Bushland Knocks off Canadian Goliath

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: September 13, 2021

Bushland Stuns Canadian with 4th Quarter Rally and Win in Overtime, 49-42

Canadian and Bushland developed a rivalry that really began in 2014 when the two teams chose to host each other for the season opener for four seasons. Although the record of that series and matchups since stands at 4-2 in Canadian’s favor, the two victories Bushland earned were very significant and personal to the Canadian program and fans. The Falcons came to Canadian this week to play some serious football, but no one knew how serious until the second half started.

The Wildcats came out with their typical enthusiasm that had an extra charge of Homecoming night festivities and a great crowd to support both teams. After receiving the opening kickoff, Soph. QB Camren Cavalier commenced to march the Wildcat offence to the game’s first score on an 8-play, 63-yard drive ending with a TD pass to WR Cree Waite with 9:23 left in the 1st Q. But the Falcons had readied themselves for a shootout and also scored on their first possession in only two plays with QB Brian Marrell found a seam through the middle of the Wildcat defense for 49 yards.

But the shootout didn’t develop due to the tight Canadian defense and the Wildcats reeled off 28 unanswered points before the halftime buzzer buzzed. Canadian’s WR Angel Garcia caught a 14-yard Cavalier TD pass, DB/RB Luke Flowers added a defensive score on a 50-yard pick-six, Cree Waite hauled in another 13-yard TD pass, and Luke Flowers ended the first half scoring spree with 1:37 left with an 11-yard TD run. Canadian’s scoreboard digits glowed bright in Canadian’s favor of 35-7.

HOMECOMINGS AND COMEBACKS

The halftime show featuring both schools marching bands and the Homecoming Queen coronation might have seemed very typical to most of the crowd with the exception of those who were making special memories, like the high school students participating and their proud parents. But it would become apparent that the Falcons had been cooking up something special in the lock room preparing to continue their battle against the Wildcats even though they were down by four TDs.

The first offensive series by the Falcons was looking productive until a fumble lost by QB Brian Marrell just as he made a 1st down to the 40 yard line on 3rd & 2 gave the Wildcats great field position early in the period. However, Canadian couldn’t take advantage and went 3 and out, and Cavalier punted down to the Falcon 4 yard line. Bushland took up where they left off on the previous drive with the exception of not turning the ball over and drove 96 yards in 6-plays to score on a 1-yard run on 4th and 1 by RB Kash Bradley. That drive was aided by a huge play by Bradley, who took a swing pass from Marrell and had to reverse the field to find room to go 61-yards down to the Wildcat 6 yard line.

With 3:23 left in the 3rd period, Canadian chose to go on a 4 th down 5 at the Bushland 10 yard line. Cavalier was intercepted in the end zone by DB Baylor King. Bushland would then start on their 20 yard line and only 3-plays later would bust loose Kash Bradley on a jet sweep for a 65-yard TD run. The PAT by K Angel Ortiz was good with 1:58 left in the 3rd quarter. The Falcons had just cut Canadian’s lead to 14.

Just before the 3rd period clock ran out, Canadian converted a 4th down and 1-to-go to the Bushland 25 yard line. Then the first 4th quarter play for the Wildcats produced a TD with Cavalier running a keeper into the end zone. The PAT by K Emiliano Hernandez was good and Canadian had regained a 3 TD lead with 11:52 left in the game. But what Bushland was about to do with those 11 minutes and 52 seconds would be something to behold. The next Falcon offensive series would be forced to punt with 10:40 left to play had to yield a sigh of relief from the home crowd as it was apparent that Bushland had picked up some momentum and was on a mission.

BUSHLAND: MISSION POSSIBLE?

Still down 42-21, the Falcons showed no fear as Canadian’s offense lined up on their own 14 yard line. The Wildcats picked up one first down, but was forced to punt from their own 20 yard line and the Falcons would start on their own 44. Marrell connected with the big tight end Carsten Fry for a 21-yard completion and 3-plays later on a 3rd and 10-to-go on the Canadian 35, Marrell hit the speedy Baylor King on a jailbreak screen for a 35-yard TD with 7:01 left the Falcons move the score within 2 TDs again. Disaster struck on the Wildcat’s second play from scrimmage on the next series when Angel Garcia took a direct snap for a run and gave up the ball to the Falcons on a fumble. Bushland went to work from their own 28 yard line taking to the air again with 6:39 left on the clock. Marrell’s passing attack appeared to be overcome with desperation as the Falcons were against the clock as much as they were the Canadian defense. But on 3rd and 10, left-handed Marrell hit Baylor King for a 22 yard gainer to mid-field. Once again, the Falcon offense, facing a 2nd and 24 after a 9-yard sack by Wildcat DE Nathan Mondragon and a 5-yard procedure penalty, Marrell wound up and threw downfield to a wide-open Baylor King for a 64-yard TD. The Ortiz PAT moved the Falcons ever closer yet with 5:09 left in the game, trailing only 42-35.

WILDCAT COULDA SHOULDA DRIVE

The Wildcats started at their 30 yard line and confidently drove down to the Falcon 18. With a 3rd and 4-to-go, QB Cavalier threw to the end zone for Angel Garcia, but Falcon DB Tate Butcher was able to distract and possibly deflect the ball just enough to prevent Garcia from completing the pass for a TD. K Emiliano Hernandez, having a great start this season as the Wildcat Kicker 3.0, was called out to attempt his most important FG attempt so far in his short career. Kicking into a light wind, Hernandez was less than one foot getting the 34-yard attempt over the crossbar just inside the right upright. What could have sealed a victory for the Wildcats bounced harmlessly out of play with 1:56 left for a momentum driven Falcon offense to score and tie or win the game from their own 18 yard line.

FALCON MISSION (almost not) ACCOMPLISHED

Bushland’s offense, fueled by comeback adrenalin, narrowly escaped giving up their only hope of scoring to tie or win by regaining possession from a Wildcat strip sack by Cree Waite on their 43 yard line. Two Wildcats pursued the loose ball gaining 4 yards, but Falcon RB Caden Junell beat them to it. The next play would give Marrell a chance to gain 14 more yards on a completion to Carsten Fry. Marrell then tossed a screen pass to Baylor King (AGAIN), hitting the jackpot for a 42 yard TD with 30 seconds left in the game. It appeared that Bushland, after winning the fumble roulette and hitting the jackpot with the pass TD to King would now roll the dice on a 2-point conversion for the win. But the roll came up craps due to motion in the Falcon line by guard Ethan Thompson and the 5 yard setback forced Bushland to go for the tie. The Ortiz PAT did just that.

AN UNEXPECTED OVERTIME

Bushland had just stunned Canadian with their own second half 35-7 scoring to equal Canadian’s first half 35-7 score. The Wildcats were able to drive down to the Falcon 30 yard line with Cavalier passes to Flowers and Garcia with 10 seconds left. Unable to get within range of a field goal considering the wind, Cavalier threw one more pass to the end zone for Cree Waite that was tipped by Falcon DB Mason Ferris. Bushland would get the first OVERTIME possession at the 25 yard line going south-to-north. Marrell would rush for no gain, brought down by Angel Garcia, but the second play Marrell would throw a strike to WR Hayden Labrier for the 25-yard TD. The Ortiz PAT was good and now it was up to the Wildcats to salvage a hard night’s work to tie or win with their try from 25 yards. Canadian still showed confidence under the pressure driving down to the 1-yard line, but the Falcons held on two rushing tries. From the 3 yard line, 4th and goal-to-go, Cavalier attempted a pass near the northeast pylon which sailed over the head of Cree Waite and two Falcon defenders. Mission accomplished for Bushland in overtime.

Canadian will regroup after the disappointing loss to Bushland and face an old rival next week on the road, Perryton, in the in neighboring county to the north. That road, as it has been called in football terms is the Battle on Highway 83.

Jerry Brunson for Lone Star Gridiron

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Photos courtesy Alan Hale Photography
Stats courtesy of Ron Shrader, CISD

SCORING

  
          1ST 2ND 3rd 4th - Total
CANADIAN   28  7   0    0  - 42
BUSHLAND   7   0  14   21  - 49

C – Cree Waite 5-yard pass from Camren Cavalier (Emiliano Hernandez kick good) 9:23
B – Brian Marrell 48-yard run (Angel Ortiz kick good) 8:48
C- Angel Garcia 14-yard pass from Cavalier (Hernandez kick good) 7:21
C – Luke Flowers 50-yard interception return (Hernandez kick good) 4:13
C – Cree Waite 13-yard pass from Cavalier (Hernandez kick good) 1:34

C – Luke Flowers 1-yard run (Hernandez kick good) 1:37

B – Kash Bradley 1-yard run (Angel Ortiz kick good) 6:17
B – Kash Bradley 65-yard run (Angel Ortiz kick good) 1:58

C – Camren Cavalier 25-yard run (Hernandez kick good) 11:52
B – Baylor King 35-yard run (Angel Ortiz kick good) 7:01
B – Baylor King 64-yard pass from Marrell (Angel Ortiz kick good) 5:09
B – Baylor King 42-yard pass from Marrell (Angel Ortiz kick good) 0:30

B – Hayden Labrier 25-yard pass from Marrell (Angel Ortiz kick good)

BUS - CAN
FIRST DOWNS 20 - 28
YARDS RUSHING 264 - 256
YARDS PASSING 290 - 224
TOTAL YARDS 554 - 480
COMP-ATT-INT 16-25-1 - 20-35-1
PUNTS-AVG 5-36 - 5-32
FUMBLES-LOST 3-2 - 4-2
PENALTIES 9-75 - 6-60

Photos by Alan Hale Photography

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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.