CL Hawks Football Start 13th Season with High Hopes

                                             Junior Shayne Moss will be one of many running backs returning this season.

Canyon Lake had a hit or miss offensive season last year. There were games that had the slot-t plowing through defenses scoring 61 and 48 points against La Grange and La Vernia and then reaching just 14 points against Austin LBJ. Three other battles was low in points scored finishing in the 20s playing Wimberley, Fredericksburg, and Jourdanton.

Then six games that were won or lost by one score or possession. In those contests the Hawks finished with a disappointing 1-5 record. That one win was against Freddie that sealed their fate in missing a post-season berth.

              Team               Result    Score       Finished                Record
              Wimberley          Lost      22-24       State Semi-Finalist      12-4
              Blanco             Lost      40-41       Area Finalist             8-4
              Austin LBJ         Lost      14-21       State Semi-Finalist       9-3
              Fredericksburg     Won       20-14       Missed Playoffs           5-5
              Lampasas           Lost      34-40       Area Finalist             9-1
              Calallen           Lost      31-37       Regional Semi-Finalist   10-3

There was so many little things that would swing the pendulum to the loss column much like a clinching touchdown drive against LBJ that was stopped by a fumble returned for a touchdown resulting in a 14 point swing against a school that finished one game away from a final 4 battle in the playoffs.

Those final records for the teams that beat the Hawks by one score was a respectable, 48-15.

Canyon Lake was that close with a chance of turning the tables and making a name for themselves.

The Texas Football magazine did notice the Hawks and gave them their first pre-season accolade with a 21st Ranking for 4A-Division I schools. That translates well for a team that has had just one year of making the 3rd round in the post-season.

Take into consideration that CL’s Juniors have won at every grade level much like Lampasas’ team did with their seniors that just graduated.

Now, based on their name brand, the Badgers are ranked 20th by Texas Football Magazine and have just 7 lettermen returning after seeing 23 graduate in May.

Austin LBJ possess a 6th place ranking with 15 returning compared to the Hawks returning 24 from a team that lost to LBJ by a scant 7 points last season. When you factor the Sub-Varsity scores from last year it becomes more evident that this will be a year where The Lake will have their best chance of making a serious run.

A pre-district schedule facing an always tough Wimberley team out of the gate that will be followed by Georgetown East View (ranked 23rd) and Alamo Heights (ranked 24th) in the 5A Classification.

La Grange and Blanco (ranked 24th 3A) will be those other two contest during a pre-district mix of tough competition.

The question that will need to be answered? Will the Hawks be 7 points better than last year’s team.

If so, then the Canyon Lake Nation’s season will be a fun ride with more smiles leaving the stadium than those, ‘missed a win by that much’, grimaces that became common place much more than when adding up those 6 games separated by a touchdown or less.

Part II will be published next week!

GO HAWKS!!