Records are Meant to be Broken as Hawks Break Veterans, 77-40
Jack Stracener was a busy Hawk as he had an all-time 11 pat for one game. Go Hawks!!
Coming into this 4th game of the season, Canyon Lake (3-1) had accumulated 696 total yards and on this offensive night, The Lake, finished with 84% of that total after the new Hawk scoreboard would not blow a fuse in recording 117 total points.
Let’s Go Lake!!
There were so many highlighted plays from special teams-defense-and certainly offensively that this contest resembled 6-Man football game.
“We talked to the kids just now bout holding the rope because so far this season it has been the defense holding the rope for the offense and tonight it was the offense’s turn,” Head Coach Sam Parker started after being asked on how he assessed a firework night. “I told the kids that I was super proud for the adjustments they made at halftime in coming back and playing with the same intensity…the offense keeps scoring points and the defense…even tho that last touchdown (last play of the game)… they didn’t give up a touchdown in the second half….it was an awesome job.”
A 42 point first half (a first) with 404 yards (a first) of offense and then a second half where the defense gave up just one score, on Veterans last play, that had the visitors being held to 30 total yards before that final Patriot 75 yard scamper.
Defense and Special Teams recorded 5 turnovers that had CL’s offense ready to respond scoring 21 points on those miscues and that interception at the goal line saving a score to end that first half.
Go Hawks!
A Hawk interception was followed by a Patriot fumble on their return and that resulted in a new set of downs.
Another Hawk kick-off that Veterans failed to (or want to) catch resulted in Ben Parma recovering the ball on the 27 yard line and another short field which had CL with two scores to start the 2nd half.
This second half blunder gave CLHS a 23 point lead (56-33) and took the air out of the ball for an eventual victory.
Oh yeah, before those events…an Isiah Eureste blocked punt to open the 2nd half put those helter skelter moments into action unabashed.
Running Back James Garza returned to the lineup and had 129 yards and two touchdowns and add two receivers (Carter Williams 250 yards & Harris Gilliam 138 yards) being the first time, since 2009 when Canyon Lake played Llano, that had a situation with 100 yard barriers being broken one by land to two by air.
Go Hawks!
That was during The Lake’s 2nd season which was following a 1-9 season and would be an eventual playoff campaign.
Williams’ with 6 touchdowns (a first) and QB Jace Wheeler throwing 7 touchdowns (a first) covering 455 yards (a first) would add to countless firsts for this firework displayed night.
Canyon Lake rushed (should read passed) to a 28-6 lead in that opening quarter but Veterans Memorial would then show off their offensive skills scoring with a 66 yard run, 61 yard run, 87 yard run, and a 84 pass play that had this game needing more lights for the scoreboard and a Hawk slim, 35-27 lead.
Garza had a 9 yard scamper for a score but the Patriots held serve with another long pass play and a precarious, 42-33 Hawk lead.
CL was held to a punt on their next drive and a 51 yard punt had these explosive Patriots firing on all cylinders with plenty of time for another score with an added incentive being the receiving team to open that 2nd half.
On this drive, Veterans Memorial reached CL’s 23 yard line with a play to the end zone when Eureste had a jar breaking tackle that dislodged the ball and no score. Two plays later Memorial would reach the 4 yard line when Tristan Alexander intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards that helped close this half with a Hawk 9 point advantage.
Alexander recovered a fumble after CL’s first score on the kick-off then a Williams catch for a score a play later set the stage. That William’s catch was well defensed and could have been batted down or intercepted but Williams did not wait for the ball to reach him but went after the ball like it was the last piece of candy at a halloween party. That touchdown was a highlight play and shows a team that keeps improving on the field and showing a high IQ…
Hawk Proud!!
Canyon Lake’s improvement offensively could be summed up by viewing trenches and the offensive line. This crew of players, when compared to those earlier battles, gave Wheeler enough time for making passes and reading a defense. Night & Day! Literally Night & Day! Hawk Proud!!
An incredible game with several highlights to help fill your short week with CL’s district season starting at the Hawk Nest on Thursday against JFK (3-1) team.
Way to FLY HIGH HAWKS!!
1 2 3 4 Final CL Hawks 28 14 28 7 77 Veterans Memorial 12 21 0 7 40 Scoring Summary: CL-Carter Williams 6 yard pass from Jace Wheeler (Jackson Stracener kick), 6:43, 1st CL-Carter Williams 26 yard pass from Wheeler (Stracener kick), 6:32, 1st VM-Patriot 66 yard run (run failed), 6:06, 1st CL-Carter Wiilliams 68 yard pass from Wheeler (Stracener kick), 5:47, 1st CL-Carter Williams 72 yard pass from Wheeler (Stracener kick), 2:42, 1st VM-Patriot 61 yard run (run failed), 1:03, 1st VM-Patriot 87 yard run (pass complete), 8:35, 2nd CL-James Garza 9 yard run (Stracener kick), 6:54, 2nd VM-Patriot 84 yard pass play (pat good), 6:01, 2nd CL-Carter Williams 57 yard pass from Wheeler (Stracener kick), 3:39, 2nd VM-Patriot 18 yard run (run failed), 2:53, 2nd CL-Harris Gilliam 30 yard pass from Wheeler (Stracener kick), 9:48, 3rd CL-James Garza 1 yard run (Stracener kick), 8:06, 3rd CL-Carter Williams 7 yard run (Stracener kick), 4:15, 3rd CL-Harris Gilliam 28 yard pass from Wheeler (Stracener kick), 0:41, 3rd CL-Nico Wyckoff 2 yard run (Stracener kick), 2:05, 4th VM-Patriot 75 yard run (pat good), 0:59, 4th Team Stats Patriots Hawks Total Yards 433 584 First Downs 13 28 Rush/Yards 34/293 40/129 Comp/Att/Int 6/14/1 21/27/1 Passing Yards 140 455 Punts/ Average 2/34.0 2/42.0 Fumbles/Loat 4/4 1/0 Penalties-Yards 7-85 5-40 Passing Comp Att Pct Yds Int TD Jace Wheeler 21 27 .778 455 1 7 Rushing Att Yds Ave Lg TD James Garza 23 127 5.5 17 2 Harris Gilliam 4 15 3.9 15 0 Carter Williams 3 8 2.7 7 1 Nico Wyckoff 4 4 1.0 2 1 Gram Simpson 1 -4 — — 0 Jace Wheeler 4 -10 — 0 0 Team 1 -11 — — — Totals 40 129 3.2 17 4 Receiving No Yds Ave Lg TD Carter Williams 8 250 31.3 72 5 Harris Gilliam 7 138 19.7 48 2 Ryder Hopper 3 48 16.0 43 0 Peyton King 2 10 5.0 5 0 Gram Simpson 1 9 9.0 9 0 Totals 21 455 21.7 72 7
