Austin Acosta and TJ Jones tackle a Leopard in Area play
Canyon Lake ran into a buzz saw as La Grange made mince meat of the Hawks, 50-8 in Area play.
The Hawks could not move the ball offensively and conversely could not stop this Leopard team defensively.
“Credit this La Grange team, they forced our mistakes and were very opportunistic,” Head Coach Charles Drum said. “Our game plan was to control the clock and to limit their plays and we did not accomplish either one.”
Canyon Lake kicked off to start the game thinking the wind would help, but after La Grange’s first
Karl Weidner with the tackle with Ryan Hutcheson ready to clean up
drive against that blustery wind the game was not going to get better. Eight plays and 58 yards in four minutes was the result.
Equate this game to a rodeo, the Leopards would stop the Hawk’s runners like a cowboy would rope a calf and tie the legs. The Hawk runners were tackled and very seldom would be able to gain more yardage.
All the keys for CL in making this game competitive was lost in those first few minutes.
The Hawks needed to have long drives to help the defense and put pressure on La Grange.
Result? The Hawks amassed 36 yards on their first five drives which resulted in one first down.
After those five drives the score was La Grange 35 Canyon Lake 0.
Add a bad snap on a punt giving the Leopards another score before half and all this CL team could do was get warm in their dressing room.
The second half had La Grange calling off the Leopards scoring a safety and touchdown and being content with a well deserved win.
La Grange was all class in this game as this contest was coming to a close finding themselves on the Hawk’s 1 yard line and taking a knee to run out the clock.
Canyon Lake did serve notice for the coming years, when they showed some promise as the ground work was being laid with an offense that will be able to be refined as lower grades and this crop of players continue to hone their skill set to be more consistent.
Josh DeVries finished this game with a 23 yard run for the Hawk’s only score and pride for a season that started with anguish turned into a campaign that went two rounds in the playoffs while improving each week.
Josh DeVries taking flight for extra yardage
On that last Hawk drive, the future was evident as Sophomore Robert Woods with 7 yards, Junior Austin Acosta with 16 yards and Junior Josh DeVries finishing with 36 yards and his touchdown run.
Yes, this game was ZZ Top taking the Hawks to that little shack outside La Grange but let’s make it a point not to go back to that shack.
Good luck to the Leopards as they continue their playoff run.
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Game Quotes:
On what this team accomplished this season.
Coach Drum: “We came out with great effort this year and this club showed perseverance and mental toughness by overcoming adversity after starting 0-6. I told this team that this will help them to apply what they learned to how they will handle life.”
On what the Seniors would like to share with the underclassman.
Offensive Lineman Cory Ruston: “When you get your opportunity then don’t let it go because it hurts when it is gone. Don’t hold back and give 100% and just be reckless.”
Linebacker Dominic Theisz: “Make the playoffs, keep it (the playoffs) going. Take every game like it is your last game.”
Offensive Lineman Justin Monfils: “Never give up and no matter how far you are up or down, always play the same….it went away fast…way too fast.”
Running Back McGuire Johnson: “I am really jealous that Coach Moses did not come earlier and these players will get to play for him longer…Learn from what we did and capitalize and develop during the off season….this goes by quickly and La Grange is a hell of a team.”
The ReSporter would also like to thank Laura Theisz for supplying the photos these past two years. Her willingness to help this publication was valuable and made the articles come alive with those action shots.
Thank-you Laura!!!!
1 2 3 4 Final
La Grange 14 27 9 0 50
Canyon Lake 0 0 0 8 8
Scoring Summary:
LG-Dillon Davis 24 yard run (Cerda kick), 8:01, 1st
LG-Hutcheson 85 yard pass from Davis (Cerda kick), 5:29, 1st
LG-Hutcheson 9 yard run (Cerda kick), 11:52, 2nd
LG-Filmore 1 yard run (Cerda kick), 7:19, 2nd
LG-Mueller fumble recovery in end zone (pat failed), 1:40, 2nd
LG-Fumble out of end zone safety for La Grange, 4:39, 3rd
LG-Filmore 29 yard run (Cerda kick), 4:09, 3rd
CL-Josh DeVries 23 yard run (DeVries run), 10:06, 4th
Game Stats Leopards Hawks
Total Yards 371 141
First Downs 20 6
Rushes/Yards 40/230 40/127
Comp/Att/Int 4/7/0 1/2/0
Passing Yardage 141 13
Punts/Average 1/53.0 4/37.0
Fumbles/Lost 2/1 3/2
Penalties-Yards 9-75 8-64
TOP 25:04 22:56
Passing Comp Att Pct Yards TD Int
Skyler Tschoepe 1 2 .500 13 0 0
Rushing Att Yards Ave Lg TD
Josh DeVries 13 62 4.8 23 1
McGuire Johnson 11 36 3.3 9 0
Austin Acosta 4 18 4.5 10 0
Hayden DuBois 3 8 2.7 6 0
Robert Woods 3 7 2.3 4 0
Skyler Tschoepe 3 1 0.3 9 0
Hayden Lee 1 -4 --- -- 0
Receiving No Yards Ave Lg TD
Evan Schuller 1 13 13.0 13 0
