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.
