Week 1 Preview: Clarion-Goldfield-Dows vs. Eagle Grove

Week 1 of the high school football season brings about the annual Wright County Rivalry as Clarion-Goldfield-Dows or Eagle Grove travels down the Highway 3 corridor to take on one another. Eagle Grove will host this year’s installment of the annual rivalry, looking for their first win since a 13-12 win in 2017. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows holds a 60-44-11 advantage in the rivalry, which dates all the way back to 1905, and won last years meeting in Clarion 48-20.

Following their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade in 2022, CGD will look to replace a couple of cornerstones in the backfield in quarterback Preston Gardner and running back Nevan Foss. Carson Nesheim will step in as the starting quarterback, while the Cowboys offense transitions to a more multiple-based look, with Diego Gonzalez at running back, and Mason Allen transitioning to fullback. The receiving core will be a veteran one, with Wyatt DeCoster and Colin Kirstein bookending the boundaries, while Uli Frias will step into the tight end role. CGD’s offensive line will be a very good one, returning starters in Caden Hankins, Nick Sisson, Bryce Lindaman and Cole Rothman.

Defensively, the Cowboys will try to replace the production in the back 7 left by Foss, Gardner, Cale Kirstein and Mack Seaba. Another Seaba is ready to roll in the linebacker core in Caleb Seaba, while Diego Gonzalez also returns. The front four will be chalked full of experience and talent with returnees such as Mason Allen, Cole Rothman, Bryce Lindaman and Caden Hankins. The defensive backfield will be a green one, sans starting corner Colin Kirstein, as Wyatt DeCoster, Selvin Gonzalez and Huxley Lingenfelter will step into bigger roles in 2023.

Eagle Grove is fresh off of back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in over a decade, but have little in the way of returning production off of last year’s squad. Drake Canavan is the top returning rusher, amassing nearly 300 yards and a touchdown last season, stepping into the fullback role late in the season. Hayden Schafer will take over the reigns at quarterback, while athletes such as Leelan Spencer and Belmond-Klemme transfer Tyreon Franklin will be appearing in the backfield. Jesus Baez and Reece Demuth will lead a young, but promising offensive line for the Eagles triple option attack.

Defensively, the Eagles are looking for more players to step up and fill big roles at all 3 levels. Drake Canavan makes the switch from defensive end to inside linebacker, joined by returning backer Connor Christopher. Reece Demuth, Dominick Melendrez and Jesus Baez headline the defensive line, while Brett Ascherl and Levi Langfitt will look to have larger roles in the defensive backfield.

Kickoff is slated for 7 PM on Thursday, August 24th at Hinrichsen Field in Eagle Grove, and can be heard on 95.7 KQWC or on kqradio.com.