Wimberley dominates Canyon Lake in season opener
CAPTION: Canyon Lake’s Harrison Gilliam looks for some open area to run on a kick-off return against the Wimberley Texans. The Texans beat the Hawks, 60-6, in the Aug. 25 season opener. Photo by Daniel Clifton
The Wimberley Texans opened the 2023 season with a 60-6 win over the Canyon Lake Hawks in the two teams annual “Battle of the Backbone.”
The Texans (1-0 overall, 0-0 District 13-4A Division II) used several short-field situations and Canyon Lake mishaps to their advantage. The Hawks (0-1 overall, 0-0 District 13-4A Division I) struggled to get its offense moving throughout the Aug. 25 season opener at Wimberley.
The Texans, led by senior quarterback Cody Stoever, racked up 426 offensive yards on the night – 274 rushing and 152 passing. Canyon Lake earned about 179 total yards with 160 on the ground and 19 through the air.
Wimberley started the game by taking the opening drive 75 for a score. Stoever capped the drive off with a two-yard touchdown run at the 8:03 mark in the first quarter. The Texan defense forced Canyon Lake to punt on the Hawks’ first drive. The punt, however, only went about 10 yards, putting the Texans on Canyon Lake’s 27-yard line.
The Texans worked their way down to the Hawks’ 5-yard line. On fourth and one, Stoever rushed for the one yard plus four more for the score and a 14-0 lead with 3:30 left in the first quarter.
On the kickoff, the Hawks fumbled the ball, once again giving the Texans a short field.
This time, the Hawks’ defense held the Texans to a 30-yard field goal.
But Wimberley continued to roll, building up a 37-0 lead by halftime.
Things didn’t change much for the Hawks in the second half. The Texans’ offense scored three more touchdowns in the third quarter. Wimberley’s defense added a safety as well.
The Hawks’ finally got on the board with 2:28 left in the fourth quarter when senior Caden Rodriguez raced 73 yards for a touchdown. The point-after attempt failed.
With the win, the Texans hold onto the “Battle of the Backbone” title, named for the Devil’s Backbone which the teams traverse in order to play one another.
The Hawks now get ready to host the Fredericksburg Battlin’ Billies Friday, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m. The Billies (0-1 overall, 0-0 District 14-4A Division 1) lost 45-35 to Salado in the Aug. 25 season opener.
CAPTION: Canyon Lake’s Ryder Hopper hauls down Wimberley’s Cody Stoever during the Aug. 25 season opener at Wimberley. The Texans won, 60-6. Photo by Daniel Clifton
