Canadian Downs River Road 56-14

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: September 9, 2017

photos: Michael Kerrigan

Amarillo River Road Travels to Canadian To Receive 56-14 Thrashing

Many folks that rarely make it to Hemphill County always comment on the beautiful drive that contrasts the flat Panhandle terrain starting around northern Gray County on HYW 60 in the Red Deer Creek area to Canadian, where seven miles south of town you begin the decent into the Canadian River Valley. This little scenic drive to Canadian might have been the most pleasant experience of the day for the River Road Wildcats and their fans last Friday.

Although Amarillo River Road (3ADI) has fielded several very good teams versus Canadian (3ADII) since 2002, the win-loss record remains a lopsided 12-0 in Canadian’s favor.

After River Road returned the opening kickoff to their own 21-yard line, QB Lance Welps (12 for 26-1 INT-1 TD) could not handle the first snap from scrimmage, and the low shotgun snap ended up on the RR Wildcat 6-yard line. Obviously, that did not help with the confidence needed to begin the game

Canadian’s premier Sr. wide receiver, Matthew Lynch (8-for-147 yds, 4 TDs), became the aerial nemesis for the River Road defensive secondary. Canadian QB Casen Cavalier (21-for-33, 315 yds, 5 TDs) hit Lynch for TDs from 4, 35, 21, and 26 yards out. Cavalier’s fifth TD pass came in the devastating 29 point second quarter by hitting Soph. WR Tate Mitchell from 67 yards out. Mitchell caught the ball on River Road’s 46 yard-line and after shaking defender DB Hunter Mitchell, outran the rest of the River Road DBs to the end zone. This writer doesn’t know if there are any family ties between the two Mitchell’s, but to make that play even more ironic, they both wear the number 5.

Canadian’s dominate defense would by denied pitching a shutout on the Wildcats from River Road when QB Cavalier was intercepted by DB Nicholas Bowers and returning it to Canadian’s 3-yard line as the first quarter ended. 48 seconds into the second quarter with a 3rd and goal from the 4 yard-line, Quarterback Welps scored with a well-executed keeper, making the score a respectable 13-7 just prior to the 29 points Canadian would add to their side of the scoreboard before the quarter would end.

With 9:31 left in the third quarter, Canadian OLB Ethan Brewster intercepted Welps for a 16-yard pick-six, the first defensive score of the season.

With 11:50 left in the fourth quarter, River Road scored for the last time from 7-yards out with a quick pass and catch from QB Welps to WR Bowers running a post route into the end zone.

Canadian struck pay dirt one final time with a 5-yard run by RB Christian Garcia with 2:31 left in the game, adding to the other rushing TD in the first quarter, an 8-yard run by RB Alexis Flores (13-for-83 yds).

Canadian’s PAT and 2-point conversions were also high percentage for the night. Garrison McCook was 1-for-2 PATs, WR Tate Mitchell ran in a 2-point conversion to make up for the missed PAT, and Freshman Edgar Salazar went in to go 5-for-5, making good with a second chance on one PAT due to a penalty.

River Road’s Kicker, TE Bryson Vanreenen was 2-for-2 PATs.

Canadian will hit the road next Friday for the first time this season taking on their HWY 83 rival, Perryton. River Road will be at home hosting the Dalhart Wolves. Both games will be non-conference matches.

by Jerry Brunson for Lone Star Gridiron
@CHSWildcatNews