Football: CL Hawks Future Looks Bright
Running back Helijah Johnson (#32) leaps over a Needville defender, but loses yardage on the play. rr[Photo Credit: Mark Robinson / MJR Photography / www.mjrphotog.com]
Signature Homes says, Go Hawks!
CL’s Senior class ended their 4 year stint without suffering a losing season, which is a first in the Hawk history for a group that compiled a 4 year, 30-16 record and a three year (which would be a more accurate based on those Sophomores that had Varsity Jerseys) record, 23-12.
The Hawks had a 4 year string of losing records before the change happened with a 7-4 record during the 2016 season. These last 4 years has your Hawks being 14 games over .500 and based on the Sub-Varsity teams…could mean more of the same.
Let’s start with this year’s Hawk Gold team. This group has players that will be integral for their next 3 years in adding depth and you never know when that next Josh De Vries will arise to stardom.
De Vries was a B player during his Mountain Valley days and came out of nowhere to finishing at No. 3 on the All-Time Rushing charts at The Lake.
TOP 5 HAWK RUSHERS
1) Zach Henshaw 4324
2) Tanner Faris 3058
3) Josh DeVries 2104
4) Hayden Dubois 1963
5) Tristan Chacon 1934
This year’s Gold team finished with a 6-4 record which had some behemoth teams who were classified in the Junior Varsity category. But for schools that played mostly Freshman, then this group of Gold players finished ahead in those match-ups.
Depth is the key and that ingredient is a needed commodity for any High School team, as injuries will be an issue almost any year and those players on these Gold teams will be a welcome sight during those Junior and Senior campaigns.
Way to Go Hawks!!
Last year while Canyon Lake was rolling undefeated with a 7-0 record, an injury to Jacob Ruff proved to be a final straw for that Hawk team in not only losing their leading rusher but their main cog playing linebacker on defense. One hurt player and two team positions lost and finishing with a 4 game losing streak.
Canyon Lake had a Gold team 4 years ago and that group would be The Lake’s furthest post-season venture making it to the 3rd round.
The just completed team put a scare in a District Champion Needville team that had a bounce here or there difference in who would win that Bi-District round.
This year’s Freshman crop was loaded with players that were just mentioned with the Gold team but also a group of players that won district and finished their season with only one loss.
Canyon Lake was able to see one of those players, Helijah Johnson who was called up at the end of the season and a player that saw action as a Linebacker and Running Back.
Let’s Go Hawks!!
Johnson finished his season breaking the 100 yard barrier in that Bi-District loss….he was joined by another underclassman as James Bates not only rushed for over 100 yards in that same loss but finished his first season with 1009 yards as a Sophomore.
Canyon Lake has never had a Freshman Class that dominated the Football terrain like this year’s players were able to.
The largest amount of points for a season was a snap after seeing games that more often than naught being played with a running clock in the 2nd Half as a norm.
Back during the 2015 Freshman class, the Hawks, had 6 players rush for over 200 yards during their season. That group was led by Tristan Chacon who finished with 567 yards.
2015 Freshman Rushers Att Yds Ave Lg TD 1) Tristan Chacon 75 567 7.6 50 6 2) Trenton Lorett 51 377 7.4 28 7 3) Greyson Lee 31 297 9.6 75 3 4) Cade Dunavant 41 281 6.9 45 5 5) Conner Rose 19 252 13.3 30 6 6) Landry Moore 12 243 20.3 70 4 2019 Freshman Rushers Att Yds Ave Lg TD 1) Shayne Moss 66 828 12.5 89 12 2) Helijah Johnson 28 592 17.3 73 7 3) Cole Cason 26 471 18.1 49 8 4) Ty Sellers 25 371 14.8 56 6 5) River Hand 12 276 23.0 64 6 6) Tyler Balderas 7 137 19.6 52 1 7) Hunter Anderson 20 132 6.6 52 2 8) Ethan Schedlbuer 17 117 7.3 15 2 The comparison by points scored and given up is even more dramatic. 2015 2019 Average Score 32.8 48.6 Average Defense 7.6 5.1 AVERAGE PER GAME 2015 Opponent Hawks 2019 Opponent Hawks Total Yards 124 290 111 387 First Downs 7 13 6 14 Rush/Yards 24/72 30/254 23/52 22/354 Comp/Att/Int 3/6/.3 2/2.5/.1 5/10.4/1 1/1.6/.1 Passing Yards 39.5 36 58 33 Punts/Ave 3/29.0 .5/40.5 3/31.0 Punted Once 31 yds Fumbles/Lost 1.3/.6 1.5/.7 1/.6 1/.5 Penalties-Yds 3/25 4/33 3/22 4/27
You can see how dominant this Freshman team was during this past season and that was the same type of results during those middle school seasons. To put it bluntly, this group of players have a 3 year streak of winning district championships.
North Shore UMC says Go Hawks!
Take into account that their 8th Grade season was pitted against Middle Schools that fed into 6A Programs could be another indicator of the strength this wave of players achievements.
Not to take anything away from this past season for the Hawks Junior Varsity who just missed being a district champion. That result would be based more on how some of those skilled players being moved up to Varsity as the season wore on. Without those players moving up, the Junior Varsity could well be hoisting up a championship banner like their counterparts.
That player that led CL in rushing, James Bates, started this past season on the Hawk’s Junior Varsity. That next leading rusher/linebacker, Matthew Soza, would find himself trying on a Varsity Jersey during the end of his Sophomore season.
This year’s varsity will have several key players returning as Sophomore Jeremy Greene saw plenty of action as a defensive back but on the offensive side, Greene led Canyon Lake with 12 receptions for 317 yards at a 27 yards per catch average.
Way to Go Hawks
You get the picture….a good returning group that has seen varsity action with a bevy of players ready to compete for a spot on this upcoming season.
Competition would be that one variable that can be attributed for having winning seasons.
Canyon Lake has just finished their fourth season with a winning record and there just might be more of those same type or even better in the near future.
With 2020 eyesight you would have to be without sight to not see the potential for another good season in the near future.
2020 is becoming more clear!!
Go Hawks and thank-you Seniors for your contribution these past 4 years!!
The ReSporter should have the All-District Selections this week so stayed tuned.
