Canyon Lake Hawks tangle with Cuero Gobblers in first scrimmage
The Canyon Lake High School Hawks varsity football team got exactly what head coach Charley Drum wanted against the Cuero High School Gobblers – tested.
“We played a very good Cuero team,” Drum said. “They’re very strong, and they have great team speed. It gives us a good look at where we are and what we need to work on.”
The Gobblers and Hawks faced off Friday, Aug. 12, in the first scrimmage of the year. It was an opportunity for the Hawks coaching staff to access where the team is after two weeks of practice.
Cuero provided a chance for the Hawks themselves to get a feel for the coming season. The Gobblers are ranked No. 6 in Class 4A Division I in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. The Hawks are ranked No. 16 in the Class 4A Division II rankings as per Texas Football.
In both the controlled and live portions of the scrimmage, the two teams matched up well, with neither gaining a big advantage of the other. One thing Drum was pleased to see was how well his defense stacked up against the Gobblers’ offense that includes senior running back Tycen Williams. He rushed for 2,165 yards and 31 touchdowns last year.
The Gobblers scored twice in the controlled portion including a 70-yard pass play. While it was a big play, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the Hawks’ defense as coaches are mixing people into other positions and both sides of the line.
Canyon Lake also punched the ball into the end zone in the controlled portion. One early Hawk offensive highlight came when senior running back Helijah Johnson rambled for 53 yards, hauling a number of Gobblers with him. Johnson is returns after a junior year where he rushed for 825 yards and seven touchdowns.
During the 12-minute live portion, it was a battle in the trenches. The Gobblers edged into Hawks territory a couple of times, even making it within the 10-yard line, but Canyon Lakes’ defense held.
The Hawks’ offense mustered up a several good drives, but just couldn’t get the ball into the end zone. Canyon Lake attempted a 39-yard field goal with a second or two left on the clock, but the ball hit the cross bar and bounced back out.
Drum said the scrimmage highlighted some of the things the Hawks need to work on in preparation for the upcoming season. The coaches went over film with the team Monday, Aug. 15.
“Overall, it was a good scrimmage,” the coach said. “We have some things we need to work on, and we’ll do that this week as we get ready for our next scrimmage, and get ready for (the season opener against) Wimberley. That’s always a big game.”
The Hawks, 6-5 overall in 2021 and bi-district finalists, are in a new district with several familiar faces and a couple new ones. The Hawks are in District 13-4A Division I with the Burnet Bulldogs, Lampasas Badgers, Marble Falls Mustangs, Taylor Ducks and San Antonio (Comal Independent School District) Davenport Wolves.
“We lost Fredericksburg and Austin LBJ, but we gained Marble Falls and Davenport,” Drum said. “But top to bottom, the district’s going to be a dog fight. Everybody’s tough.”
The Hawks scrimmage the Elgin Wildcats Friday, Aug. 19, at CLHS, 8555 FM 32 in Fischer. The freshmen and junior varsity start things off tentatively at 5 p.m. with the varsity taking the field at 7 p.m. Comal ISD, which Canyon Lake High School is part of, has a clear-bag policy (https://www.comalisd.org/apps/pages/clear-bag-procedure) for athletic games.
If you can’t make the scrimmage, you can watch on Canyon Lake Broadcasting live (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXuJca28fNHd2rrv2THuEVQ).
Then on Friday, Aug. 26, it’s the 2022 season opener when Canyon Lake hosts the Wimberley Texans at 7:30 p.m. at Hawk Stadium.
Watch videos on District 13-4A Division I and Highland Lakes sports by going to Jennifer Fierro’s YouTube channel and searching for The Broad Podcaster. Please like, subscribe and share.
