Canadian Smothers Stinnett

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: August 30, 2021

Canadian Blasts West Texas Stinnett 69-6 in Season Opener

When AD/HC Chris Koetting reported the number of returning starters for the preseason capsules this year it looked like this after graduating 15 seniors from the 2020 State Championship team: offense: 3, defense 3. Yet every poll and prognosticator placed the Wildcats firmly in the hunt for another title in 2021. That’s not just respect, it’s knowledge of the Wildcat program and how it works.

The 2021 season opener at Stinnett West Texas High Comanche Stadium pitted the short-handed Comanches against the Texas UIL Class 2ADII defending State Champions. Although the outcome might have been predicted, perhaps the lop-sided score was a surprise. Or maybe not so much, because when the fast-paced, no-huddle, hurry-to-set-and-snap Wildcat offense gains momentum, scoring happens. Affectionately know as the NASCAR offense, it can be associated with anything fast. And then there’s the ultra-stingy, swarming defense, which in this game added two scores with pick-six INTs and a Special Team score with a punt return.

LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE

After receiving the opening kick-off, Canadian popped the top on another bottle of lightning with a 5-play, 58-yard drive that ended with an 18-yard TD pass from QB Camren Cavalier to Trace Mitchell, taking only 1:55 off the 1st quarter clock. The PAT by K Emiliano Hernandez went just wide right, however, it was the only PAT miss out of 10 attempts on the night. Hernandez, a sophomore, appears to be the third consecutive kicker in a line of great kickers turned out by the Wildcat program. After years of hit and miss filling this position, the new tradition of a legitimate kicking game runs deep even to the point that jersey number 29, originally worn by 2x State Champion Benigno Heredia, is being passed down to his heirs. The second to wear his number, State Champion Edgar Salazar, set the statewide record last year for career PATs made.

After the initial score Canadian, they immediately received an unexpected gift in the form of a non-fielded ball by the Comanches recovered by Angel Garcia on the WTHS 40-yard line. Five plays later, the Wildcats were on the board again when sophomore Luke Flowers got the call for a 3-yard rushing TD with 8:39 left in the 1st Q. The remaining 8:39 left in the 1 st period continued to be used very efficiently by the Wildcats during what might have seemed to be the longest 12-minute quarter the Comanches had ever played. The next series for the Comanches ended with QB Andreus Cruz getting picked off by DB Luke Flowers with a pass intended for WR Nick Romero on the WTHS 48-yard line.

Six plays later, Flowers got the call again and scored from 2-yards out. The next series for the Comanches ended on their own 32-yard line, punting away and fortunately having a penalty negate a return all the way down to the WTHS 11-yard line by Angel Garcia. However, even though Canadian was backed up to their own 30-yard line, 3-plays and 70-yards later, Cavalier connected with RB Isay Ramirez for a 27-yard TD pass. At this point in Q1, the Wildcat special teams, feeling a bit like underachievers, decided to correct that before the 1st Q clock ran out. Luke Flowers fielded Cruz’s punt on Canadian’s 26-yard line and proceeded to follow blocks to the end zone 80-yards down the field with 9 ticks left on the clock. Q1 finally ended for the Comanches trailing 34-0. Wildcat QB Camren Cavalier had already totaled up 144-yards and two TDs with 10-for-11 passing.

Cruz continued to struggle getting the WTHS offense into Wildcat territory on their first series of the 2 nd period. Two series later, Cruz was picked off again by LB Angel Garcia, who immediately converted the INT into a score. The first of two pick-sixes on the night for Canadian with 9:38 left in the half. The Wildcats once again wasted no time on their next offensive series going 53-yards on 3-plays capping that drive off quickly with another TD strike from Cavalier to WR Trace Mitchell from 12-yards out. But Cruz and company would not be denied and continued to fight on their home turf under a lot of duress provided by the defending State Champs. WTHS put together a 60-yard drive with Cruz tossing an 8-yard TD pass to WR Nick Romero for the Comanches first and only score of the night with 1:42 left in the half.

Anyone that witnessed the State Championship game against Franklin last December can tell you what the Canadian offense can do with less than 2:00 minutes left on the clock. This night proved that was no fluke and that regular season games are just as appropriate to get
down the field and put points on the board before the buzzer sounds. A 45-yard, 5-play drive was quickly executed ending with Cavalier tossing a TD pass to Trace Mitchell with 40 seconds to spare before halftime, giving the Wildcats a 55-6 lead going in at the break.

As mentioned previously, the Comanches couldn’t get in the end zone again and the bench from both teams got some much-needed experience of varsity play. The 3rd period yielded an exciting 75-yard pick-six by DB Baldo Garcia and the offense scored one more time with a 67-yard, 7-play drive that RB Isay Ramirez ended with a 7-yard TD run.

Next week will be a huge test for the Wildcats as they will host the Iowa Park Hawks. The Hawks have been competitive in the 4AD2 ranks and Canadian is looking to redeem themselves from the disappointing loss to the Hawks last season on the road.

by Jerry Brunson for Lone Star Gridiron
@CHSWildcatNews (Facebook & Twitter)
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Photos courtesy Alan Hale Photography
Stats courtesy of Ron Shrader, CISD

SCORING

  
          1ST 2ND 3rd 4th - Total
CANADIAN  34  21   7   7  - 69
West Tex   0   6   6   0  - 6

C – Trace Mitchell 20-yard pass from Camren Cavalier (kick failed) 10:05
C – Luke Flowers 3-yard run (Emiliano Hernandez kick good) 8:29
C – Luke Flowers 1-yard run (Hernandez kick good) 5:06
C – Isay Ramirez 29-yard pass from Cavalier (Hernandez kick good) 2:17
C – Luke Flowers 80-yard punt return (Hernandez kick good) 0:09

C- Angel Garcia 15-yard pass interception (Hernandez kick good) 9:38
C – Trace Mitchell 12-yard pass from Cavalier (Hernandez kick good) 7:38
WT- Nick Romero 8-yard pass from Andreus Cruz (2-pt conv. failed) 1:42
C – Trace Mitchell 14-yard pass from Cavalier (Hernandez kick good) 0:40

C – Baldo Garcia 75-yard interception (Hernandez kick good) 4:54

C – Isay Ramirez 7-yard run (Hernandez kick good) 9:57

             WT CAN
FIRST DOWNS        5 17
YARDS RUSHING     10 148
YARDS PASSING     78 235
TOTAL YARDS       88 383
COMP-ATT-INT  6-17-3 16-19-0
PUNTS-AVG       4-35 0-0
FUMBLES-LOST     2-2 0-0
PENALTIES       5-45 7-75

PASSING

Camren Cavalier: passing – 14-17-209, 4 TDs

RUSHING

Luke Flowers: 6 carries-59 yds rushing, 2 TDs

RECEIVING

Trace Mitchell: 4 for 61 yards, 3 TDs
Jake Krehbiel: 3 for 54 yards

KICKING

Emiliano Hernandez: 9-for-10 PATs

Photos by Alan Hale Photography

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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.