Freshman Hawks Celebrate Win & Birthday over Akins, 22-16
Canyon Lake Freshman squad rebounded with win over an undefeated Akins team at the Hawk nest, 22-16.
The CL Freshman started this game on shaky ground by gaining just 6 yards on their first three plays and punting to this unbeaten Akins Eagles.
Akins would march the ball for 15 plays and CL’s defense holding on and taking over on their own 23 yard line.
Those two first drives gave a casual observer an indication that this might be another tough loss for the Hawks after losing their first game this year against Lampasas last week.
Then it happened, a surprise birthday party, was revealed when Ethan Slater darted to daylight and 71 yards to the Eagles 5 yard line.
Slater was doing everything in his power to score, but those Eagles were fast and he was finally stopped short of his goal.
“The Coaches designed it like that and the line made their blocks,” Slater said a year older. “I saw the hole and ran for it and I had good blocking.”
“I am getting my learner’s permit,” Slater stated making a statement on his next goal in life. Now just don’t speed like you run and everything will be good.
Nelson Madera would score on the next play as Slater was on the sideline catching his breath but that run was an early momentum changer for the Hawks after a lethargic Wednesday the week before in Lampasas.
Another good defense stand by CL with 3 plays and a punt for Akins. This had the Hawks setting up shop on their 36 yard line after a 50 yard punt. Pretty impressive from a freshman’s leg.
Going 70 yards on the Hawks next drive, had Cody Daily running it in from 14 yards out, giving CL a 14 point lead as halftime would come and Canyon Lake on the Eagles 34 yard line.
That first half went well for this Freshman team as this game would now have an opportunity to give Akins their first loss this year.
Daily intercepted an Eagle pass on that first drive of the second half but the dam would break on Canyon Lake and Akins’ next possession, they scored with 28 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
The Hawks would respond in kind by scoring on a 11 play drive when Slater finally had a chance to open some presents with a 1 yard run up the middle and an insurance score.
That would be an important touchdown as the Akins Eagles were not quite finished when they took one pass play for 57 yards in 14 seconds and still having plenty of time to win this game.
Canyon Lake would lose a fumble on their next possession and that had Akins with the ball on their 41 yard line. There was still over 2 minutes remaining as the Hawk crowd moved to the edge of their seats in hoping this Freshman team could stave off the Eagles.
A pass play for 9 yards put Akins at mid-field and needing one yard for a first and time to score what would be a tying touchdown.
After an incompletion, the Eagles next play had Defensive Back Trenton Butler stealing the ball from the Eagles receiver and darting up the field for 29 yards.
“I saw the Quarterback and then the ball coming and I wanted to step up with the play,” Butler said.
“When I caught the ball, then I just turned around and started dodging tackles.”
“This feels great,” Butler said like ‘Home James’ in the movies.
Daily would rush for 15 yards on his first touch on the last drive, which sealed the win with a first down and no more timeouts for the once beaten Akins team.
Birthday’s are a fun day but especially when you can rush for 110 yards and help secure a win for all the party participants.
Happy Birthday Slater and Go Hawks!!
1 2 3 4 Final Akins Freshman 0 0 8 8 16 Hawk Freshman 8 6 0 8 22 Scoring Summary: CLF-Nelson Madera 5 yard run (Madera pass from Brandon Robinson), 0:17, 1st CLF-Cody Daily 14 yard run (run failed), 4:34, 2nd AEF-Akins #13 20 yard run (run good), 0:28, 3rd CLF-Ethan Slarter 1 yard run (Slater run), 2:39, 4th AEF-Akins pass #13 for 57 yards (run good), 2:25, 4th Team Stats Eagles Hawks Total Yards 219 198 First Downs 11 17 Rush/Yards 7/59 44/198 Comp/Att/Int 12/24/2 0/1/1 Passing Yards 160 0 Punts/Average 1/50.0 1/31.0 Fumbles/Lost 1/1 4/2 Penalties-Yards 2-15 3-15 Passing Comp Att Pct Yds Int TD Brandon Robinson 0 1 .000 0 1 0 Rushing Att Yds Ave Lg TD Ethan Slater 7 110 14.7 71 1 Cody Daily 10 107 10.7 24 1 Nelson Madera 8 46 5.7 15 1 Roberto Vargas 10 30 3.0 7 0 Dillon Ford 1 3 3.0 3 0 Bryce Vincent 1 -1 — — 0 Brandon Robinson 3 -12 — — 0 Team 1 -12 — — 0