Canadian Shuts Out Perryton

By Chris Doelle
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: September 17, 2017

Photos by Alan Hale Photography

Dominant Defense by Canadian Delivers Shutout at Perryton, 36-0

Another installment of the long-standing rivalry between Canadian and Perryton is in the books with the Wildcats traveling to Ranger Stadium to bring back the Highway 83 Trophy, a physically non-existing artifact that only lives in the hearts and minds of Wildcat and Ranger fans. Although Perryton has historically always had more school enrollment and have been aligned in higher UIL classes, you know the drill; just throw that little fact in the garbage.

Canadian has seemingly been on a regular season revenge tour. First, by taking down Bushland 47-23 after a three-point loss to the Falcons in 2016 that ended the Wildcat 31-0 win streak; then once again by avenging the 24-14 loss at home to Perryton last season with the impressive defensive display here in Perryton Friday night.

It was also an appropriate time to dust off the #ONLYDEFENSESPRODUCESHUTOUTS for social media hounds. Canadian took the initial drive of the game 58 yards in 16 plays and was unsuccessful in scoring when kicker Edgar Salazar missed a 34-yard field goal wide left turning it over to the Rangers.

Despite coming away scoreless, the drive indicated that Perryton had their hands full from the get-go. One remaining consolation for the Rangers was that they stifled Canadian’s rushing attack most of night. With the exception of a 5-yard TD run by RB Christian Garcia with 2:34 left in the game, tackles-for-loss by a strong, well-coached Ranger defensive line and linebackers nullified other rushing gains by RB Caleb Martinez and RB Alexis Flores.

With 4:46 left in the first quarter, Perryton punter Steven Hernandez couldn’t handle the long snap from WR Seth Harp and set up Canadian QB Casen Cavalier (22 for 43, 247 yds, 0 INT, 4 TDs) to toss a 9 yard TD pass to WR Matthew Lynch on the next play. Kicker Edgar Salazar (3- 4 PATs, 0-2 FGs) missed the PAT.

The only score of the second quarter came after Canaidan punter Casen Cavalier pinned the Rangers deep with a rugby style punt. On their own 7-yard line with 5:52 left in the second quarter, Perryton QB Ryan Davis rolled right on a play-action pass only to smothered in the end zone for a Safety by Wildcat DE Brenden Wyatt. Although the defensive shutout was still intact, Canadian went in at the break disappointed after several missed opportunities and only an 8-0 lead.

The Wildcats continued to struggle on the ground in the second half. The reliable service of Canadian’s air attack kept moving the chains with better scoring results than in the first half. Cavalier hit WR Trent Evans for a 17 yard TD with 7:56 left in the third and another 14-yard TD toss to Lynch at the 9:55 mark in the fourth. Cavalier then wrapped up the aerial bombardment with a 20-yard TD pass with 5:29 left in the game to Sophomore WR Bill Koetting, his first career varsity TD reception.

Next week Canadian hits the road again for yet another big rivalry game with Stratford, while Perryton will also be traveling to face Wichita Falls Hirschi.

Jerry Brunson for Lone Star Gridiron
@CHSWildcatNews

Stats provided by Steve Forrest, Canadian Sports Net, and Ron Shrader, CISD