Cedar Park Survives Georgetown

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: October 21, 2017

photos: Steve Thomas

Cedar Park Shows Tremendous Heart in Rally Over Georgetown

Friday night’s matchup at Gupton Stadium featured a pivotal showdown in District 19-5A between the Cedar Park Timberwolves and the Georgetown Eagles. Cedar Park entered the game at 5-1 overall and 4-0 in district. The Timberwolves were looking to keep pace with their fellow district leaders the Hutto Hippos. Georgetown entered at 6-1 overall and 4-1 in district. The Eagles lone loss came against Hutto in their district opener. Both teams featured potent offenses and stout defenses.

Georgetown struck first when senior star wide receiver Caden Legett capped off a ten-play seventy-five yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run. Senior quarterback Makenzie Sexton tied the game with a one-yard touchdown keeper on the ensuing drive. However, Sexton had to be carted off the field following the play due to an apparent leg injury. The Cedar Park defense held Georgetown to a three-and-out after the touchdown, but a late hit on the Timberwolves after the punt pinned the offense at their own five-yard line. Things went from bad to worse for the Timberwolves when junior quarterback Ryan Fiala muffed the first snap of the drive and recovered the fumble in his own end zone for a safety. Caden Legett caught a 49-yard touchdown pass after the free kick, but the Eagles missed the extra point to extend their lead to 15-7 early in the second quarter.

Senior linebacker and Boise State-commit Brandon Hawkins blocked a punt for another safety to give the Eagles a 17-7 lead late in the second quarter. Junior wide receiver Dylan Cahill scored on a 20-yard touchdown catch and kicker Davis Northcutt added a 17-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 27-7 lead at halftime.

After struggling mightily in the first half, Fiala and the Cedar Park offense began to find their stride in the second half. On the opening drive, junior wide receiver Brandon Breed caught a six-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 27-14. After forcing the Eagles to go three-and- out following the touchdown, the Timberwolves had another promising drive going. The Timberwolves advanced into Georgetown territory following a conversion on a fake punt, but senior safety Trace Glanville came up with an interception to cut the drive short. In a moment of déjà vu, the Timberwolves defense once again forced Georgetown to punt; but Glanville again cut the Timberwolves’ drive short with an interception. Georgetown was unable to capitalize on the turnover but did pin the Timberwolves back at their own four-yard line with the punt.

At the end of the third quarter, the Cedar Park defense breathed new life into the Timberwolves when junior defensive back Cole Hollen returned an interception over 60 yards for a touchdown. A personal foul on Georgetown during the return and a rough-the- kicker penalty on the extra point attempt pushed the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Georgetown 30-yard line. Cedar Park went for the onside kick, and Breed recovered it for Cedar Park at the Georgetown 19-yard line. On the next play, however, an unnecessary-roughness penalty pushed the Timberwolves back to the Eagles’ 34. Despite the setback, senior wide receiver Dalton Hayek narrowly missed a chance to tie the game when dropped a pass from Fiala near the goal line. Ultimately, the Timberwolves turned the ball over on downs.

Both teams traded three-and- out possessions on their next drives, but the Timberwolves’ special-teams unit provided a huge boost when they downed their punt at the Georgetown one-yard line with 2:55 left in the game. Once again, the Cedar Park defense forced Georgetown to punt; and a short punt set up the Timberwolves at the Eagles’ 21-yard line with 1:50 left. A six-yard catch by Brandon Breed along with a facemask on Georgetown set Cedar Park with first-and- ten at the Georgetown 11-yard line. Excitement and suspense filled the air as Cedar Park called a timeout facing fourth down from the Georgetown two-yard line. Following the timeout, Fiala connected with senior wide receiver Drew McDaniel for the game-tying touchdown. The excitement began to build as the Timberwolves converted the extra point to take a 28-27 lead, and the home side erupted after the defense stifled Georgetown’s last offensive drive to complete the incredible comeback.

With the win, Cedar Park improves to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in district. The Timberwolves will travel to Pflugerville next week to take on the Pflugerville Connally Cougars before an all-important showdown with Hutto on November 3 at Gupton Stadium. Georgetown, meanwhile, falls to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in district. The Eagles will return home to face Bastrop Cedar Creek next week.

by Steve Thomas