The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowboys football team will hit the road north into Mitchell County on Friday night, for their Class 2A playoff first round matchup with the Osage Green Devils at Sawyer Field in Osage. The Cowboys enter with a record of 5-3 and 2-3 in District 2, while Osage enters with a 6-2 record and a 5-0 mark with a district title out of District 3.
Friday’s meeting is the 6th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Osage winning the most recent game in 2017 by a score of 34-0. The Green Devils enter with one of the most balanced offensive attacks in Class 2A, which starts with senior quarterback Max Knudsen. Knudsen has thrown for nearly 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns to 6 interceptions, along with another 89 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Knudsen’s favorite target has been senior Landon Arends, who’s caught 33 passes for 616 yards and 9 touchdowns, as Drew Tusler and Jake Clark are other common targets for Knudsen. The rushing attack is spearheaded by senior tailback Brayden Onken, who’s rushed for nearly 650 yards and 7 touchdowns in the Green Devils spread attack. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 3-3-5 stack defense will present the Osage offense with its most unique challenge of the season to date.
On the defensive side, Osage possesses one of the best front seven unit’s in all of Class 2A, led by sophomore linebacker Jake Krebsbach, who’s accumulated a team high 65 tackles with a sack and 3 tackles for loss. Barrett Muller has been the big playmaker for the Green Devils with 3 sacks and 9 tackles for loss, to go with his 26 total tackles. Brother Mack Muller has amassed 36.5 tackles as well. Max Gast has been another big playmaker for Osage, as he’s amassed 47 tackles with 2 sacks and 5 tackles for loss as well. In the turnover department, both Muller brothers have recovered 3 fumbles, as Marshall Schlader has a fumble return for a touchdown on the season. Max Knudsen and Landon Arends have two interceptions each, but freshman Quinn Street has the lone pick six for the Green Devil defense. A battle-tested Clarion-Goldfield-Dows offensive line will have to be keyed in if the Cowboys are to move the football effectively against the Green Devils.
Kickoff is slated for 7 PM at Sawyer Field in Osage on Friday night.