Hawks Ready to Take on La Vega after Loss to Boerne, 35-27
The Hawks can’t run faster than the Hounds in loss to Boerne, 35-27.
Senior kicker Mike Thorpe who now holds several of the Hawks kicking records
“We fought and did not give up,” Head Coach Charley Drum said. “We were just walking around after their last score, but then we wanted to leave the football field as a team and went down swinging.”
Canyon Lake started this game a little different as a 37 yard pass play to Austin Brennan opened up an avenue not traveled for CL’s first score.
On when he knew the Hawks would be passing on first down, QB Ben Fulton recalled, “Yesterday during our film session…I think it helps with the pass threat and you can tell that the defense was looking for the run.”
Boerne did answer that score when they had an 8 play drive for 82 yards for their response. This drive was helped by a Hawk offsides on a 4th down play that led to a 21 yard run on the next play by QB Brooks Klutts .
After a missed Greyhound field goal, Canyon Lake would score on a Tanner Faris 30 yard run around the end to help the Hawks get that seven point lead back.
This drive also had another pass play to Faris that helped convert a third and long play covering 34 yards.
CL could not capitalize on a first play fumble by Boerne on the next drive and a motion penalty and two incompletions led to Canyon Lake’s drive stalling on Boerne’s 34 yard line.
Canyon Lake just missed on their 4th down try on a wide open pass play, but to no avail.
Boerne would have 4 of their next 5 plays go the passing route when Klutts found Cole Dunaway on their last play in the end zone and a, 14-14 tie.
Canyon Lake’s drive stalled again and Boerne would mix their next drive with runs and passes for a score that left the Hawks with just over 2 minutes before halftime to respond trailing, 21-14.
Respond, the Hawks did, when Mike Thorpe would connect on a 30 yard field goal with no time left on the half-time clock.
“We were driving down the field and the Coaches yelled out field goal team,” Thorpe recalled. “So I did not expect it…I think the 30 yard field goal gave us momentum.”
That Hawk drive was helped out with a Jacob Ruff 15 yard run, Faris 23 yard run, and QB Ben Fulton’s 12 yard scramble to set up CL for that score.
Canyon Lake came out of their halftime locker room with a defensive stand but the Hawk offense could not take advantage as they were not able to get a first down on that first possession.
Then a Greyhound 75 yard pass play opened the game up to a 10 point Hawk deficit that would hold up for the remainder of this contest.
CL still had some life as they opened the fourth quarter with a drive that resulted in a Thorpe field goal from 43 yards out.
“I looked at the yard marker and thought this would be for the record,” Thorpe said while thinking before his try on the second field goal attempt. “ My heart was beating and everything felt like it was in slow motion…I just looked up and when I saw it drop, I just said, ‘finally’.”
Canyon Lake would need two scores to have a chance and that field goal off the foot of Thorpe would also be the longest in Hawk history as well as having two field goals scored in the same game.
Hawks field goal duties have been handled by Thorpe for the last 3 years and that part of CL’s game has been on solid footing.
Kickers Field Goals Success Rate PATs Success Rate Points Mike Thorpe 7-10 70% 96 99% 117 Jake Robinson 5-6 83% 67 94% 82 Juan Martinez 4-6 67% 29 88% 41 Jacob Crabb 0-0 — 34 89% 34 James Richardson 0-0 — 2 100% 2 Top 5 Field Goals Player Game Year Distance Mike Thorpe Boerne 2015 43 yards Juan Martinez Somerset 2010 40 Mike Thorpe Smithville 2015 36 Juan Martinez Luling 2010 32 Mike Thorpe Taylor 2014 32
The ReSporter remembers when asking Coach Drum who the kicker would be for their season three years ago and Drum mentioned a sophomore player that had not played before and that he might have promise.
That player, Thorpe, would show he was ready for prime time when in his opening game with the JV playing against Blanco would win that game on a 37 yard kick that would also turn out being the first time this young player had even lined up for a field goal.
Thorpe had only been practicing for point after attempts up to that point in pre season.
Thorpe has been the starting kicker ever since.
CL would score again when Fulton found Heath McDonough for 5 yards in the back of the end zone for the final points for this game.
The Hawks finished right at 400 yards of offense as this young team will need to take their game to the next level as the playoffs open up.
“We are disappointed with the loss,” Freshman Tackle Austin Rodriguez stated. “We are excited to continue playing in the playoffs.”
On how his freshman year has gone since his move up to the varsity, “The game as slowed down and I could tell about 3 games after I was moved up.”
A lot of youth for CL and Rodriguez along with all the other Freshman and Sophomores will be all in on making a statement for a great Hawk future that starts next week.
Now Canyon Lake will go to work as they will try to regain some magic from years past as the Hawks have beaten 1st seeds in their first round games these past two campaigns.
This time, Canyon Lake will be facing a foe that was surprised last season, Waco La Vega and you would have to assess that this Pirate team will be ready and will not take CL for granted.
“I think we will need to come together a little more,” DB Luke Justis said. “The game gets bigger now and we owe it to our seniors to play hard as they (the seniors) are real humble and that really helps give us a really good mind set.”
Now is the time once again for Canyon Lake to bring their ‘A’ game as it is win or go home time of year.
“This was a tough loss and we will get after it and take it to La Vega,” Thorpe said with resolve.
La Vega is also undefeated this season and the game will take place in Georgetown this next Friday at 7:30pm.
Go Hawks!!
1 2 3 4 Final CL Hawks 7 10 0 10 27 Boerne 7 14 7 7 35 Scoring Summary: CL-Ben Fulton 1 yard run (Mike Thorpe kick), 7:30, 1st BH-Brooks Klutts 21 yard run (Will Herbst kick), 5:34, 1st CL-Tanner Faris 30 yard run (Mike Thorpe kick), 11:17, 2nd BH-Cole Dunaway 6 yard pass from Klutts (Herbst kick), 7:15, 2nd BH-Dunaway 4 yard pass from Klutts (Herbst kick), 2:19, 2nd CL-Mike Thorpe 30 yard field goal, 0:00, 2nd BH-Novak 75 yard pass from Klutts (Herbst kick), 6:51, 3rd BH-Finch 12 yard pass from Klutts (Herbst kick), 10:36, 4th CL-Mike Thorpe 43 yard field goal, 8:19, 4th CL-Heath McDonough 5 yard pass from Ben Fulton (Mike Thorpe kick), 1:09, 4th Game Stats Hounds Hawks Total Yards 438 396 First Downs 19 22 Rush/Yards 27/81 50/288 Comp/Att/Int 17/24/0 5/16/0 Passing Yards 357 108 Punts/Average 2/39.0 2/39.5 Fumbles/Lost 1/1 1/0 Penalty-Yards 6-60 8-65 TOP 20:09 27:51 Passing Comp Att Pct Yds Int TD Ben Fulton 5 15 .333 108 0 1 Mike Thorpe 0 1 .000 0 0 0 Rushing Att Yds Ave LG TD Tanner Faris 19 149 7.8 30 1 Jacob Ruff 13 64 4.9 15 0 Ben Fulton 7 32 4.6 12 1 Matt Adams 2 21 10.5 19 0 Austin Brennan 8 20 2.5 7 0 Micah St. John 1 2 2.0 2 0 Receiving No Yds Ave LG TD Heath McDonough 3 37 12.3 18 1 Austin Brennan 1 37 37.0 37 0 Tanner Faris 1 34 34.0 34 0
