From Last To First
After Challenging 2020 Campaign, Cowboys Stand In First This Year
By Bill Vander Weele
Last year, nothing went right for Culbertson High School’s football program. Between dealing with COVID concerns and injuries, the season was a forgettable one as the Cowboys didn’t win a single contest.
But that season is now a distant memory. The Cowboys are undefeated this season, sit on top of the Eastern C standings and are ranked high in the Class C eight-man state poll.
“We came together as a team,” senior James Kirkaldie explained of the team’s success.
Senior Aiden Perkins added, “Last season, we were really separated.”
The low point of the campaign came when the Cowboys were able to dress only 11 healthy players against MonDak.
Despite the disappointments of last year, the success of this campaign started in the off season. Perkins noted that everybody started hitting the weight room and that a football camp held in Bozeman was a positive.
That work quickly paid off when the Cowboys knocked off rival Fairview, 48-14, to open the season.
“We’ve never beat them,” senior Zach O’Neill said.
Kirkaldie added, “That meant the world to us.”
A few weeks later, the Cowboys moved into first place with a dramatic 26-22 victory over traditional powerhouse Scobey on Saturday, Sept. 18.
O’Neill, Kirkaldie and Perkins agree that the Cowboys were confident heading into the battle of the two undefeated squads. “We stayed positive the whole game,” Kirkaldie said.
After a start start, however, Culbertson trailed by a 22-18 half-time margin.
“We knew we could rally,” Kirkaldie said of the half-time mindset.
Perkins stressed, “We had to rally.”
The Cowboys did in fact rally and came away with a 26-22 hard-fought victory.
Many fans cheered and hugged the players after the well-attended game against Scobey. “We have a lot of support this year,” Kirkaldie said.
Each of the three senior boys have enjoyed individual success throughout the season. Perkins had been a defensive force with several tackles for loss. Kirkaldie has intercepted two passes. O’Neill has made key stops on the defensive line.
Other seniors providing leadership include Kyler Kempton, Eric Chilson, Nick Wilson and Joe Stewart.
“We need to keep the same mindset,” Kirkaldie said of future success.
“We should keep working together,” Perkins noted.
Another difference is assistant coach Mark Pederson, who has a lot of experience, serving on head coach Brian Manning’s staff. Pederson’s outgoing personality has been an asset.
“We’re happy to have both of them, They both know what they’re doing,” Kirkaldie said of the coaches. “It’s a good balance.”
Next up for the Cowboys is a key conference home game against Plentywood on Friday, Oct. 1.
Hopefully the future holds at least a few home playoff games for Culbertson. The top seed of the Eastern C is scheduled to be the host team for the first three rounds of the state playoffs.
“We need to take one game at a time,” Kirkaldie said.
O’Neill added, “I want to go all the way.”
