Hawks Clinch Tie for 1st in District 13-4A Div. I with Win over Ducks
A huge defensive play by Brayden Welch that saved a potential touchdown.
(photo by Dan Reed Photography https://www.danreedphotography.com)
Canyon Lake was awakened after a two touchdown flurry by the Taylor Ducks that had these visitors with their first lead of the game, 24-21.
Let’s GO HAWKS!!
Up unto those two scores, The Lake, had as much as an 18 point advantage in that 2nd quarter, 21-03 at the 6 minute mark of that period.
That was when all those first 3 years of comebacks had many old timers starting to squirm in those uncomfortable stadium seats.
Taylor won their first 3 games in to start this series using some voodoo dolls that helped overcome Hawk leads in various ways.
This year’s Ducks would score 3 straight touchdowns that put this upstart team in the driver’s seat when they took their first drive of the second half using just 3 plays with a clincher 64 yard pass play.
CL still had a 4 point lead but that cushion could not withstand a Hawk interception on their next possession that had more Ducks taking a 3 play drive again covering 42 yards and securing their first lead, 24-21.
Taylor with those two passing plays going for 85 yards could not keep flapping their wings fast enough throughout the remainder of this game. CL was keeping all those duck receivers in front of them which slowed Taylor’s passing offense in managing 31 yards on their other 6 completions.
Canyon Lake’s constant was running the ball that took it’s toll on Taylor with another slot-t (59) carries and 365 yards ending up taking the air out of the football and never being threatened for the remainder of this battle.
Let’s GO HAWKS!!
CL Hawks scored the final 3 touchdowns and went home on Senior Night with a decent, 42-24 win. In fact, all of the District 13-4A Div. I winners had that same 42 points for their wins.
Now Canyon Lake will go into this final week preparing against Lampasas and if the Hawks lose then their would be a 3-way tie for first. This would require entry into the district vault for retrieving those tie-breaker rules.
Yes, this is based on Davenport taking care of a last place Marble Falls and in that match-up the Wolves should be a heavy favorite for a win.
In this game, Canyon Lake, was dominant during the first and final parts of this game which had a relentless running game to go along with 105 yards through the air.
The Lake has had 7 straight games now with 20 or more first downs with the all-time record coming during the 2017 (8 first downs) season when CL last won a district championship and finished with 13 games.
Helijah Johnson continues his punishing style of running and now has 712 yards during this district season (4 games). Johnson finished this game with his all-time rushing mark of 27 carries and finished with 171 yards.
Johnson is now making his move up those all-time rushing charts:
Career Season Game Top Rushers 1.Zach Henshaw 4324 1.Zach Henshaw 2070 2011 1.Zach Henshaw 300 Billies 2011 2.Tanner Faris 3058 2.Josh DeVries 1389 2014 2.Zach Henshaw 297 Sealy 2011 3.James Bates 2437 3.McGuire Johnson 1306 2013 3.Zach Henshaw 287 Gonzales 2011 4.Josh DeVries 2104 4.Zach Henshaw 1227 2010 4.Helijah Johnson 277 Davenport 2022 5.Helijah Johnson 1992 5.Tanner Faris 1206 2016 5.Zach Henshaw 266 Somerset 2010 6.Zach Henshaw 1135 2009 6.Zach Henshaw 252 Austin-Travis 2011 7.Tristan Chacon 1071 2017 7.Shayne Moss 243 Jourdanton 2020 8.Helijah Johnson 1013 2022 7.Zach Henshaw 243 Burnet 2010 9.Zach Henshaw 233 Burnet 2011 10.James Bates 223 Smithville 2019
Canyon Lake is 63-12 when holding an opponent to 24 or less points.
Canyon Lake is 51-10 if they hold opponents less than 300 yds of total offense.
Canyon Lake is 13-35 when opponents average more than 6 yards rush.
Canyon Lake is 66-31 when rushing over 200 yards.
Canyon Lake is 75-26 when outrushing an opponent.
Canyon Lake is 41-24 for home games since the 2009 season.
Griffen Williams, James Garza, Marshall McConnell & Jordan (sleepy) Hill.
The Lake has now won 5 games in a row that has the 2017 team at the high water mark winning 8 games.
Another tidbit has CL averaging 422.8 yards per game which is 3 yards per game more than the 2016 team.
With a win over Lampasas, your Hawks (84-81) will match their high water mark in number of games over .500 by hitting 4 games which last happened back in 2019 season with a record of, 67-63.
Canyon Lake can control their own destiny this Friday with a win and first seed for post-season. At this writing that Bi-District opponent would by Uvalde for the team that has the first seed in CL’s district.
Let’s Go Hawks!!
Go to Twitter and Instagram for interviews with these players:
Griffen Williams– caught two passes and also is one of those lineman in the trenches.
Jordan Hill-another Hawk lineman who last was a Hawk during his 7th grade year at MVMS.
Marshall McConnell-talks bout his 45 yard highlight catch on CL’s second scoring drive.
James Garza-Sophomore running back who finished with 77 valuable yards.
1 2 3 4 Final
Taylor 0 10 14 0 24
CL Hawks 14 7 7 14 42
Scoring Summary:
CL-Helijah Johnson 3 yard run (Jayden Van Ausdall kick), 5:33, 1st
CL-Helijah Johnson 3 yard run (Jayden Van Ausdall kick), 4:17, 1st
TD-Ducks 31 yard field goal, 11:47, 2nd
CL-James Garza 1 yard run (Jayden Van Ausdall kick), 6:34, 2nd
TD-Ducks 2 yard run (pat good), 4:08, 2nd
TD-Ducks 64 yard pass (pat good), 10:53, 3rd
TD-Ducks 21 yard pass (pat good), 8:50, 3rd
CL-Helijah Johnson 3 yard run (Jayden Van Ausdall kick), 3:25, 3rd
CL-Hunter Anderson 3 yard run (Jayden Van Ausdall kick), 8:21, 4th
CL-Hunter Anderson 39 yard run (Jayden Van Ausdall kick), 4:06, 4th
Team Stats Ducks Hawks
Total Yards 298 470
First Downs 15 27
Rush/Yards 27/182 59/365
Comp/Att/Int 8/20/0 6/9/1
Passing Yards 116 105
Punts/Average 2/40.5 1/39.0
Fumbles/Lost 1/0 0/0
Penalties-Yards 5-40 8-70
Passing Comp Att Pct Yds Int TD
Hunter Anderson 6 9 .667 105 1 0
Rushing Att Yds. Ave Lg TD
Helijah Johnson 27 171 6.3 17 3
James Garza 16 77 4.8 10 1
Hunter Anderson 4 54 13.5 39 2
Justin Abbott 5 35 7.0 17 0
Chase Anderson 6 21 3.5 10 0
Brett Harwell 1 6 6.0 6 0
Caden Rodriguez 1 1 1.0 1 0
Totals 59 365 6.2 39 6
Receiving No Yds Ave Lg TD
Marshall McConnell 1 45 45.0 45 0
Chase Anderson 2 33 16.5 25 0
Griffen Williams 2 23 11.5 17 0
James Garza 1 4 4.0 4 0
Totals 6 105 17.5 45 0
