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Canadian Rolls in Second Straight Championship

Conference 2A Division I – Refugio (13-3) vs. Canadian (16-0)
10 a.m. Thursday, NRG Stadium, Houston

NRG Stadium - The Canadian Wildcats beat the Refugio Bobcats in the Class 2A Division I game 61-20.   This was Canadian’s 4th state championship overall and 2nd consecutive.  They are now 4-1 all-time in championship games all since 2007.  This was Refugio’s 7th championship game.  They are now 2-4-1 all-time in the big game.  

Coach Chris Koetting said, "We just talked and it was very emotional.  What these seniors have done the last two years was amazing. "

The first quarter was dominated by the defense.  Canadian got the first score of the game with an interception at the Refugio 20 that was taken by Cade Throgmorton in for a score.  At the end of the first, Refugio had run 22 plays to Canadian’s 9.  The Wildcats started off slow with three consecutive 3 and outs.  The Bobcats also led in yardage gaining 105 yards to Canadian’s 2.  

Defensive MVP Cade Throgmorton said, "We knew we had to create turnovers.  We that they were really good - they were really fast.  We knew we had to get the ball to put it in our offense's hands"

Koetting said of the offenses' slow start, "We were really struggling offensively.  I can't say enough about our defense. They got us back in the game and our offense started rolling."

Refugio opened the 2nd quarter with a score.  They had to convert on three 4th down plays to get there.  Running back Isaiah Perez scored from 1 yard out to tie the game 7-7.  On Canadian’s first possession of the 2nd quarter, the passing game started to work.  Quarterback Tanner Schafer hit Chance Cook from 37 yards to make it 14-7 with 9:13 left until half.  Two possessions later, Canadian went 66 yards in five plays as Schafer took a zone read run 27 yards in to give the Wildcats a 21-7 lead.  

Refugio continued to come up short by going three and out.  A short punt gave the ball to the Wildcats at the Bobcat 27.  Cameron Copley ran it in from 1 yard out to give Canadian a 28-7 lead with 14 seconds left.   Refugio continued to be snake-bit and fumbled the kickoff. It was recovered by Canadian at the Refugio 8 with 5 seconds left in the half.   Kicker Benigno Heredia hit the first of four field goals to give the Wildcats a 31-7 edge going into halftime.  

The storyline of the first half was two teams with amazing amounts of speed on defense.  Canadian started slow but heated up as the game went on.  Refugio started off hot until turnovers not only ended scoring opportunities but left Canadian with either points or a very short field.

The second half saw what looked like the start of a Refugio comeback.  The Bobcats opened the 2nd half with a good drive deep into Canadian territory. Once again the shine came off quickly when a Jaylon Mascorro pass was intercepted by Cameron Copley in the end zone.  The Wildcats then went 80 yards in four plays ending with a Schafer pass to Copley to boost the Wildcat lead to 38-7.  

To finish out the 3rd quarter scoring, Wildcat kicker Heredia hit a 46 yard field goal, Chance Cook had 27 yard run and Shafer hit Copley for another touchdown to boost their lead to 55-13 at the end of three.  

In the 4th quarter Refugio added a 53 yard punt return by Omri Oliver.  For Canadian, Heredia hit two more field goals (31 & 35) and the Wildcats ended it up with a 61-20 victory. 

Refugio's Head Coach Jason Herring commented after the game, "I love my kids to death but the best team won today, sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug. We are just the 2nd best team in the state."

Herring added, "I’m gonna be honest with you, I played Cameron-Yoe………. a lot closer than we just played those guys.  And Cameron-Yoe is the 3 time back to back to back , triple A state champion and these guys are playing double A ball….. this football team we played today is for real.  If you cant see that you don't know much about football, these guys are for real."

Canadian quaterback Schafer was the offensive MVP (243 yards 3 touchdowns) and defensive back Throgmorton was the defensive MVP.    Wildcat running back Chance Cook led all rushers with 103 yards and had 2 interceptions on defense.   He ends his season with 1,951 yards and 27 touchdowns.   Canadian sacked the Refugio quarterback Jaylon Mascorro 8 times.   Mascorro had 80 yards rushing to lead the Bobcats and had 183 passing yards.   He finishes the season with 4,238 yards which puts him in 2nd place in the state.   Schafer finishes with 3,704 which puts him in 12th place.    Schafer was the offensive MVP in last years championship game  He threw 47 Touchdowns to only 2 interceptions on the season.   Canadian wide receiver Cameron Copley finishes with 1,335 yards  and 22 touchdowns.  Linebacker  Mario Flores ends with 149 tackles,  Lineman Cory Chidester ends with 70 TFL 15 sacks and 12 hurries and  DB Nick Dumbauld (6 INTs 13 PD’s).

Lone Star Gridiron

Postgame Press Conference ** Premium Content

Attendance: 6,528

Players of the game:
Offense- #9 Tanner Schafer
Defense- Cade Throgmorton

Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Canadian 7 24 24 6  - 61
Refugio 0 7 6 7  - 20

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