Fredericksburg can’t Keep Lead in Loss to the Hawks, 49-31
Fredericksburg could not keep a lead in loss to Canyon Lake, 49-31.
The Hawks upped their series record to 5-2 over the Billies and this game was not your ordinary, by the book, game as CL administered two kick-off run backs which finally broke Fredericksburg into a free fall and a loss.
“They are good,” Head Coach Charley Drum started. “We talked about last year’s team and how similar we are…but we will need to finish it.”
On Fredericksburg first drive of the game, the Billies moved from their 40 yard line to CL’s 26 in just three plays when a movement penalty on a first down, had Fredericksburg needing 15 yards for a first.
That little mistake changed up their play calling and after three passes and two incompletions, Jacob Eckhardt was good with a 41 yard field goal with 10:24 left in that first quarter.
Using 13 seconds, Josh DeVries took the Billie kick-off on the press box sideline and with some Houdini like dance moves, DeVries was crossing the goal line and CL would surprise the shocked home crowd, leading 7-3.
“We (Matt Adams) are competing and are one upping each other,” DeVries talking about having two kick-off returns. “But really, it is all friendly competition because when we score then we are all happy.”
Fredericksburg then moved the ball on their next possession with a first play 49 yard run from Kyle Reeh to CL’s 16 yard line, where they would make a huge mistake and fumbled at the foot line and Canyon Lake stopped this drive from the skin of their teeth.
That play was stopped when the Billie runner jumped to clear the goal line and the Hawk hit caused that turnover and seven more points.
Canyon Lake would take over on their one yard line and then cooly move the ball 99 yards and a, 14-3 Hawk lead.
This drive had three explosive plays, Robert Woods was first in line taking the second hand-off for 35 yards and getting Canyon Lake out from under the shade of their goal posts.
“Keep going strong in practice,” Woods said while responding on this season. “We are going to work on not being complacent and when it gets tough then we will respond as a team….that is when it all comes together. We execute when each team (special/offense/defense) comes together.”
The Hawks offense would come together four plays later, a 11 yard run from Hayden DuBois, would convert a third and five play and had Canyon Lake on the Billies 40 yard line.
On the next third down conversion, Josh DeVries would scamper 28 yards to the two yard line, then Woods and DuBois would each gain one yard a piece with a DuBois touchdown and 14-3 score.
Rushing on The Drive: Player Running Plays Yardage on Drive Game Yardage Josh DeVries 2 30 120 Robert Woods 4 43 106 Hayden DuBois 5 17 87
Fredericksburg would get a full dose of these players as they will be counting each runner as they jump over a fence to help them go to sleep after this game.
“It is hard work on that blocking sled ,” Offensive lineman Ian May said humbly. “We had good hard running but it all comes down to sled work.”
“Just constant pounding,” Running Back DuBois said like a marshmallow. They (Billies defense) are just looking to find the player with the ball and one wrong decision can lead them into making a bad mistake.”
The Billies were not through yet, as Canyon Lake had not stopped this club as of yet.
Fredericksburg scored their next two touchdowns by responding immediately with a 70 yard drive and Reeh would finish this series of plays from 22 yards out and cutting the lead to, 14-10.
Canyon Lake was stopped short on a fourth down play at Fredericksburg’s 31 yard line and the Billies would respond with a touchdown on a pass to Mitchell Edwards on a broken coverage play by the Hawk defensive backs and 41 yards later a Billies lead in this game, 17-14 with still 8:34 left on the second quarter clock.
This time Matt Adams would return his second kick-off in consecutive games when he one upped his 89 yard return last week against Bandera with a 90 yard return this time, taking 12 seconds for a response to the Billies score.
Amount of time, Fredericksburg had the lead in this game? 25 seconds would be the answer to that question.
The Hawk defense would answer with a three play and 43 yard punt scenario to the Hawk 15 yard line.
This time CL would use 17 plays and right at seven minutes after scoring on a DuBois one yard run leaving just one second on the halftime clock.
Canyon Lake had one holding penalty on this drive which would have the Hawks performing a hook and lateral play, converting a third down and 17 yard needed for a first.
Quarterback Skyler Tschoepe would find Evan Schuller for 10 yards and then a lateral to DeVries and nine yards later a first down and huge downer for Fredericksburg as you could hear the air coming out of their pre/game inflatable.
CL would take their time (literally) as they methodically marched down the field and 28-17 lead.
Canyon Lake would take their opening second half drive on this night and respond with a 71 yard drive, that was helped out when Woods had a 17 and 9 yards on consecutive runs.
An interference call would have the Hawks needing nine yards for another score.
Woods would lose two yards on the next play and now needing 11 yards a pass play to DeVries to the 2 yard line would have CL needing to convert two more yards.
“It is just a read play,” DeVries commenting on his receiving routes.
DuBois would be the man as he would score four times with all those runs went right up the Billies’ gut.
Canyon Lake was now in control with a 35-17 lead.
The Hawks did have some good defensive stops which would also help in getting a larger lead.
“We were using a different type of coverage,” Defensive Back Tommy Clark said offensively. “We weren’t playing as loose when we are in a cover five defense.”
Special Teams would bite the Billies again when they fumbled on this kick-off return and Schuller recovered the ball and now CL would be riding their adrenalin needing to cover just 11 yards.
Four plays and four different players with the rock when Tschoepe got into the act with his first carry for six yards.
You guessed it, DuBois would have the honors once again by traveling one yard for a Hawk, 42-17 lead.
Fredericksburg scored their next two times with the ball, still proving they had a potent offensive attack.
Canyon Lake would respond needing only three plays to score from 54 yards out and the eventual pile driver touchdown.
DuBois would score from seven yards on this touchdown jaunt, which gives you an idea of what 64 rushing plays can finally do to a defense.
Fredericksburg would have their longest drive by using 11 plays before coming up short on their fourth down play by one yard.
Canyon Lake just ran out the clock by converting three more first downs with the ball resting on Fredericksburg’s 37 yard line when the clock read 0:00.
Positives?
This was the first game where all three Hawk backs threatened the 100 yard rushing plateau.
Not one but two kick-off returns and also add on that Billie fumble on one of their returns.
Coach Drum mentioned last week that having over 300 yards rushing would be key. How bout 327….
No turnovers.
Penalties did not become a millstone around the Hawks neck. By the way, it is really hard to fly when you have something that cumbersome keeping you from soaring.
One thing that can help you when that situation is presented to you? How about a flea flicker…it does wonders.
Mike Thorpe executing kick-offs and all of his extra points flawlessly. Helped put together a game that would be integral in this season’s quest for a good run to the end of this season.
Congrats and Go Hawks!!
1 2 3 4 Final CL Hawks 14 14 14 7 49 Fredericksburg 3 14 8 6 31 Scoring Summary: FHS-Jacob Eckhardt 41 yard field goal, 10:24, 1st CLH-Josh DeVries 75 yard kick-off return (Mike Thorpe kick), 10:11, 1st CLH-Hayden DuBois 1 yard run (Mike Thorpe kick), 3:29, 1st FHS-Kyle Reeh 22 yard run (Eckhardt kick), 11:53, 2nd FHS-Mitchell Edwards 41 yard pass from Kyle Grona (Eckhardt kick), 8:34, 2nd CLH-Matt Adams 90 yard kick-off return (Mike Thorpe kick), 8:22, 2nd CLH-Hayden DuBois 1 yard run (Mike Thorpe kick), 0:01, 2nd CLH-Josh DeVries 2 yard pass from Skyler Tschoepe (Mike Thorpe kick), 5:43, 3rd CLH-Hayden DuBois 1 yard run (Mike Thorpe kick), 3:46, 3rd FHS-Kyle Reeh 55 yard pass from Kyle Grona (Grona run), 3:17, 3rd FHS-Kyle Grona 2 yard run (pass failed), 9:59, 4th CLH-Hayden DuBois 7 yard run (Mike Thorpe kick), 8:47, 4th Game Stats Billies Hawks Total Yards 401 393 First Downs 17 22 Rushing/Yards 21/149 64/327 Comp/Att/Int 17/27/0 4/5/0 Passing Yards 252 66 Punts/Average 1/43.0 0/0 Fumbles/Lost 2/2 0/0 Penalty-Yards 4-24 3-25 TOP 14:50 33:10 Passing Comp Att Pct. Yds Int TD Skyler Tschoepe 4 5 .800 66 0 1 Rushing Att Yds Ave Lg TD Josh DeVries 17 120 7.1 28 0 Robert Woods 20 106 5.3 35 0 Hayden DuBois 23 87 3.8 11 4 Skyler Tschoepe 3 13 4.3 6 0 Tim Romero 1 1 1.0 1 0 Receiving No Yds Ave Lg TD Josh DeVries 3 56 18.7 45 1 Evan Schuller 1 10 10.0 10 0
