CL Freshman Blown Away, 26-20
The Hawks Freshman were blown away literally as the winds from the North played havoc for both teams last Thursday night at Hawk Stadium.
Canyon Lake took advantage of the wind first as the Fredericksburg center sent the ball past the quarterback and what started with the ball on the 34 yard line the Hawks recovered the ball on the eight and ready for the short drive.
The play set the Billies back 26 yards. Two Hayden Dubois runs later CL had their 6-0 lead.
“We came ready to play we just had too many mistakes,” Head Coach Brian Owens said. “We weren’t handling the middle of the line and we had to make the most of it.”
“Give it up for the offensive line, but they were better to the bitter end,” Coach Owens continued. “This team is really special…they play together more than any freshman team I have had.”
The good news for the Billies, if you don’t pass much, then you might be able to minimize the wind by running the ball.
On the Billies next drive the one pass completion for the visitors was a 46 yard pass and run by Ortega, with the added advantage of poor tackling tied the score at 6-6.
Later in the first quarter, Fredericksburg was looking at a fourth and 16 from their 29 yard line, when the punter got under the ball too much giving the visitors a punt for negative two yards.
Colton Avey caught the ball and rambled 15 yards setting the Hawks up on the Billies 12 yard line.
Three runs by Dubois gave CL the lead 14-6 with 17 seconds left in the first stanza.
Canyon Lake had two drives that totaled 20 yards all thanks to the wind.
Two interceptions in the second quarter resulted in two Billie scores. One was returned for a touchdown and the other giving Fredericksburg a short 32 yard drive.
Scoring with only 18 seconds before halftime and a 14-20 score.
The third quarter only had two drives. CL’s drive stalled on the Billies 18 yard line and with six minutes left, Fredericksburg finished their scoring drive in the fourth quarter increasing the lead to 26-14.
Dubois finished the evening with 112 yards rushing on 20 carries.
“The offensive line….they did it,” Dubois countered. “They switched their keys up on the linebackers and I could not of done it without the lineman.”
Talking about lineman….Tight End Jared Bruckman had the dubious job of blocking the 6’3 220 pound defensive end.
“That wasn’t too fun,” Bruckman said. “I’m going to hit the weight room and go nonstop.”
The Hawks could not capitalize until their last drive. As center Jonathan McGuire anchored the the game and final drive.
“Our line was not paying attention to the linebackers in the first half,” McGuire said matter of fact. “We needed to look at the linebacker and pick him up…and that helped on that drive.”
On what Jonathan hopes to accomplish? “Work hard and hit the weight room!”
A 79 yard drive against the wind had runs by Dubois, Dominick Enea, and Shane Relkin that totaled 45 yards and one last play with six seconds left on the 22 yard line.
A razzle dazzle play with Dubois getting a pitch on an end around opened up wide receiver Nathan Hocutt for the reception between two Billies in the end zone, scoring with two seconds left in the game.
“That was going to be my only opportunity,” Split End Hocutt said. “Everyone kept cheering…I was thinking two plays ahead if the ball would not have made it to the end zone…but they (offensive line) made the play happen.”
“Coach called a toss pass and I threw it up there,” Dubois recounted. “I knew Hocutt (Nathan) was going to come down with it.”
Passing against the wind was not a given as Hocutt waited for the ball, the final score was a fun way to end a game that became wind aided.
Five of the 11 first downs for Canyon Lake was on their final drive giving the Hawk Freshman renewed hope finishing the season on a positive note next Thursday against Bandera.
Based on most of the players interviewed…hitting the weight room might help when the winds blow for next year. Everyone uses weights to keep items from blowing around…that might be the answer!!
1 2 3 4 Final Fredericksburg 6 14 0 6 26 CL Hawks Fresh 14 0 0 6 20 Scoring Summary: Hawks-Hayden Dubois 4 yard run (kick failed), 7:52, 1st Bills-Ortega 46 yd pass from Grona (kick failed), 5:19, 1st Hawks-Hayden Dubois 6 yard run (Skyler Tschoepe to Colton Avey), 0:17, 1st Bills-Jeffers 25 yard Interception return (Grona to Mason), 2:19, 2nd Bills-Bowers 10 yard pass from Grona (run failed), 0:18, 2nd Bills-Studebaker 35 yard pass from Bowers (run failed), 8:05, 4th Hawks-Nathan Hocutt 22 yard pass from Hayden Dubois (run failed), 0:02, 4th Stats Billies Hawks Total Yards 205 185 First Downs 10 11 Rushes/Yards 34/100 31/157 Comp/Att/Int 5/11/0 3/6/2 Passing Yards 105 28 Punts/Ave. 2/23.5 1/47.0 Fumbles/Lost 2/1 0/0 Penalties-Yards 1-5 2-15 Passing Comp Att Pct Yds TD Int Skyler Tschoepe 2 5 .400 6 0 2 Hayden Dubois 1 1 1.000 22 1 0 Rushing Att Yds Ave Lg TD Hayden Dubois 20 112 5.6 23 2 Dominick Enea 3 17 5.7 14 0 Skyler Tschoepe 6 14 2.3 14 0 Colton Avey 2 10 5.0 5 0 Shane Relkin 1 4 4.0 4 0 Receiving No Yds Ave Lg TD Nathan Hocutt 1 22 22.0 22 1 Colton Avey 1 6 6.0 6 0 Hayden Dubois 1 0 0.0 0 0
