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The Battle for Canyon

Canyon Randall Raiders (8-1), (4-0) vs. Canyon Eagles (7-2), (4-0)

Kimbrough Memorial Stadium @ 7:30 11/7
Last year when Randall and Canyon met, the Eagles won 47-32.

Links are to team histories (Premium Content)

I mentioned in a previous game preview the sort of hyped up atmosphere that comes with a cross town rivalry. That Abilene High vs Abilene Cooper game was a non-district game, though. When you mix a cross town rivalry, with a game that carries district title, now you’re cooking with peanut oil. The Canyon vs Canyon Randall game is a long and heated rivalry, with both teams entering the season with some concerns about breaking in new players. In a form of poetic irony, fit only for Texas high school football, they both meet up with undefeated district records.

Canyon Randall Coach, Bryan Wood began the season with five new starters along the offensive line, all of whom were on the JV squad last year. Breaking in a couple inexperienced players can bring some growing pains, but having to break in an entirely new position group can really put a clamp on a team’s success. The new linemen have passed every test they’ve faced with flying colors, and no two people can attest to this better than running back Wyatt Garton and quarterback Brett Taff. Randall’s senior running back is averaging an impressive 230 yards per game, and Taff has been known to slice up some defenses with his legs. While the Raiders do prefer to run the ball, opposing defenses should be forewarned that loading up the box to stuff the run has, in the past, set up Taff perfectly for some big passing games.

Like their cross town rivals, the Canyon High Eagles also had to break in some players, after the graduation of quarterback Blake Weaver and linebacker Dylan Douglass. Fortunately for Coach Blake Bryant, the hole at quarterback was filled by a player with varsity experience.  Cade McCallie received his second all district selection at his more natural defensive back spot this year. On offense McCallie has had the help of TE/DE Isaac Garland to act as a security blanket, and help him ease into his new position. On defense McCallie also had the help of Garland, who was named to his second all district team as well. The Eagles pair Garland with DT John Runberg along the line to form a nice pass rush and FS Derrick Spencer joins McCallie, to give Canyon their own version of a no fly zone secondary.

Both Canyon schools were faced with some questions about new players, and both schools answered these questions time and again. Will the Canyon Eagles be the next team to be run over by Wyatt Garton and the Raiders, or will Cade McCallie help them control both sides of the game?  What do you think?

by Drew Schackmann

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