Canadian’s D Shines Against Abernathy

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 8, 2018

photos Alan Hale

Canadian Wins Defensive Battle with Abernathy in Region 1 Final, 19-7

AMARILLO – The highly anticipated UIL State Quarterfinal match between South Plains power Abernathy Antelopes (12-2) and the Canadian Wildcats (13-1), making their sixth consecutive appearance in this playoff round (fifth straight Semifinal qualification) did not disappoint. In an age of high-flying, no-huddle offenses, such as the Wildcats, it is still a profound truth that hard-nosed defenses are what prevents the opponent from scoring more points and winning the game. And therefore, the old cliché “defenses win championships” was born.

With temps hovering in the high 20s at Dick Bivins Stadium, the light wind and no precipitation kept the weather from becoming a major factor. However, several rare, crucial untimely mistakes and tough defensive play by both teams prevented Abernathy from closing on Canadian’s 12 point lead from halftime and also for the Wildcats from opening up a larger lead in the second half. The deciding factor became Canadian hitting the jackpot grabbing three interceptions in the second half and making two stops in the red zone, one a conversion on downs.

Canadian opened the game like gangbusters with a 38 yard kickoff return to their 48 yard line by Jack Koetting. Eight plays later, QB Casen Cavalier sent WR Garrison McCook out past the numbers, while Garrison’s brother WR Grant McCook lined up behind him just inside the numbers. Cavalier pump faked the quick screen to Garrison, who along with his brother Grant, like a well-directed orchestra, Garrison faked waiting to receive while Grant hesitated, faking the setup to block DB Joseph Sanchez, pulling in DB Ryan Sandoval and LB Isaiah Geter. Grant McCook then ran the go route down the Abernathy sideline uncovered and received the 26 yard TD pass from Cavalier.

Abernathy came out with the resolve everyone expected on their first offensive series and ended a 5-play drive with a 66 yard TD pass from QB Bryson Daily to WR Joseph Sanchez. What appeared to be shaping up to be a playoff game of exciting back-and-forth scoring would eventually become a defensive battle that would frustrate both offenses.

To prove the point about frustration, Canadian’s next 9-play drive was stopped attempting a 4th down conversion and Abernathy took over on their own 23 yard line. That Antelope 9-play drive ended with when Wildcat DB Josh Culwell intercepted Daily in the end zone, the first of two INTs he hauled in on the night. After Culwell’s INT, the Wildcats drove 80 yards in 7-plays to score again with a 7-yard TD pass to WR Bill Koetting with only 7 seconds left in the first period. The PAT was missed by K Edgar Salazar.

The next Antelope drive lasted all of 13 plays only to be denied a 4th down conversion that gave the Wildcats the possession on the Abernathy 29 yard line. Canadian then setup a 4-play scoring drive with a perfectly executed halfback pass from Grant McCook to WR Tate Mitchell that went for 46 yards. QB Cavalier ran in the TD from the 4 yard line. To make up for the previously missed PAT, Cavalier took the snap in the kick holding position, but pitched out to the end around WR Trent Evans, for a 2-point conversion. Evans found a wide open Bill Koetting in the end zone, but the perfect pass from Evans was dropped by Koetting, leaving the scoreboard at 19-7.

With 4:25 left in the first half, no one in the stadium would have bet a nickel that the last points had been scored. Both teams ended the first half with 8-play drives unknowingly preparing for a scoreless second half. The Wildcats had failed to secure a solid two-score lead at 19-7 against a strong run orientated team that could still throw the ball downfield. There was no room for the kind of mistakes on defense that would allow the Antelopes to close the gap in scoring. For Abernathy, to hold Canadian and score twice was their whole world for the next 24 minutes of game clock.

THE DEFENSIVE BATTLE WAS ON

After the kickoff to the Antelopes to start the second half, Canadian forced a three-and-out that lasted only two offensive plays for the Wildcats when DB Avery Clarkson hauled in an interception on a pass intended for Trent Evans on the Antelope 15 yard line. Canadian held to a 3-and-out, however, a roughing the kicker penalty on the punt gave the Lopes another chance on their 34 yard line. But on the 9th play of the new drive, disaster struck again for Abernathy when DB Josh Culwell hauled in his second INT of the night the officials spotted on the 1-foot line.

The Wildcat offense struggled to get the ball downfield for nine plays until forced to punt, giving the Lopes another chance from their own 45 yard line. Abernathy drove down to the 13 yard line in six plays, but needed to get to the 6 and ½ yard line on fourth down. QB Daily faked a dive play to his running back and took the keeper play to the right, stretching out with the ball for the yardage needed for 1st down, but unable to convert.

Once again, the Antelope defense bucked the Canadian offense and forced a punt after five plays. Eight plays later, Abernathy was threatening at the Canadian 33 yard line when Daily threw under pressure to Sanchez, and was picked off by DB Trent Evans. The Wildcats were then forced to yet another 3-and-out. The next possession for Abernathy was the last disaster of the night when Daily threw a pick on the second play to DB Grant McCook on the Canadian 17 yard line. Four plays and a first down with a 13 yard run up the middle by Cavalier with less than 2 minutes left in the game allowed the Wildcats to run out the clock and claim the fifth consecutive State Quarterfinal victory.

UIL CLASS 3ADII SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE

The schedule for the final four teams that are fighting for the chance to play in a State Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington begin with the Canadian Wildcats meeting the Gunter Tigers at Leo Brittain Field Lion Stadium, in Vernon, Texas, Friday, December 14, 2018, 7:00 P.M. kickoff. This will be the third meeting of Gunter and Canadian, Gunter has stopped Canadian in the Semifinal the last two seasons.

The winner of the Canadian v Gunter game will play the winner of the Newton v East Bernard game to be played at Texan Drive Stadium in Porter, Texas, Friday, December 14, 2018, 7:00 P.M. kickoff. The winners of these two games will meet for the UIL Class 3ADII State Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Thursday, December 20, with a 3:00 p.m. kickoff.

Jerry Brunson for Lone Star Gridiron

@CHSWildcatNews

Stats courtesy of Ron Shrader, Canadian ISD

	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	Final
Canadian	13	6	0	0	19
Abernathy	7	0	0	0	7

	Canadian	Abernathy
First Downs	16	18
Rushing Yds	173	174
Passing Yds	206	167
C - A - I	10-22-1	12-22-4
Total Yds	379	341
Punts-Avg	3-38	2-35
Fumbles-Lost	3-0	1-0
Penalties	3-20	5-60

Scoring

1st Q

C – Grant McCook, 26 yd Casen Cavalier pass (Salazar kick) 10:23
A – Joseph Sanchez, 66 yd Byson Daily pass (Byson Daily kick) 9:08
C – Bill Koetting, 7 yd Casen Cavalier pass (Salazar kick failed) 0:07

2nd Q

C – Casen Cavalier, 4 yd run (2-pt conv failed) 4:25

3rd Q

NO SCORES

4th Q

NO SCORES

(click a photo to see slideshow)