CL Hawks are now .504 in Win over Blanco, 21-14
Canyon Lake High School Fullback / Cornerback Caleb Almond (#5) rushes against the Blanco High School defense. [Photo Credit: Mark Robinson / MJR Photography / www.mjrphotog.com]
Way to Go Hawks!!
The Hawks now have a .504 all-time record with 59 wins and of those conquests, very few would have happened on a night that their opponent would be leading in the 4th quarter when CL responded with two 4th quarter scores for this comeback.
During the 2011 season, Canyon Lake had a back and forth battle with Sealy, an eventual, 38-34 outcome, in a game that was in doubt throughout into the 4th quarter.
“We did not play our best but that comeback in the fourth quarter would not have not been a win in previous years,” Head Coach Charley Drum said. “We have to get better because our district is good.”
Defense ruled this night as both teams could not get the upper hand during the middle part of this contest.
Blanco mustered 78 total yards in the first half while your Hawks totaled 106 and a one point lead going into halftime talks, 7-6.
The Panthers had everything but their kitchen sink in the box in stopping the Hawk’s running game. That strategy was successful combined with two Hawk fumbles that had CL playing from behind in the 4th quarter for the first time this campaign.
Way to Go Hawks!!
Special teams helped in getting CL on the board first, when Jacob Neel returned a 30 yard punt for 34 yards and a first down at the Blanco 16 yard line.
It took two plays by Tristan Chacon by run and receiving that put Canyon Lake up a touchdown.
Blanco had the ball three times in that opening quarter and would total 22 yards with two punts and a failed 4th down try.
A Hawk fumble on a promising drive in the 2nd quarter, would allow Blanco to stage a score and pull within one point after a missed extra point try, 7-6.
The Panthers would convert 3 fourth down plays on this scoring drive with Blanco traveling 60 yards.
Canyon Lake’s ensuing possession came up empty on Blanco’s 16 yard line which would give the Panthers the first chance to score to open the second half.
Another Hawk defensive stop would give CL a chance for another score, but another fumble would thwart this opportunity with Canyon Lake in the Red Zone and no points.
Mistakes were plentiful with a lost opportunity after a penalty brought back a Connor Rose 58 yard touchdown sprint. And another chance to put some distance in the game. The Hawks were holding on to a very flimsy one point lead, 7-6.
Both schools had 5 combined possessions since Blanco’s last score with key plays by both teams keeping this game in check.
Hawks are the Best!!
But with the 4th Quarter in it’s infancy, the Panthers, would take just two plays for thier first lead, when Cade Felps covered 50 yards and a two point conversion that charged up Blanco’s Homecoming crowd, at 7-14 lead.
An awakened, Canyon Lake offense and Tristan Chacon would punch back with a 41 yard score but a high snap caused another missed opportunity leaving Blanco holding a one point lead, 13-14.
CL;s defense has been solid all year and now the pressure would be on for a much needed stop.
A 6 play drive and yielding one first down, the Hawk defense would do its job in giving up 16 positive Panther yards.
A 33 yard punt had the Hawks in business starting on their 30 yard line with over 5 minutes left in the game.
This would be The Lake’s, longest drive on this night going 70 yards on 10 plays. Jacob Ruff scored from 4 yards out after a Blanco time-out to give them one more chance with time left on the clock.
Ruff would repeat that same run for a two-point conversion that would be needed in case of a Blanco score with a chance to tie or win the game.
The Hawks would finally win the trenches battle and Junior Tackle, Marshall Netting and the whole offensive line would be part of that 70 yard trail that paved the way for this win.
“We were not expecting that,” Netting recalled. “They came out fighting, but on our last drive we new this would be a crucial possession.”
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Netting casted more nets, “We had J. T. Greene and Chico (Tristan Chacon) pushing us through and Chico said he would not go down….we executed perfectly and we did the best we can…we were not going to Blanco to lose and we kept fighting until the whistled blew.”
Blanco was not without some mental mistakes as their last drive started with 5 yard penalties and with just one completion, the Panthers would run out of time and a sad homecoming finish.
Canyon Lake had some great defensive plays and Daniel Neel was in on his share, as the Hawks continue to have unsung players coming through as district play starts in two weeks. The Neel family totaled, 23 tackles with brother, Jacob leading the way with 14.
“This was a tough one,” Daniel Neel said commenting bout this contest and then was astute in his analyses of that big play that had the CL crowd going crazy after the hit. “I just saw him and he did not see me and after the hit, I just felt excitement running through my whole body.”
The Hawks continue to have many players going both ways and Nic Rivera had his most chances on the offensive side of the ball on this night.
“They came out strong,” Rivera said with reverence. “We had little mistakes but overall we played well, but we were not ready for their fist punch.”
Rivera finished this contest with 30 yards rushing, 4 tackles, and 2 pass break-ups.
Way to Go Hawks!!
Blanco did pack a punch that got CL discombobulated “We have to limit our mistakes and come out and practice our best as we get ready for district,” Rivera closed in thinking bout a Taylor squad.
Caleb Almond (4 tackles and 1 pass break-up) was another Hawk that was active in playing both sides of the ball, his comments after the game told the tale, “They came ready….Coach told us that they were not going to roll over during our halftime….but we responded to their physicality.”
Canyon Lake will have all hands on deck with the 2nd half of the season will get started after an off week and time to get those aches and injuries taken care of.
The Lake will start play against a foe that has not been an easy out…in fact, Taylor has won 3 of the 4 previous battles as each game goes down to the wire.
This Blanco squad just gave CL a taste of what will be coming in two weeks.
Now, Canyon Lake, will see if they can expand on that 59-58 record hit 60 wins next, that would make that percentage, .508!!
Go Hawks!!
1 2 3 4 Final CL Hawks 7 0 0 14 21 Blanco 0 6 0 8 14 Scoring Summary: CL-Tristan Chacon 10 yard pass from Peyton McMullen (Nash Young kick), 2:36, 1st BP-Cade Felps 7 yard run (pat failed), 3:15, 2nd BP-Cade Felps 50 yard run (Tristan Fortner pass from Baylor Smith), 10:59, 4th CL-Tristan Chacon 41 yard run (pass failed), 9:43, 4th CL-Jacob Ruff 4 yard run (Jacob Ruff run), 1:03, 4th Team Stats Panthers Hawks Total Yards 192 293 First Downs 9 16 Rush/Yards 35/162 46/246 Comp/Att/Int 3/11/0 3/9/0 Passing Yards 30 47 Punts/Average 5/37.0 2/40.0 Fumbles/Lost 0/0 3/2 Penalties-Yards 7-45 4-40 Passing Comp Att Comp Pct Yds Int TD Peyton McMullen 3 9 .333 46 0 1 Rushing Att Yds Ave Lg TD Tristan Chacon 15 90 6.0 41 1 Jacob Ruff 16 85 5.5 15 1 Connor Rose 9 50 5.6 13 0 Nic Rivera 3 30 10.0 23 0 Caleb Almond 1 5 5.0 5 0 Peyton McMullen 2 -14 — 3. 0 Receiving No Yds Ave Lg TD J. T. Greene 2 37 18.8 24 0 Tristan Chacon 1 10 10.0 10 1
