Cowboys Battle to the End, Fall 26-20 at Holcomb

PHOTO CREDIT: Jackie Elliott

HOLCOMB — Goodland’s unbeaten start came to an end Friday night, but not without a fight.

The Cowboys battled back from two-score deficits twice and had an opportunity late before running out of time in a 26-20 loss to Holcomb.

Goodland struck first after recovering a Holcomb fumble and quickly turning the takeaway into a touchdown and an 8-0 lead.

The Longhorns responded by scoring three consecutive touchdowns to take control of the game and force Goodland into comeback mode.

But the Cowboys refused to let Holcomb pull away.

Goodland chipped away at the deficit behind a patient offensive attack that produced several lengthy drives. The Cowboys consistently put together possessions of 10 or more plays, leaning on their offensive line and a physical running game while also coming up with key completions through the air.

Quarterback Reid Cure accounted for 209 yards of offense and two touchdowns, while senior Jaxson Miller found the end zone twice — once rushing and once receiving.

Miller also reached a career milestone in the loss, surpassing 1,000 career receiving yards in a Cowboy uniform.

Head coach Dax Ruhs said Goodland’s ball-control approach was part of the plan against a Holcomb team capable of producing explosive plays.

“We knew we wanted the clock to wind,” Ruhs said. “I think the game plan for the most part worked.”

Goodland also made adjustments defensively after Holcomb’s three-score surge, tightening its defensive front in an effort to take away the Longhorns’ inside running game.

The Cowboys held Holcomb to 277 yards of total offense and, perhaps most importantly, limited the Longhorns’ big-play ability.

“I felt really good about our kids not giving up a 75-yard touchdown run,” Ruhs said. “I thought we were able to eliminate their big-play power.”

Goodland continued to fight its way back into the game, but a costly turnover deep in its own territory helped Holcomb regain a two-score advantage.

Once again, the Cowboys responded.

Goodland cut the deficit back to six and eventually got another opportunity late, but this time there would be no comeback finish. The Cowboys simply ran out of time as Holcomb held on for the 26-20 victory.

“The kids fought like dogs tonight,” Ruhs said. “Sometimes you come up a little bit short, and that’s life.”

Despite suffering their first loss, the Cowboys once again displayed the resiliency that has defined the opening month of the season. Goodland rallied from a 26-point deficit to beat Burlington earlier this year and twice fought its way back from two-score deficits against Holcomb.

Ruhs told his players afterward that while the result didn’t go their way, their performance showed they can compete against a program that annually ranks among the area’s best.

“You just always got to put yourself in the fight,” Ruhs said. “No matter if it’s the first quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter, you just always got to fight and try to get back in it.”

Goodland falls to 3-1 on the season and will look to bounce back at home next Friday when the Cowboys return to Cowboy Stadium to host Ulysses.

Coach Dax Ruhs - Postgame at Holcomb (9-25-2026)

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