CL Hawks JV Missed Opportunities Lead to Tie with Billies, 21-21
Coach Means means what he says in Hawks post game synopsis.
Canyon Lake’s Junior Varsity missed opportunities led to a hard fought tied affair against a potent Fredericksburg team, 21-21.
“I like the way we battled back but we need to start better,” Coach Cody Means said short and to the point.
Let’s Go Hawks!!
Missed opportunities was the key word after the Billies fumbled a muffed kick-off that had the Hawks with a chance to take a quick lead from the FHS 15 yard line.
The battle in the trenches was lost when CLJV had 6 running plays with their longest gain reaching 4 yards, which converted a 4th down play but still needing that same yardage for a touchdown.
With a first down on the Billies 5 yard line, The Lake’s JV decided to help the home team out with two penalties and leaving the Hawks needing 12 yards on a fourth down try.
A pass play from Sam Zinn to Tyler Balderas came up 3 yards short and leaving the field with no damage.
Fredericksburg would not be left short in driving 97 yards in 8 plays with one 45 yard play that played the catalyst in the games first score. This Billies offense was running down hill on every play and not needing one 3rd down play on this drive, 0-7.
Those trenches were paying dividends on both sides of the ball for the home team.
The Hawks had more success on their next drive in reaching the Billie 5 yard line but a missed opportunity would present itself again with another penalty that had CL needing 11 yards with another 4th down try.
Canyon City Grill says Go Hawks!
Hands went up from an official on a well placed pass to Marshall McConnell in the back of the end zone, but while Canyon Lake was about the kick their pat, the play was under review unbeknownst to the Hawks and score overturned.
Home cooking was the call and points were taken off the score…”I caught the ball and made sure I had a foot down before I fell out,” McConnell said when responding if his catch was good. “Another ref saw me get up by using the ball and said I had juggled it.”
Canyon Lake had two explosive plays in this set of downs when River Hand scampered for 27 yards and then a Zinn to Landon McLaughlin 29 yard pass and run that put CL inside the 10 yard line with those mentioned missed opportunities laying waste in coming up short once again.
Instead of being up 14-7, the Hawks were still looking up and seeing a different leader on the scoreboard.
Marshall McConnell, Reid Simpson and River Hand after Hawk tied contest with Freddie.
Fredericksburg kept their same protocol on their next drive and moved to the Hawk’s 45 yard line before Griffen Williams said enough and registered a 7 yard sack that was followed with the next two plays resulting in 6 more yards of losses.
Forcing a Billie punt was the best defensive sequence and hopefully a renewed effort for Canyon Lake.
Reid Simpson kept the momentum going with his first rushing play gaining 32 yards and giving CL another chance for a score before the end of this first half.
“They were talking (Billie defense) and we just hit our holes and ran,” Simpson said after doubling his rushing totals for the season in this game. “All I needed was a hole and when our (offensive) line got it for me I just did not want to stop, but it could not have happened without our line.”
The Hawks would get inside the Red Zone again before a CL interception had another set of downs and leaving the field with another, you guessed it, missed opportunity.
That Billie Interception was returned to the 13 yard line and a Hawk defense that rose to the occasion once again when Bade Holland had a Hawk sack leaving FHS in punt formation. CL would block this punt and giving CL one last chance to draw blood before halftime refreshments.
That would happen when, QB Zinn found McConnell for a 21 yard strike and after a Ethan Schedlbauer pat, CL got some respite with a tied score.
Freedom Car Care says Way to Go CLJV
The Hawks did start better in beginning the 2nd half when River Hand was able to skirt through a Freddie defense that left a hole in their over pursuance for the ball and 61 yards later, CL had their first lead, 13-7.
In scoring on a long run, the Hawks, would limit those pesky penalties that was leading to those missed opportunities.
“I was ready to score,” Hand said rightly. “I saw their linebacker and cut in and I had green all the way.”
Fredericksburg would continue their, running down hill sequence, on their responding drive, needing 9 plays and covering 71 yards and wrestling back the lead, 14-13.
A Hawk bad snap for punter Schedlbauer on their next possession would give the Billies an opportunity that they took advantage of and scored in 3 plays that now had CL needing 8 points for a tie with just one quarter left to play.
Canyon Lake would not disappoint in taking 7 plays to travel 71 yards with an array of explosive plays.
Go Hawks!!
A Balderas 12 yard run on a jet sweep, another hard fought run for 24 yards from Simpson and then a converted third and 10 yards needed when Zinn found McConnell on a busted play and 16 yard pass and catch.
Zinn had to scramble on this play and found a wide open McConnell on the play in the end-zone.
“We just had good communication,” McConnell recalled. “He (Zinn) had to scramble and so I just had to keep running and break off my route to find an opening, we just improvised and connected.”
On what the Hawks need to do before next week’s contest against this same team?
McConnell was first, “We will need more discipline and focus!”
Reid also commented, “We will watch film and get better.”
Hand was to the point, “Watch their defense on film and get better.”
Canyon Lake will welcome this same Billie club to the Hawk Nest next Thursday and it would be a great game to to experience and see if the Hawks can break the tie.
Go Hawks!!
1 2 3 4 Final CL Hawks JV 0 7 6 8 21 Fredericksburg JV 7 0 14 0 21 Scoring Summary: FH-Billie 3 yard run (pat good), 5:41, 1st CL-Marshall McConnell 21 yard pass from Sam Zinn (Ethan Schedlbauer kick), 0:26, 2nd CL-River Hand 61 yard run (pat blocked), 8:41, 3rd FH-Billie 6 yard run (pat good), 4:35, 3rd FH-Billie n7 yard run (pat good), 1:13, 3rd CL-Marshall McConnell 16 yard pass from Sam Zinn (Tyler Balderas run), 8:26, 4th Team Stats Billies Hawks Total Yards 311 278 First Downs 21 10 Rush/Yardage 38/291 35/203 Comp/Att/Int 3/6/0 4/8/2 Passing Yards 20 75 Punts/Average 1/28.0 0/0 Fumbles/Lost 1/1 0/0 Penalties-Yards 2-10 7-45 Passing Comp Att Pct Yds Int TD Sam Zinn 4 8 .500 75 2 2 Rushing Att Yds Ave Lg TD River Hand 5 87 17.4 61 1 Reid Simpson 8 70 8.8 32 0 Tyler Balderas 10 29 2.9 12 0 Bade Holland 6 17 2.8 7 0 Ethan Schedlbauer 5 11 2.2 4 0 Team 1 -9 — - 0 Receiving No Yds Ave Lg TD Marshall McConnell 2 37 18.5 21 2 Landon McLaughlin 1 29 29.0 29 0 Tyler Balderas 1 9 9.0 9 0
