CL Hawks Lose Boxing Match to Giddings, 34-21
The end of Tanner Faris’ 40 yard run before halftime. (picture by mjrphotog.com)
Canyon Lake went for their halftime break and returned as a different team as the Hawks could only generate 108 yards after intermission compared to their 224 yards in that first half.
Giddings also went into halftime and came out a different team as their defense controlled the line of scrimmage while they scored twice in the 4th quarter for the 13 point victory, 34-21.
“They (Giddings) taught us a lesson and that is why we scheduled a team like this,” Head Coach Charlie Drum said. “We made more mistakes in the second half and they just came out in the second half and whipped us….we just did not match them in that 2nd half.”
On what Canyon Lake will need to do as the Battle of the Backbone Game comes calling next week in Wimberley.
“We have to clean up mistakes,” Coach Drum said succinctly.
The Hawks started the game with fire as they marched 82 yards on 14 plays and did exactly what a Slot-T offense has to do. You guessed the next item for CL also milked the clock for half of that 1st quarter.
Lucky’s Bar & Grill Says go Hawks beat Wimberley
Tanner Faris ran it in from 2 yards out drawing first blood.
Giddings would answer on their first possession after moving 65 yards and leaving 1:34 on the first quarter clock with a tied game, 7-7.
CL stalled on their next time with the ball and had a great punt from Ben Fulton for 53 yards to the Buffaloes 9 yard line.
Cutting to the chase, the Buffaloes stampeded with one runner for 91 yards in 15 seconds for the lead as Reed Walther did all that damage proving that a Buffalo can run hard and fast.
The Hawks did what was necessary by scoring on their next drive with the ball with 4 explosive plays accounting for 54 yards and a tying touchdown with over 8 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.
Micah St. John had two runs in a row for first downs as those gallops were up the middle and he had more room to run than previous games. St. John finished with his best game this year rushing for 129 yards, averaging over 6 yards per carry.
Micah St. John counting off 129 yards against Giddings (mjrphotog.com)
“We have to work 10 times harder and have to be perfect in practice,” St. John said like he was running through the line of scrimmage. “We need to keep working hard and learn from our mistakes.”
Austin Brennan had a 15 yard run to start this drive and then Faris bolted for 18 yards two carries later.
The Hawks seemed to be having their way with the Giddings’ defensive line as this 2nd quarter would continued.
CL took advantage of their last possession to end the half when Faris made the corner for 40 yards and a first on Giddings’ 1 yard line.
St. John took the next play for 1 yard and a Hawk lead going into halftime, 21-14.
That is when the two teams went to their locker rooms and came out of those confines with two different mindsets to start the 2nd half.
It only took Giddings 5 plays to open the 3rd quarter with a score after a 35 yard pass play on a 4th down play that tied the score.
Go Hawks Beat the Texans
The game would then turn into a boxing match as these two opponents exchanged blows trying to break this tied game.
A partially blocked Hawk punt was followed by a blocked field goal when Caimen McDonough used every inch of his 6’5 frame to get a hand on the ball to preserve the tie.
Canyon Lake would fumble on their next possession after driving to Giddings 40 yard line leaving that empty feeling again with lost opportunities.
Giddings would then throw an interception as Caimen McDonough was johnny on the spot on a tipped pass and giving Canyon Lake another chance to break this game open.
“We need to finish the game,” Caimen McDonough was short and sweet. “We started good but ended bad and that means we need more focus.”
CL Hawk Students making noise (mjrphotog.com)
The Hawks could not convert a 4th and 1 deep in Giddings’ territory (29 yard line) giving the Buffaloes another chance to get a knock out punch.
CL’s defense would hold the Buffaloes again as this game was now going into the last quarter of play.
Reed Walther for the Buffaloes would finally get a body blow on the Hawks when he scored from 6 yard out and the lead with 6:48 left in the game, 28-21.
The Hawks could not get any traction and after a 3 play and punt scenario Giddings would be back in business.
Stamp out the Texans
Giddings took the ball 50 yards and from 32 yards out the Buffaloes would finally get their knock-out punch as Canyon Lake would not have enough time to make this game interesting as the Buffaloes’ line was controlling the Hawks line like Buffaloes.
CL will now prepare for another tough game in Wimberley next week as they prepare to defend their Battle of the Back-Bone trophy won last season at home.
The Texans will be all to ready to make room for housing the Back-Bone Trophy at their house if they can pull off this win over the Hawks.
“I just want to win,” St. John said with resolve when asked on his hopes as the next game looms.
A game with two different halves and now CL will prepare for the rival game and try for their first win at the Texan’s stadium.
Go Hawks and Finish!!
1 2 3 4 Final Giddings 7 7 7 13 34 CL Hawks 7 14 0 0 21 Scoring Summary: CL-Tanner Faris 2 yard run (Trenton Lorett kick), 4:45, 1st GB-Jordan Herzog 33 yard run (Konstantin Sonntag kick), 1:34, 1st GB-Reed Walther 91 yard run (Konstantin Sonntag kick), 11:34, 2nd CL-Micah St. John 2 yard run (Trenton Lorett kick), 8:12, 2nd CL-Micah St. John 1 yard run (Trenton Lorett kick), 0:23, 2nd GB-Jonavan Fountain 35 yard pass Preston Lehmann (Konstantin Sonntag kick), 10:03, 3rd GB-Reed Walther 6 yard run (Konstantin Sonntag kick), 6:28, 4th GB-Reed Walther 32 yard pass Preston Lehmann (kick failed), 2:10, 4th Game Stats Buffs Hawks Total Yards 356 328 First Downs 16 19 Rushing/Yards 22/179 52/291 Comp/Att/Int 13/23/1 3/5/1 Passing Yards 177 37 Punts/Average 3/32.7 3/36.0 Fumbles/Lost 1/1 2/2 Penalties-Yards 7-53 8-50 TOP 18:37 29:23 Passing Comp Att Pct Yds Int TD Ben Fulton 3 5 .600 37 1 0 Rushing Att Yds Ave Lg TD Micah St. John 20 129 6.5 35 2 Tanner Faris 14 83 5.9 40 1 Austin Brennan 8 43 5.4 15 0 Ben Fulton 10 36 3.6 37 0 Receiving No Yds Ave Lg TD Heath McDonough 1 24 24.0 24 0 Tanner Faris 2 13 6.5 7 0
