Canadian Grounds Down Childress

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: October 16, 2017

Photos: Alan Hale Photograph

Canadian vs Childress Lives up to Hype

This was not a game hyped-up by hopeful sports writers. There was no need to exaggerate what was already built into the Region 1 District 1-3A DII opener between the Childress Bobcats and the Canadian Wildcats. Start with the memory of last season’s nail-biter in Canadian that ended with Wildcat QB Corbin Douthitt kicking a 37-yard FG in the last minute for the 18-17 win, then add to that both teams stepping onto Charlie Johnston Field at Fair Park Stadium with 5-0 records earned in their pre-conference schedules. Then as the infomercial pitchman would say, “But wait, there’s more!” and we see that Childress had accumulated a 14 game home field win streak and Canadian had won 23 straight district games. This would be the Bobcats first district game played on brand new Field Turf, replacing one of the last natural turfs left at 3A size schools in the area.

The first half yielded three lead changes in front of a near capacity crowd with a legitimate playoff atmosphere in one of the most historic small school venues in the state of Texas. Canadian (#5, LSG, #6 AP ) came to town ready to rumble knowing that championship caliber football started early with this matchup. The Wildcat defense bent, but didn’t break, giving up only 15 points to the Childress offense, averaging 35 points per game.

The Wildcats set a tone for what the Bobcat defense had signed up to stop, as QB Casen Cavalier (18 for 28, 182 yds, 2 INTs, 29 for 126 yds rushing) engineered a 12-play, 62 yard opening drive culminating in a 1-yard TD on a keeper by Cavalier with 8:39 left in the 1 st quarter. Freshman kicker Edgar Salazar (3 for 3 PATs) was good on the PAT.

Childress fought right back on the ensuing offensive drive going 13 plays and 54 yards where they were forced to settle for a 38 yard FG by K Jeffery Lucido.

The Bobcat defense stopped the next two Canadian drives picking off QB Cavalier passes twice by Childress DBs Aric Vannoy and Joe Dan Gambol as both times the Wildcats were deep in Bobcat territory threatening to score. One of those turnovers led to the Bobcats taking the possession down the field in 8-plays and scoring on a 2-yard run by RB Maeson Narlock. The PAT was blocked by Wildcat DB Matthew Lynch, as Childress took the lead, 9-7 with 11:55 left in the second quarter.

Following the second INT by the Bobcats, Canadian’s defense forced a 3-and-out and Cavalier went right to work hitting WR Garrison McCook 43-yards down the field setting up the Wildcats for another score. Nine plays later, Cavalier found McCook again, this time in the end zone, making the score 14-9, with 4:47 left in the half.

Just before the half ended, Childress had halted the Wildcats deep in Bobcat territory and Canadian brought out Salazar for a 29-yard FG attempt. Two Childress offsides penalties later and the Wildcats had a first down on the Bobcat 4-yard line. On 3rd down and goal-to-go, Cavalier handed off to RB Tate Mitchell for a 2-yard TD with 11 ticks left in the half, and the Wildcats went in at the break leading 21-9.

Childress QB Luke Latimer was under duress from Canadian defensive linemen Tyler Richardson and Jackson Anderson all night, with outstanding defensive work by LB Levi Long. The Wildcat defense recorded six sacks on the night. However, Latimer proved that he is possibly the best scrambling quarterback in the region, rushing for a team high 50 yards and getting away from nearly impossible pressure several times.

The high flying Wildcat air raid style offense showed a very credible transition to the ground game. Canadian Head Coach Chris Koetting said that QB Cavalier might have set a record on number of carries by a Wildcat QB since the spread offense was introduced in 2007, rushing 29 times for 126 yards. Canadian had 234 rushing yards to 56 yards recorded by Childress. Canadian’s offensive linemen Noah Carter, Derrick Holdstock, and Harrison Culwell (along with help from Anderson and Richardson going both ways) are beginning to bring the run game to an equal status of the passing game.

The last Bobcat score came with 6:01 left in the 3rd quarter when Latimer hit Gambol for an 8-yard TD reception. The 2-point conversion failed.

Canadian wrapped up the scoring with an 8-yard TD run by RB Alexis Flores with 9:55 left in the game. The 2-point conversion failed, changing the scoreboard to the final score of 27-15.

With plenty of time to make up the 12-point deficit, Childress squandered the next two offensive possessions, first when Latimer was picked off by DB Garrison McCook trying to go long for WR Hunter Dowse, then on the next series suffered a fumble turnover by Joe Dan Gambol after a pass reception.

Both defenses had held each offense to three-and-out when Canadian ran off 9 plays to use up the last 3:45 of the game ending up on the Bobcat 2-yard line with 38 seconds left. Cavalier took a knee for the clock to run out on a game most believe will determine the District Championship as it did last season.

Next week the District 1-3A DII schedule will continue with Canadian hosting Amarillo Highland Park at home. Childress will hit the road to take on the Tulia Hornets.

Jerry Brunson for Lone Star Gridiron
@CHSWildcatNews

Stats courtesy of Ron Shrader, Canadian ISD