah Gordon each had nine tackles to lead the Rangers statistically.
"Our defense really stepped up tonight, and had some big fourth down stops," Coach Bode said.
Chisholm Trail will return home next Friday, Oct. 28 against North Crowley.
"We have a challenge next week. North Crowley is a great football team, athletic and talented," Coach Bode said. "But as always, we've shown that we can make plays and compete when we play together as a team. We believe in each other, and all of those things are created in practice."
Kick-off from Ranger Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.
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