Coaches Corner with Charley Drum

Canyon Lake High School Linebacker Patrick Almond (#5) gets hand on the Wimberley pass just missing an interception.   rr[Photo Credit: Mark Robinson / MJR Photography / www.mjrphotog.com]

Canyon Lake will have one of their biggest challenges this week when the Hawks meet the Calallen Wildcats in Pleasanton on Friday with a 7:30 kick-off.

This Wildcat club is a new kid on the block after moving down to Class 4A Division I.  A move of several  successful years in the 5A division.

Canyon City Grill says Go Hawks!

Coach Phil Danaher ranks as the 5th winningest coach with 479 wins going into this contest.

“Yeah, he started back in 1983 in Calallen and has built a very consistent program through the years that has been incredible,” Head Coach Charley Drum said with reverence.

Coach Drum continued on what is expected when the Hawks meet up with these Wildcats, “They are a lot like Lampasas in physicality and will be one dimensional.”

Calallen has a bevy of running backs and actually have passed less than CL has this season.

“They will surprise you with their passes much like we can do in running our slot-t,” Coach Drum said. “They will formation you to death and will get into some unbalanced sets and scheme you to death.”

Wow, that was two death words used in that quote and so Coach surmised, “They want to pound you!”

These Wildcats have #34 Jeremiah Earls that will be one of the feature backs who has rushed for 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns. Earls has a balmy 9.8 yard per carry average and will team up with several other backs.

“They substitute often and keep coming after you,” Drum beat. “They had a 37 year streak of winning 10 or more games when I was at Pfluggerville and we were able to win that game that left them with 9 wins that year but they have played against slot-t teams and we will not be something they have not seen.”

Terik Hickman, #10 quarterback, will run first as he has garnered 786 yards and 10 touchdowns and his per carry average is impressive too, 8.8 yards per tote.

Two other backs, Epi Hinojosa (436 yards and 11 TD’s) and #40 Marvin Beasley (273 yards with a 7.6 per carry average) with more backs waiting for their turn when needed will be a challenge for the Hawk defense.

Canyon Lake can throw several backs in that type of mix with 6 Hawks going into this game with 400 or more yards on the ground.

         Name               Yards       Average     Longest      TD     
      1) Shayne Moss         634          6.5         75          5
      2) Jesse Horner        630          6.2         50         13
      3) Ryan Rivali         471          5.8         58          4
      4) Derek Wiatrek       442          5.3         47          5
      5) James Bates         438          6.4         52          4
      6) Peyton McMullen     426          9.1         72          2

On what Canyon Lake will need to do in this game? “We need to win the turnover battle, keep our drives alive and work the clock,” Coach Drum quipped. “Special teams will be a key.”

               Let’s Go Hawks!!

Those items have been a much more common element since district play began which has led to a Hawk team that is playing better than their 6-5 record. There has been a consistency that had CL losing two close games against Austin LBJ and Lampasas.

“Our kids weren’t together to start this season with all the Covid issues and so we struggled with our team chemistry,” Drum said in response to the slow start this season. “That (chemistry) came after the Blanco game and we went toe to toe with Lampasas. They (Lampasas) are No. 2 in the State and Calallen is 3rd or 4th. They will have the most physical quarterback that we will try to tackle.”

Coach Drum continued, “They have seasoned lineman…one of them has a scholarship to USC!”

The Wildcats have just two receivers that have gone over the century mark with #88 Jacob Arnold with 137 yards and #34 Earls with 113 yards and both coming on 5 receptions a piece.

The Lake has a tad more receivers that have influenced a game with 3 Hawks that have 100 or more yards receiving. Jeremy Greene is leading this trio with 15 receptions for 272 yards and 5 touchdowns, Tyler Pauly has 12 receptions for 232 yards and scored his first TD in last week’s win over La Vernia. Rivali has a better average per catch with 162 yards on 5 receptions and he helped in last week contest with a catch and run 50 yard reception.

                  Hawk Proud

This Calallen team is a senior laden team that will have 32 coming out of their tunnel along with 15 Juniors and 3 Sophomores.

“We won’t be intimidated,” Coach Drum finished. “We are excited for the challenge. We have a lot of respect for them but our motto this year was to, raise the bar, and a win here would certainly get that done.”

Thanks Coach and Let’s Go Hawks!!