Canyon Lake’s Bi-District Champs in Win over Travis, 63-19
Harris Gilliam threading the sideline on his 28 yard run to the 1 yard line. (photo by Daniel Clifton)
Canyon Lake won their Bi-District game against Austin Travis with a dominating 2nd half that secured a win and a date with Bay City this Friday at Del Valle ISD Stadium at 7:00pm.
Let’s Go Hawks!!
The Lake scored 49 of their 63 points to open the game (1st Quarter) and 3rd quarter but it was that second stanza that secured a game that gave these Rebels a cause or thoughts of having a chance after scoring 14 points while keeping C-Lake scoreless during that 2nd quarter.
Clinging to a 9 point advantage, 28-19 would give this upstart Hawk team enough impetus for scoring 35 unanswered points to close out this contest.
CLHS did use some fireworks in that first quarter after spotting Travis with a 2 point lead when the Rebels had a beautiful 50 yard punt that pinned CL on their 1 yard line.
Resulting in a one play negative rushing play that had these visitors up by 2 points.
From that moment on it would be all Hawks for the next 8 minutes and eventual, 28-5 first quarter lead.
Way to Go Lake!!
Then a Hawk kick-off produced a recovered fumble and a one play 48 yard pass play from QB Jace Wheeler to Carter Williams taking 8 seconds off the clock that would start an avalanche, 7-2 Lake.
CL ‘s Defense forced their 2nd punt and CL’s Offense had a 3 play drive covering 54 yards and James Garza had his first of 4 touchdowns rushing, 14-2. A Wheeler to Harris Gilliam 37 yard pass play to inside the 5 yard line produced a catalyst for this score.
Travis was able to put together an 8 play drive that stalled on CL’s 27 yard line and a 44 yard field goal that cleared the bar by the narrowest of margins. (The ReSporter does not shave that close)
Carter Williams secured most receiving yards for a season with 1072 yards. (photo by Daniel Clifton)
Williams would take the Rebels next kick for 75 yards and with this score the Hawks took just 14 seconds off the clock, 21-5.
A Hawk forced fumble set up another one play drive when Wheeler found Williams for a 36 yard catch and run that had William’s throwing in some juggling for the crowd’s enjoyment for this score, 28-5.
The Hawk’s tortoise would go back into a shell for their 2nd quarter antics with a punt, fumble, turnover on downs and ending the half with the ball. While these Rebels used a 6 play 59 yard drive and 9 play drive for 79 yards which left just 21 seconds before halftime.
Those 138 yards of offense to end the first half would have Austin Travis using up all their ammo as their next 24 minutes would produce just 3 first downs and 44 yards of offense.
Canyon Lake, on the other hand, would score on every drive but one as the Hawks open that second half with a penalty that kept CL in check before breaking the dam 5 straight touchdowns.
SECOND HALF LAKE DRIVES: Plays Yds Result Time Quarter 4 13 46 Yard Punt 4 39 Garza 1 yard run 7:53 3rd 2 69 Garza 63 yard run 3:35 3rd 4 46 Williams 23 receptions 0:47 3rd 9 67 Garza 1 yard run 7:48 4th 6 54 Lewis 9 yard run 3:40 4th
This was a total team win with each of those 3 team facets contributing in some fashion.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Kick-off return for a touchdown by Carter Williams.
GO HAWKS!
Hagen Gill’s kick-offs continue to baffle opposing teams with his pooch kick and ability to reach the 10 yard line and further when wind aided. A fumble recovery on one kick-off after a Hawk safety was instrumental while turning that turnover for a score.
Tristan Alexander’s punting has been a constant averaging over 36 yards per attempt and had 45 yards per punt against Austin Travis.
Add Jack Stracener with just one miss extra point attempt on his 60 tries or .983 percentage.
DEFENSE: Had a hick-up in the 2nd quarter but finished with a lock-down effort during the rest of this contest. Keeping the Rebels to a minuscule 3.5 yards per snap for the game.
OFFENSE: Scoring 63 points and averaging 5 or more touchdowns per game this season.
Add having Garza rushing for 1,227 and Williams 1,072 receiving with Wheeler/Hopper combining for over 1900 passing yards.
A balanced attack that gives an opposing team a pick-your poison on what to stop.
Bay City is ranked in Texas Football Top 10 which will be the Hawk’s 3rd school to play in this select fraternity.
The Lake is presently 0 for 2 in these situations and certainly realize they are in an underdog role this coming Friday.
Those accolades, expounded on above, will need to be firing on all cylinders while keeping mistakes to a bare minimum for a chance of pulling off an upset. Certainly possible and that old adage that is why they play the game are for chances just like this.
A Hawk team entering with an 8-3 record with hopes of continuing this year of surprises.
Let’s Go Hawks!!
BY THE NUMBERS Top 5 Quarterbacks Season Passing Yards: Ross Wagliardo 2436 2009 Jeff Nabors 1902 2010 JACE WHEELER 1648 2024 Branson Belcher 1613 2011 Ross Wagliardo 1600 2008 Top 5 Receivers Season Yards: CARTER WILLIAMS 1072 2024 Eric Nelson 925 2009 Daniel Camarillo 615 2012 Eric Nelson 602 2008 Matt Madness 560 2010 Top 5 Rushing Season Yards: Zach Henshaw 2070 2011 Josh DeVries 1389 2014 McGuire Johnson 1306 2013 JAMES GARZA 1227 2024 Zach Henshaw 1227 2010 ——————————— 1 2 3 4 Final Austin Travis 5 14 0 0 19 CL Hawks 28 0 21 14 63 Scoring Summary: AT-James Garza lost 1 yard for safety, 8:19, 1st CL-Carter Williams 48 yard pass from Jace Wheeler (Jack Stracener kick), 8:11, 1st CL-Garza 4 yard run (Stracener kick), 6:02, 1st AT-Rebels 44 yard field goal, 2:33, 1st CL-Williams 75 yard kick-off return (Stracener kick), 2:19, 1st CL-Williams 36 yard pass from Wheeler (Stracener kick), 0:11, 1st AT-Rebels 16 yard run (pat good), 10:34, 2nd AT-Rebels 3 yard run (pat good), 0:21, 2nd CL-Garza 1 yard run (Stracener kick), 7:53, 3rd CL-Garza 63 yard run (Stracener kick), 3:35, 3rd CL-Williams 23 yard pass from Wheeler (Stracener kick), 0:47, 3rd CL-Garza 1 yard run (Stracener kick), 7:48, 4th CL-Kaiden Lewis 9 yard run (Stracener kick), 4th Game Stats Rebels Hawks Total Yards 201 508 First Downs 12 22 Rush/Yards 37/131 33/313 Comp/Att/Int 5/21/1 10/17/0 Passing Yards 70 195 Punts/Average 8/37.0 3/45.0 Fumbles/Lost 5/2 1/1 Penalties-Yards 7-47 4-30 Passing Comp Att Pct Yds Int TD Jace Wheeler 10 17 .588 195 0 3 Rushing Att Yds Ave Lg TD James Garza 21 201 9.6 63 4 Harris Gilliam 3 57 19.0 28 0 Kaiden Lewis 6 56 9.3 20 1 Carter Williams 1 7 7.0 7 0 Jace Wheeler 2 -8 — - 0 Totals 33 313 9.5 63 5 Receiving No Yds Ave Lg TD Carter Williams 6 142 23.7 48 3 Harris Gilliam 1 37 37.0 37 0 Gram Simpson 1 12 12.0 12 0 Ryder Hopper 1 3 3.0 3 0 James Garza 1 1 1.0 1 0 Totals 10 195 19.5 48 3
