First Week is Over as Hawks draw Closer to Season Opener

Senior Heath McDonough is ready for a fresh start

The first week of practices are in the book, as the Hawks had their first Saturday practice in pads.

Now, at the end of next week, there will be a scrimmage to see how this first month of practices might translate for this upcoming season.

“No injuries,” Head Coach Charley Drum stated after finishing the first week of practice. “We still need to work on conditioning but I am pleased overall.”

CL’s defense seemed to have the upper hand for this morning practice.

“The defense is ahead,” Coach Drum reiterated. “But we need to get better every week on both sides of the ball.”

Canyon Lake will need to get a jump start going into their first game with Blanco.

With only three weeks to go before the Hawks meet the Panthers, CL has had a tendency to be slow starting football team these past few campaigns in that first contest.

“I am a Senior and this means everything as this is my last chance,” Senior Heath McDonough stated. “It felt great today and we went faster this year with one year behind us.”

McDonough was commenting on where this team seemed in comparison to last season at this same time. The Seniors will not want to be 0-4 finishing up their years at Canyon Lake against Blanco.

The Hawks had a very young team last year and getting that ‘one’ year older experience will hope to bring more confidence for this year’s group of players.

“We will just have to have good practices just like we play,” Heath said in response to how this year’s season can be better than last season.

Heath finishes while commenting on what the seniors will need to do to keep this season humming with the younger players, “We will have to jump them.”

That doesn’t sound good, but jumping them will help with Heath’s next thoughts on the year, “I want to make a run in the playoffs.”

Part of the Hawks three year run of good Mountain Valley Teams will be Juniors and all in for making statement.

Records will be entered as this Junior Class will be primed to help CL get to a District 14-4A Championship.

Junior Parker Reno is ready to roll

The ReSporter found Junior Parker Reno for thoughts on this upcoming season.

“We still have to earn our spot,” Reno said. “We are not necessarily there yet as a team.”

“We came in ahead of last year but we will still have to build on where we are,” Reno commented. “We will need to keep getting better and be on the same page…..we are not the biggest but we have speed.”

Canyon Lake has a 5A and 6A teams on their schedule this time around but that toughest game will be with a 3A school that has had the Hawks number for the past three years.

That 3A game is first on the docket and Canyon Lake can get a big chimpanzee off their shoulder with a win over Blanco.

One week down and 20 days to go for the start of the season and getting better each day and week seems to be the mantra spoken on this day.

Go Hawks!!