They call it "The Battle For The Saddle" and the Rangers battled with the Bowell Pioneers on Thursday, Nov. 3, and came up just short losing 28-14, despite a pair of touchdowns in the second half.
The Rangers got the running game going early on their first drive behind their offensive line and Joey McGowen and Israel Kaloso. Chisholm Trail moved the ball right down the field and converted a fourth down on a five-yard run from Israel Kaloso on 4th and 1, but a penalty derailed their drive and kept them from scoring.
Chisholm Trail kept battling with every snap, and their aggressiveness and hard work paid off in the second half. Sophomore cornerback TJ Dukes had two interceptions on back-to-back drives, to prevent Boswell from scoring. His interceptions, however, led to two Ranger scoring drives. On the first drive, they had three plays over 10-yards, that set up a touchdown pass from McGowen to Kamaron Brimmer. Brimmer beat his man and hauled in a highlight reel catch.
On the ensuing drive, the Rangers had several more chunk plays, including another connection from McGowen to Brimmer for 26-yards, and a 30-yard pass from McGowen to Dadrian Calhoun, setting up a three-yard score from McGowen to pull the Rangers within 28-14.
The Ranger special teams came up big on the next series, preventing the Boswell special teams from setting up a play, after a botched snap on a field goal attempt. The Rangers couldn't capitalize and fell short 28-14.
"Our guys didn't quit, and we've improved so much over the last few weeks," Head Coach Byron Bode said. "I think we were a bit nervous in the first half, and when you play a disciplined team like Boswell is, they capitalize on those sorts of things. Our kids didn't quit though, and I challenged our guys at halftime to finish. They finished, and competed tonight for four quarters, and for 10 games this season."
Leading the way offensively, was Kaloso with 109-yards rushing. McGowen added a rushing score and threw a TD pass. Defensively, Dukes had the two interceptions, and Thad Thames had 10 tackles.
"When you go back and look at the stats, we weren't very productive in the passing game," Coach Bode said. "Joey {McGowen} has improved and grown so much during his sophomore season. He has a good supporting cast around him, guys that will be back next year."
Coach Bode spoke about his senior class, and how much they will be missed.
"They've meant so much to our program the last four seasons," Coach Bode said. "They are tremendous leaders, and it's a little emotional knowing they won't don the Ranger uniform again, and play under the lights at Ranger Stadium."
One thing, he added was the talent they've got coming back in some key spots, and how hungry they are to win. Something he said, will springboard them into the off-season and have a great off-season leading into next year.
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