Pre/Game: Taylor Ducks @ CL Hawks

Caimen McDonough’s long reach will be needed this week against Taylor.          (photo by Karen Holmes)

           Pre/Game:        Taylor        @      CL Hawks           Friday 7:30
                            Ducks (6-3)          Hawks (7-2)

           History: Taylor Ducks lead the all time series, 2-0.
           2014   CL Hawks   31   Taylor Ducks   33
           2015   CL Hawks   28   Taylor Ducks   31

           This Season Results:
           Hawks  40  Blanco          07     Ducks  46  Robinson        62
           Hawks  42  Reagan          16     Ducks  37  Rockdale        28
           Hawks  21  Giddings        34     Ducks  28  Yoakum          36
           Hawks  21  Wimberley       31     Ducks  63  Caldwell        35
           Hawks  42  Lampasas        34     Ducks  39  La Grange       30
           Hawks  42  Akins           20     Ducks  14  Bellville       41
           Hawks  63  Eastside        00     Ducks  61  Eastside        00
           Hawks  41  Boerne          38     Ducks  15  Boerne          07
           Hawks  45  Fredericksburg  25     Ducks  48  Fredericksburg  27

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Hillside Chiropractic says Go Hawks Beat the Taylor Ducks

Canyon Lake will have their most important scheduled game in their history as they suit up against the Taylor Ducks to see which team will bring home the District 14-4A-1 Championship this Friday at the Hawk Nest.

These Ducks have found their defense since district play started with Taylor giving up 11 points a game and that includes their game against that potent Boerne Greyhound team.

Leading up to district play, the Ducks had a porous defensive average of 39 points per game.

A lot of that defensive strength resides with their defensive backs as Taylor almost has more interceptions as the Hawks have receptions.

CL has been on a tear since their loss to Wimberley as this Hawk squad has scored 40 or more points in their last 5 contests. In fact, this offense has 7 games scoring over 40 points in each win.

So, if CL can get to 40 points then you can pencil in a win.

This game will not be that easy as Taylor has had Canyon Lake’s number in their last two meetings.

          Go Hawks Beat Taylor

Yes, it is time for a little history lesson as there is evidence that a Duck is greater than a Hawk.

There has been just 5 points that have separated the last two years as Taylor found a way to pull out a win each of those years.

Last season, CL had a healthy lead at halftime to only see that advantage fall to the green turf by the way of fumbles as the Ducks flew higher than the Hawks in that loss. That was the largest come back against a Hawk team in their brief history.

Taylor has very good skill players that have some gaudy numbers.

Starting with QB Ryan Gardner who is completing 51% of his passes for 1357 yards with 15 touchdowns.

Gardner’s favorite receiver is Malik Jackson with over half of that passing yardage, as Jackson has 725 yards scoring 9 touchdowns. There are 3 other receivers that has reached 100 or more yards this season as Andre Jones is next in line topping 200 yards in receptions.

This Duck team is not finished as running back Jarrell Crittendon has matched QB Gardner’s passing with 1325 yards giving this Taylor team a good one-two punch this season.

Gardner is not afraid to tuck the ball and use his feet for yards as he has jaunted for 435 yards with 10 scores in this manner.

Some good news? In Taylor’s worst offensive showing this campaign the team that held the Ducks to 14 points was Bellville and that was accomplished by taking the air out of the Duck’s ball as Taylor gave up 470 yards rushing in that game.

Ranger Cleaners says clean the Taylor Ducks

With that being CL’s major strength then rushing the ball will give Taylor enough to think about as the ‘pick your poison’ backfield of the Hawks has had many teams scratching their helmets as  Hawk running backs are running by those players while the DB’s are looking for the player with a ball.

Credit goes to the offensive line and QB Ben Fulton as he is starting to master the hidden ball trick in this ground attack as the OL has been nails with their blocking and paving running lanes for the Hawks.

Keys to the game? Taylor and Canyon Lake are going to score points so the possession game will be key as the defense that can make those critical stops will have the ability to help forge a win.

Those nasty turnovers will come into play as CL can attest to in last year’s contest. Taylor has shown a knack for getting those miscues from opposing teams as Boerne will attest to in this year’s game.

So, keep the turnovers to a minimum and control the clock for a chance of getting a win.

Then the Hawk fans will hold their breath as Taylor tries to come up with another way of snatching a sure victory from Canyon Lake.

Go Hawks!!