Canadian Downs Colorado City 45-8

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 4, 2017

Photos by Alan Hale

Canadian Heads to District 1-3A Rematch
In Quarterfinal Round

The stage is set, the players are rehearsed, and the audience is lining up for tickets. In one of several district rematches across the state, the Canadian Wildcats (13-0) will face District 1-3A D2 rival Childress (12-1) upon the Bobcat’s come-from-behind win over Sonora last night. This Region 1 Championship game could possibly draw record attendance for a Class 3A playoff game on December 8, at Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo, 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

To earn the Q-final game schedule, Canadian had to step up against a Colorado City team that was looking for more than respect by fielding the best defensive line the Wildcats have faced this season. Wildcat right OT Brenden Wyatt said, “C-City’s defensive line was probably one of the biggest and better lines we have played all year. They were strong off the ball and were hard to move. They were our biggest challenge all year.” Right OG Harrison Culwell added, “Every one of them (C-City D-line) that rotated in were hard to move and they never gave up. They all kept fighting until the last second.” Even with that kind of respect, Canadian still scored 45 points on the Wolves, who had averaged allowing only 7.8 points per game through the season.

The Wolves held the Wildcats to only 6 points in the 1st quarter. QB Casen Cavalier (15-for-22, 232 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT) hit WR Matthew Lynch (7-for-166 yds, 3 TDs) for a 68-yard bomb. K Edgar Salazar (4-5 PATs, 1 FG) missed the PAT, but redeemed himself by hitting the rest of his PAT attempts along with a 31 yard FG.

After Canadian scored on a RB Caleb Martinez (3-for-13, 1 TD) 1 yard run with 3:20 left in the 2nd quarter and a 2 point conversion with a Cavalier pass to WR Tate Mitchell, disaster struck the Wolves when WR Erick Hernandez fumbled the kickoff return on their own 25 yard line. The next offensive play by the Wildcats produced another Cavalier-to-Lynch connection for a TD with a good PAT from Salazar. The Wolves would make the best of 3:02 left in the 2nd period by driving 61 yards in 10 plays. With 8 seconds left in the half, QB Markis Monroe threw a screen pass to RB Bubba Williams that Canadian LB Luis Vera and DB Matthew Lynch stopped on the 2 yard line as the clock ran out.

Canadian opened the scoring again in the 3rd quarter with Cavalier hitting Lynch from 43 yards out for their 3rd TD connection of the night. However, Colorado City would deny Canadian of a playoff game shutout when with 2:46 left in the 3rd , QB Markis Monroe scored on a read option keeper from the 13 yard line. The Wolves’ 2 point conversion was good with a Monroe-to-Hernandez pass.

Wildcat QBs Cavalier and Grant McCook both had TD runs in the 4th quarter from 1 and 4 yards respectively, ending the scoring attack on a determined yet fatigued Colorado City defense.

Colorado City ended a very successful season with an 11-2 record, while Canadian remains undefeated at 13-0. The aforementioned Quarterfinal match that pits the Wildcats against the second seed of District 1-3A D2, Childress, who lost to Canadian 27-15 on October 13. This matchup has the opportunity to become a game for the ages and will probably be the game of the week by many news outlets.

Jerry Brunson for Lone Star Gridiron
@CHSWildcatNews

Stats courtesy of, Ron Shrader, Canadian ISD