Canadian Races Past Cisco

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 1, 2019

Photos courtesy Alan Hale Photography

Cisco Overwhelmed by Canadian 55-28 in Regional Semifinal

The Cisco Loboes and the Canadian Wildcats were set to revive an old playoff rivalry until Cisco became overwhelmed with one of the fastest line-‘em-up-and-and-run-‘em offenses in the state and a lightning quick defense that works hard to get the offense back on the field for more scores. The 41-0 halftime lead by Canadian more than proved the point.

The series now stands at 3-1 Canadian, with the previous 42-14 schooling by Cisco in 2013 on their way to a State Championship. But on this Thanksgiving weekend Cisco was outmanned and outgunned beyond their ability to challenge Canadian to advance to a Regional Final with Abernathy.

The Wildcats took the opening kickoff possession to a 5-play drive ending with a 1 yard run by QB Grant McCook (8-for-13 passing, 2 TDs) setup by a 33 yard pass completion by RB Hayze Hufstedler. The first half performance by the Wildcat defense caused the Loboes to go three-and-out on their first three consecutive series, with the fourth series ending with a one-play fumble turnover. In between the offensive struggles by Cisco came a barrage of more offensive successes by Canadian. Those scores included a 66 yard TD pass to WR Tate Mitchell, a 1 yard TD run by RB Jake Krehbiel (8 carries for 109 yds, 2 TDs), and a 5 yard TD run by McCook.

Down 28-0 in the second period, the Loboes finally put together a 9-play drive moving the chains a couple of times only to end in a sack fumble by Lobo QB Gibson Hearne recovered by LB Stephen Pulliam on their own 36 yard line. Cisco stifled the short field drive and the Wildcats were forced to settle for a 29 yard field goal by K Edgar Salazar (7-for-7 PATs, 2 FGs) who had another outstanding day going 100% on all scoring kicks. Another rare fumble turnover by Cisco led to another Salazar 38 yard field goal with 3:26 left in the first half. But the clock never dictates whether the Wildcats are finished putting points on the board.

Canadian’s kickoff coverage pinned the Lobos on their own 7 yard line and another defensive three-and-out by the Wildcat defense setup a short field for the offense. Two runs by Hufstedler of 15 and 6 yards setup the 14 yard TD pass to Mitchell from McCook giving Canadian a 41-0 lead with 1:10 left in the half.

It’s no secret that Canadian Head Coach Chris Koetting would take advantage of a comfortable lead to rest and protect as many starters on both sides of the ball from injuries as possible. Neither is it any secret that Cisco Head Coach Brent West wouldn't allow his team to lay down and give up in a third-round playoff game. That particular dynamic in this game allowed the Loboes to find ways to be productive in the second half, albeit not enough to get back in the game. One more series from the offensive starters yielded another TD run from 1 yard out by McCook making it 48-0 with 8:41 left in the third quarter.

Lobo QB Hearne went right to work taking his team 63 yards in 8-plays topping it off with their first score of the game, a 39 yard TD pass to WR Dawson White. The PAT was good by K Layne Edgar (4-for-4 PATs). Cisco forced Canadian to punt, then began chipping away yardage with an 11-play, 75 yard drive that hit pay dirt with a 30 yard TD run by RB Stanley Callahan.

Backup Canadian Junior QB Josh Culwell, returning from an injury that almost ended his season, took the Wildcats on a 9-play drive that was cut short by a pass tipped by intended receiver WR Angel Garcia and intercepted by Gibson Hearne from his DB position. Only two plays later Hearne took the snap rolling out with RB Stanley Callahan on an option play and split the defenders keeping the ball for a 69 yard TD.

With 8:33 left in the game, the fireworks show still wasn’t finished. After Lobo K Isaiah Longoria’s kick reached the end zone for a touchback, Canadian’s first snap of the series was a pitchout from Culwell to Krehbiel for the most unlikely score of the game. Not able to find a hole from his blockers, Krehbiel was momentarily halted near the sideline in a crowd but was neither down nor had forward progress stopped. Krehbiel broke free from several Lobo tacklers including Caden Burleson, Dax Brunson, and Cam Nichols to go 75 yards for the TD, using a stiff arm on Colton Sutton along the way.

The Loboes were driving with a first down on the Canadian 25 yard line when RB Isaac Acosta was caught up in a scrum and striped of the ball by Wildcat DE Alan Jara. Despite that change of possession, Cisco forced Canadian to go three-and-out and two plays later Gibson Hearne took a QB keeper up the middle for a 43 yard TD with 3:38 left in the game. That ended the scoring and any hopes of the Loboes to get back in the game leaving the score at 55-28, Canadian.

This Regional Semifinal Championship for Canadian sets up a much-anticipated matchup with the Abernathy Antelopes to determine the Region 1 Champions that will move on to the UIL State Semifinal.

Postgame negotiations to secure a venue for next week’s Regional Final progressed, then ended in an unexpected way which inadvertently causes the Canadian and Abernathy programs to make history by becoming the first high school teams to play in the new West Texas A & M University Buffalo Stadium on campus in Canyon, Texas. Initially the university had announced the stadium wouldn’t be made available for high school football playoff games for the 2019 season or beyond.

The decision to open the stadium for the Class 3AD2 Region 1 Championship will be well received by the UIL and throughout the Panhandle. The game is scheduled for Friday, December 6, with a 7:00 P.M. kickoff.

Jerry Brunson for the lonestargridiron.com website
@CHSWildcatNews – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Stats courtesy of Ron Shrader, CISD

1ST 2ND 3rd 4th Total
CANADIAN 21 20 7 7 - 55
CISCO 0 0 7 21 - 28

SCORING

Can – Grant McCook 3 yd run, (Edgar Salazar kick) 10:31
Can – Tate Mitchell 66 yd pass from McCook, (Edgar Salazar kick) 6:30
Can – Jake Krehbiel 1 yd run, (Edgar Salazar kick) 2:32

Can – Grant McCook 5 yd run, (Edgar Salazar kick) 10:33
Can – Edgar Salazar 30 yd FG 5:51
Can – Edgar Salazar 30 yd FG 3:26
Can – Tate Mitchell 15 yd pass from McCook, (Edgar Salazar kick) 1:10

Can – Grant McCook 1 yd run, (Edgar Salazar kick) 8:41
Cis – Dawson White 39 yd pass from Gibson Hearne (Layne Edgar kick) 4:47

Cis – Stanley Callahan 30 yd run, (Layne Edgar kick) 11:31
Cis – Gibson Hearne 69 yd run, (Layne Edgar kick) 8:33
Can – Jake Krehbiel 75 yd run, (Edgar Salazar kick) 8:14
Cis – Gibson Hearne 43 yd run, (Layne Edgar kick) 3:38

GAME STATISTICS

FIRST DOWNS: Cis – 15, Can – 20
YDS RUSHING: Cis –282, Can C – 275
YDS PASSING: Cis – 112, Can – 225
TOTAL YDS: Cis – 394, Can – 500
COMP-ATT-INT: Cis – 7-19-0, Can – 10-21-1
PUNTS-AVG: Cis – 5-35, Can – 3-36
FUMBLES-LOST: Cis – 4-3 Can – 1-1
PENALTIES: Cis – 5-30, Can - 5-40

(click photos to see slideshow)

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Want to see how the Canadian teams stack up against some of the best all time?

We have the 2015 Championship and 2017 teams already created and football fans and game board players around the world are coaching the Canadian Wildcats against some of the greatest teams in history.

2015 Canadian - The Wildcats won the Class 2A Division I State Championship with a convincing 41 point win over Gulf Coast power Refugio. This was Canadian's 4th Championship win in 5 Championship games since 2007.

2017 Canadian - The Wildcats extended their winning streak to 16 years. All 16 years they have had 8+ wins. This team made it to the Semifinals with a high scoring offense and great defense.