COZAD – The Cozad Haymaker football team got off to a fast start and didn’t look back as they took down Gothenburg 27-7 on Friday night.
Cozad would strike instantly on their first drive, going on an eight play, 78-yard drive capped off by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Noah Shoemaker to Olliver Davis. Gothenburg answered themselves, going on a 12-play 66-yard drive, but missed a 23-yard field goal. From there, Cozad took advantage immediately with an 80-yard touchdown pass down the sideline from Shoemaker to Boston Irish. The Cozad defense continue to shut down Gothenburg thanks to a Kellen Shoemaker interception and a turnover on downs in the first half, and scored twice more on a 33-yard end around touchdown from Davis, and a five-yard touchdown pass from Noah Shoemaker to Davis to put the Haymakers up 27-0 at halftime.
Gothenburg started to figure things out early in the third quarter, taking the first drive of the period eight plays and 73 yards to score their first touchdown on a 10-yard rushing touchdown from Jackson Daum. The Gothenburg defense forced a punt and a turnover on downs in back to back possessions for Cozad, but the offense again struggled to finish a drive, with two more turnover on downs including one to end a 16-play, 80-yard drive with just over six minutes to play in the fourth. Cozad picked up a couple first downs and ran out the final 6:17 of the game to hold on for the 27-7 win.
Cozad was led by Noah Shoemaker, who was 12-19 with 219 yards and three touchdowns, also the leading rusher with 15 carries for 68 yards. Davis had three total touchdowns, two receiving and a rushing touchdown. Cozad ran 52 plays for 359 yards. Gothenburg ran 60 plays for 337 yards, including 216 rushing yards. Daum led the way with 81 rushing yards, while starting quarterback Landon Mroczek had 53 rushing yards of his own.
Listen to the game here.
Listen to the post game interview with Cozad head coach Jayce Dueland here.
Cozad improves to 5-1 and will be on the road at Adams Central next week. Gothenburg falls to 2-4 and will host Holdrege next week, a game we will bring to you on KAMI.
