Prineville, Ore. – Crook County High School Football opened its season Friday night with a hard-fought effort in a chaotic 14–7 loss to the Estacada Rangers. There was plenty of promise for the upcoming season despite the delays and unusual ending.
Crook County’s defense showed up in critical moments, making big stops that led to turnovers and kept the game in reach. Offensively, the Cowboys had some good looks and connected on several passes, but multiple interceptions tilted momentum back toward Estacada. The Cowboys’ lone touchdown came in the first half, energizing the home crowd before mistakes began to pile up.
A 30-minute lightning delay extended halftime and sent players, coaches, and fans scrambling for shelter. Just as play resumed and the fourth quarter began, the stadium lights suddenly went dark in a power outage that halted the game once again. After another lengthy delay and no easy fix, officials were forced to call the game short of a full finish.
Despite the odd circumstances, the atmosphere at Crook County High School was electric. Students and families packed the stands for the season debut, many staying through the long delays to support the team. The Cowboys’ energy on the sideline and defensive resilience gave the crowd reason to believe the team is in for a competitive season.
The Cowboys travel south next week for a nonleague matchup at Ashland High School, where they’ll aim to clean up turnovers and build on the positives from Friday’s opener.
