Hawk Defense Gets Defensive
Karl Weidner stopping a Texan with reinforcements not far away
It was not that long ago that Canyon Lake was wondering if this might be a winless season. Then a wonderful event happened in Bandera….a win.
The Defense was literally offensive in how it shut down those Bulldogs.
Giving up 109 yards of total offense for their best defensive effort ever…yes, that includes the 2009 year, which is the standard for CL teams to aspire too as that was a salty defensive team.
Top Ten Total Yardage for the Hawks Defense: Game Year Yardage Allowed 1. Bandera 2013 109 2. Bandera 2012 133 3. Wimberley 2013 150 4. Fredericksburg 2011 173 5. La Vernia 2013 174 6. Fredericksburg 2009 215 7. Wimberley 2009 219 7. Ingram 2009 219 9. Blanco 2012 221 10. Blanco 2009 226
That 2009 Defense has six games in the top 15 games of yards yielded.
Defense Erecting Iron Curtain in game with Bandera
Now this year’s defense can boast of having three of the top five games of yielding the least amount of yardage.
What happened that CL’s defensive side started to get their act together?
“We changed a few things and put kids in different positions that played to their strengths,” Head Coach Charlie Drum stated. “We went back to see what our kids did well and last week we had our best game by our defensive backs against Wimberley….we had a solid defensive effort.”
Canyon Lake’s schedule certainly was a minefield and if you don’t have the right equipment then bad things will happen.
“When you are 0-6 for the year you could have players blaming the defense, offense blaming the defense and players blaming the Coaches,” Coach Drum said. “We realized we needed to get better and we are more comfortable. They are playing and walking with more confidence….the win over Wimberley put a pep in our step.”
Coach Drum was relating how practices have been going this week, “We cut practice during this time of year, but especially since the team has been practicing well this week.”
The Hawks will be going against a passing team this week and the Wimberley game certainly helped in getting CL prepared for Boerne.
Another facet that has helped the defense is the pressure being applied to the oppositions Quarterback. The last two games, Canyon Lake has been sacking and pressuring which helps the defensive backs.
Game Tackles for Loss Sack Int Pass Breakups (PBU)
First 6 Games 25 4.2 Average 4 0.7 Ave. 1 12 2.0 Ave.
Bandera 9 2 1 2
Wimberley 4 1 2 6
Hopefully Canyon Lake will keep improving, as this team seems to be jelling and another item that helps a defense is how the offense plays and with the Slot-T taking time off the clock.
For those three games mentioned above where the Defense was ranked in the top 5…it was the offense that helped by keeping the offensive drives going. It was La Vernia’s Special Teams that helped since the Bears had three scores via special team breakdowns.
In that LV game, the Hawk offense accomplished something that has not been done in The ReSporter’s limited research.
A 25 play drive covering 83 yards and taking 12:38 off the clock. That drive also had the Hawks converting 4 fourth downs.
Game Time of Possession Hawks
Bandera 16:50 31:10
Wimberley 16:33 31:27
What’s the point? This is still a team that relies on each element to hold up their end of the bargain.
That was the complete game mantra that was expounded on earlier this season during that 6 game losing streak.
A complete effort this week will result in Canyon Lake having the opportunity to play again….in the playoffs. Good Luck.
This Year's Top Defensive Stats:
# Player Tackles TFL Sacks PBU Int Other
36 Austin Acosta 58 2 0 1 0 Blocked Punt
28 Tommy Clark 45 0 0 1 0 2 Fumble Recoveries
8 Shane Relkin 40 1 0 1 0 1 Fumble Caused
40 Christian Dittman 39 10 4 0 0 1 Fumble Caused
16 Isaac Mendez 39 2 0 10 2 Blocked Kick
10 Javier Mendez 37 0 0 5 1
32 Matt Riffe 34 3 2 1 0 Fumble Caused
42 Jared Bruckman 31 5 0 0 1
25 Dominic Theisz 30 0 0 0 0 Fumble Recovery
48 Robert Woods 27 5 1 0 0 Fumble Recovery
44 Dominik Enea 26 2 0 0 0 Blocked Kick/Fumble Cause
