CL Hawk Freshman Victory over Liberty Hill results in Shared Championship, 20-14
A Winning Post-Game Talk after Win over Liberty Hill.
Canyon Lake scored with less than 4 minutes to play in a win over Liberty Hill and a District Championship to boot, 20-14.
Anytime two Slot-T Offenses go head to head that game becomes a deluxe chess match for both schools.
Way to Go Hawks!!
On Thursday night, Canyon Lake and Liberty Hill took to the Hawk Field in one of those battles where the Hawk Freshman proved to be superior on this night winning, 20-14.
There are not that many schools running this type of offensive scheme and with each team understanding the hidden ball plays, then that will make each snap a hit or miss adventure.
“We knew this game would have big stakes,” Head JV Coach Bill Greene stated. “This was a good game for these kids to have going into off-season with a good taste in their mouths. This game had everything in it and it ended as it was suppose to be.”
On this night, Liberty Hill was winning this battle after going into halftime with an 8 point lead, 14-6.
That Panther advantage was via the airways having two completions covering 66 yards with both completions helping in each of those scoring drives.
Turnovers were running rampant in that first half as each school exchanged fumbles in a span of 3 plays that was a way of discombobulating both offenses after each school had garnered 77 (CL) and 72 (LH) yards rushing in that opening two quarters.
Connor Windham and Jeremy Greene were both instrumental in Hawk Win.
James Bates ended this season topping 1000 yards rushing but was also adept with the special teams when this speedster uncorked a 64 yard kick-off return to open the 2nd Half of play.
That return had the Hawks setting up shop on LH’s 24 yard line, as it took just 3 plays to score with Bates doing the honors on a 5 yard bruising run. This score closed the gap but still had Canyon Lake trailing by two points, 14-12.
The Hawks Defense was nails in that second stanza and for the game, held Liberty Hill to right at 3 yards per rushing play, which will many times not lead to wins for those slot-t schools. That would be a truism as this night would transpire.
Canyon Lake finished their rushing with a respectable 6 yards per touch helping in controlling and rewarding the defense that held those Panthers to only 4 first downs in those final two quarters of play.
All three of CL’s scores took just 3 plays to reach the end zone and that was the case for the winning tally after a Connor Windham blocked punt giving the Hawks another short field for the winning score.
Way to Go Hawks!!
That punt play was disguised for what could have been a run for a first down, but The Lake did not take the bait and Wimdham did not allow the late punt to be successful and helping set up this win.
“By being a defensive end, I saw him (the punter) running to the outside and it is my job to contain the outside,” Windham said like a pro. “I just put my hand up and I was hoping for the best….I was just looking for it (the ball) and had no clue where it had gone.”
Canyon Lake needed to travel 14 yards for this go ahead score and Bates first two runs had the Hawks needing just one yard on a 3rd snap but a motion penalty backed up this situation and needing 10 yards for pay-dirt.
Third down and six added pressure but Greene would not be denied after taking the snap and running wide and finding enough room to cross the goal line down the visitor’s sideline.
“I would love to play against a slot-t offense anytime,” Jeremy Greene said when responding to playing a team with a similar style.
On his two touchdowns, Greene continued, “I was lucky and followed Christian Ramirez’s block and we he did his job then I will do mine.”
Let them know you saw this Ad on The Hilltop ReSporter for your 10% Discount & Go Hawks!!
That job resulted in two pivotal touchdowns and a win on this night.
Up to this part of the contest, Liberty Hill had accumulated just 33 yards of real estate and needing 61 yards for a chance tor a win. That averaged out to 2.5 yards per play for the visitors that had seen each drive end with a Hawk celebrating.
After that first score in the 2nd half, Canyon Lake was successful with an on-side kick.
LH’s next time with the rock had Austin Bowers with an interception and stopping any chance for damage.
Canyon Lake advanced that ball to the Panther’s 4 yard line and a great defensive stop keeping just enough distance and lead as the 4th quarter was diminishing.
That next Liberty Hill drive ended with that Hawk blocked punt and then what would be a winning touchdown.
Way to Go Hawks!!
Now The Hill would need to sustain a drive for 61 yards which had been an alluding venture since their last score at the end of that 2nd Half.
The Panthers did convert two 4th down plays in this last march to the Hawks goal line. A 6 yard run on a play that 5 yards was needed for a first and then completing a 19 yard pass on a 4th down that the Visitors needed 13 yards to keep the drive in gear.
CL’s defense would finally settle this affair stopping LH’s next play for no gain and then 3 incompletions would have your Co-District Champion Hawks forming the victory formation and hard fought win, 20-14.
This Freshman group has now hung 3 straight championships on their wall with this same result during their middle school seasons at Mountain Valley Middle School.
Way to Go Hawks!!
1 2 3 4 Final Liberty Hill Freshman 7 7 0 0 14 CL Hawks Freshman 6 0 6 8 20 Scoring Summary: LH-QB 1 yard run (pat good), 3:19, 1st CL-Jeremy Greene 45 yard run (run failed), 1:48, 1st LH-Panther 7 yard run (pat good), 1:26, 2nd CL-James Bates 5 yard run (pass failed), 7:56, 3rd CL-Jeremy Greene 10 yard run (James Bates run), 3:50, 4th Team Stats Panthers Hawks Total Yards 210 158 First Downs 13 7 Rush/Yards 38/125 27/158 Comp/Att/Int 3/11/1 0/3/0 Passing Yards 85 0 Punts/Average 0/0 1/28.0 Fumbles/Lost 2/2 2/1 Penalties-Yards 5-35 6-50 Passing Comp Att Pct Yds Int TD Jeremy Greene 0 2 .000 0 0 0 Dalton Stanley 0 1 .000 0 0 0 Rushing Att Yds Ave Lg TD James Bates 14 76 5.4 24 1 Jeremy Greene 4 55 13.8 45 2 Braden Maxson 5 17 3.4 12 0 Dominick Vaillant 4 10 2.5 13 0
