Dons sneak by Eagles, 41-38

The varsity football team opened their District 3-4A season at home against the Dons of Palo Duro High Sept. 23.

The game began with both teams chalking up touchdowns, Canyon on a goal-line rush from junior running back Hunter Burrell, who rushed 5 times for 3 yards and the touchdown, and Palo Duro on a 52-yard pass. On the ensuing possession, referees called a penalty on senior quarterback Travis Cosby for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety. The Dons added a touchdown on their second possession. Canyon answered with a touchdown pass from Cosby to senior wide receiver Will Toliver, who along with the touchdown, had three catches for 55 yards. Canyon took the lead when junior secondary Dak Olson intercepted a batted pass and returned it 31 yards for the touchdown, which put the Eagles up 21-16 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw more offensive action as senior placekicker Austin Weaver made a 42-yard field goal to push the lead to 8, though the Dons tied the score with a touchdown and two-point conversion. Cosby ran in a touchdown from five yards out, as he would end with 17 rushes for 87 yards with said touchdown, though the Dons carried  in one of their own to tie the score at 31 each. As the half expired, the Dons got a hand on Weaver’s field goal try and sent it off-course, keeping the teams even.

The second half started with a defensive third quarter as only one field goal from PD made the scoreboard in the 12-minute stretch. With less than 6:30 to play, Cosby connected with junior running back Steven Hansen to put the Eagles up 38-34. Canyon looked poised to seal the game as junior linebacker Jace Vessels knocked the ball loose and junior nose tackle Tanner Patterson recovered within the Dons’ half of the field.

On fourth down, Weaver’s miss from 37 yard out spotted the Dons on their own 21 with 1:45 left, and they marched straight up the field for a touchdown. With 42 seconds left in the game, Palo Duro rolled the dice and pulled a surprise squib kick, aiming for the front receiving line’s legs. The trick worked, and the ball ricocheted back to the Dons, sealing their district opener victory, 41-38.

Palo Duro picks up their first win of the season, the Eagles go 2-2, 0-1 in the district and take on Randall in Friday’s rivalry game.

Volleyball sets high hopes for area

The volleyball team advanced to the area round after defeating Abilene Cooper at Levelland High Nov. 3.

The girls won the final two games for a 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13 victory.

The Lady Eagles improved to 24-10.

The team will play El Paso High in the area round.

Lady Eagles advance to bi-district

For the second consecutive year, the volleyball team beat out Pampa and claim a final spot in the playoffs.

The Lady Eagles won four games against the Lady Harvesters to advance to the region I-4A bi-district round. 

The girls won 16-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-13.

The Lady Eagle’s improved to a 23-10 record.

The team will play Abilene Cooper (23-13) in the bi-district round at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 at Levelland High.

Estacado highlights

The Eagles are ready for district play coming off a 34-13 win Oct 1. over Lubbock Esatacado.

Senior Blake Boyer led all rushers with 138 yards on 22 carries.

Linebacker junior Clint Johnson intercepted a pass from Estacado quarterback Deverick Stubblefield at the Matadors’ 16 and returned it to the 14 for one of five turnovers the eagles forced during the game.

Junior Thomas Cunningham recovered two fumbles to set up game scores while Juan Garcia as defensive back picked off two other Estacado passes.

Senior Quarterback Conner Moore completed 17 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns, one thrown 14 yards to senior Brayden Kimsey, and the other 18 yards to junior Derek Odell.

Golf team eyes upcoming tournaments

The varsity boys golf team competed Sept. 26 at the Plainview Triangular finishing third with a total score of 311. Junior John Barnes shot first for the team with a score of 76, five above par.  Senior Ryan Byrd shot second with a score of 78, six above par. Also competing were senior Tyler Atkins, 81, 9 above par, junior Austin Hammel, 83, eleven above par, and Matikul Boonyam, 76, five above par.

The team traveled to the Hereford Invitational Sept. 18-19 to open the 2009 season. The team placed first after completion of day one, one stroke ahead of Randall and two ahead of Amarillo High. But after second day scores were tallied, the team fell to third ending with a combined 614 strokes to the complete two-day tournament.

Atkins led the team with a score of 76, five above par on day one, and 75, four above par, on day two. Atkins finished the tournament with 151 strokes, eight above par, placing him seventh overall in the tournament. Barnes shot 72, one above par, day one, and 81, ten above par, day two, to total 153, eleven above par. Byrd shot 80, nine above par, day one, and 74, three above par, day two for a total of 154, eleven above par.

The team will compete Oct. 3 at the Amarillo Triangular Tournament in Amarillo at Comanche Trail, Oct. 10 at the CISD Triangular Tournament and Oct. 16-17 at the Dumas Invitational.

Eagles sweep Seminole in homecoming game

This year’s homecoming game was not just about an abundance of ribbon in mums or this year’s queens’ court. Game three for the football team was all about turnovers.

 Two fumbles and a pick turned into 21 points for a 41-23 win over Seminole. Quarterback senior Conner Moore went 14 of 26 passing with two touchdowns, along with a 43 yard touchdown run.

The offense was widespread with scoring, with a nine-yard fumble return by junior Michael Stigler, a two-yard run by senior Taylor Medrano, a 20-yard pass from Moore to senior Brayden Kimsey and a 12-yard fumble return by sophomore Will Tolliver. All kicks made by junior Aaron Rowe were counted fair. The team improved to 2-1.

Herd’s passing game stalls Eagle defense

The varsity football team suffered a 42-28 loss to the Hereford whitefaces Sept. 4.

The defense vied against Hereford’s spread offense with Hereford’s senior quarterback Parker Bidwell throwing 41 passes to complete 31 for 376 total passing yards.

The offense worked solidly with 293 yards thrown by senior Conner Moore, eight passes for 135-yards caught by senior Chris Rhoten, and seven passes for 95-yards caught by junior Derek Odell to contribute to 395 total yardages in the game.

Canyon soars in season opener

Traveling 215 miles for their first season game, the varsity football team soared to victory against Andrews Friday, Aug. 28. Senior Conner Moore rushed for three touchdowns and threw a 32-yard pass to junior wide receiver Derek Odell in his debut as the Eagle’s quarterback and led the team to a 38-24 victory.

Odell caught five passes for 80 yards, while senior Brayden Kimsey was 3-36, senior Chris Rhoten was 3-25 and junior Juan Garcia was 1-15. On the ground game, senior Blake Boyer led all rushers with 23 carries for 133 yards, junior Thomas Cunningham was 6 for 20 and senior Taylor Medrano was 2 for 4.