LUBBOCK, TX — The Wall Hawks finally toppled the Canadian Wildcats, and they did it with a stunning 49-3 blowout Friday in the Class 3A Division II state quarterfinals at Lubbock Cooper-Liberty's Patriot Stadium.
Canadian, which had won the region every year but once since 2014, ended Wall's season the last two years.
The Hawks flipped the script this time with one big play after another, along with a dominant defensive performance that held Canadian without a touchdown for the first time in 18 years.
Wall (13-1) moves on to the state semifinals for the first time since 2016. The Hawks will face back-to-back defending state champion Gunter at 4 p.m. Friday at Abilene Christian University's Wildcat Stadium.
"We knew this team was capable, and man alive did they come out and just play lights out," Wall head coach Craig Slaughter said. "I just couldn't be prouder. We're excited to take the field next week. We're a game away (from the state final)."
Canadian's season ended with a 10-4 record.
The Wildcats kicked a field goal on the game's opening drive, but they struggled to pick up a first down the rest of the night.
Wall quarterback Landon York threw for 348 yards and five TDs on 17-of-24 passing. He had three TD passes in the second quarter, as the Hawks built a 28-3 lead by halftime.
Briggs Jones had a 76-yard TD run and a 54-yard TD catch. Evan Boehle had an 89-yard TD grab, and Reid Robertson had a 57-yard TD catch to highlight Wall's big-play offense.
Kellan Oliver had two TD catches, including a critical one on fourth-and-goal from the 3 on the Hawks' opening drive.
"Even if we didn't get it, we liked our shot to keep them down there and get the ball back. We want to be aggressive," Slaughter said.
Canadian was averaging 43 points per game, but Wildcats quarterback Clay Kendall was harassed all night by Wall's imposing front.
"That's probably the best we've played all year," Slaughter said. "We were getting pressure and not sending heat. It's a credit to our awesome defensive line."
Linebacker Garrett Guy had a team-high 10 tackles. Wall had five sacks, one each by Garren Wiggins, Gavin Sisson, Brylan White, Ethan Michalewicz and Ben Taylor.
Wall was leading 7-3 midway through the second quarter when Jones took a handoff, broke a few tackles and raced 76 yards for a game-turning TD.
After a Canadian punt, York hit Boehle for an 89-yard TD catch with 3:37 left in the second quarter for a 21-3 lead.
It suddenly became clear that it would be a different story this year.
Jones' 54-yard TD catch put Wall on top 28-3 at halftime.
If Canadian had any hopes of rallying, they were extinguished when Wall scored on the opening drive of the second half, again rolling the dice with a fourth-and-goal pass, this time an 8-yarder to Oliver.
Boehle had three catches for 104 yards, while Robertson had five catches for 100 yards. Jones touched the ball four times on offense and turned those into 145 yards and two TDs.
LIVE UPDATES
8:10 p.m. Wall 49, Canadian 3 - FINAL ... This is the first time in 18 years Canadian has been held without a touchdown. Wall moves on to the state semifinals for the first time since 2016. Hawks will play back-to-back defending state champion Gunter.
8:06 p.m. Canadian punts again without picking up a first down.
8:02 p.m. Tayson Stucker with a 2-yard TD run with 5:51 remaining. Wall leads 49-3.
7:59 p.m. With 6:49 left, Wall has pulled its starters. Hawks are inside Canadian's red zone.
7:51 p.m. Wall 42, Canadian 3 - end of 3rd Quarter
7:49 p.m. Brylan White with a sack, dropping Canadian into a fourth-and-8, and the Wildcats have to punt yet again.
7:43 p.m. Reid Robertson for a 57-yard TD catch with 2:55 left in the third quarter. This is just an unbelievable performance by Wall. They lead 42-3.
7:38 p.m. Wall's defense forces a turnover on downs, and the Hawks will take over near midfield.
7:32 p.m. On the opening drive of the second half, Wall goes right back down the field and scores on a fourth-and-goal pass from Landon York to Kellan Oliver for an 8-yard score. Hawks lead 35-3 with 8:29 left in the third quarter.
7:00 p.m. Wall 28, Canadian 3 - HALFTIME ... What a first-half performance by Wall.
6:56 p.m. Canadian QB Clay Kendall is hit and fumbles. Wall recovers with 13 seconds left in the second quarter.
6:53 p.m. Briggs Jones with a 54-yard TD catch, and Wall leads 28-7 with 2:50 left in the second quarter. This is a stunning display by the Wall Hawks against a Canadian team that has won this region every year but once since 2014.
6:50 p.m. Canadian forced to quickly punt again, and Wall will take over at its own 46-yard line.
6:45 p.m. Wall with another huge play! Landon York hits Evan Boehle for an 89-yard touchdown pass. Wall leads Canadian 21-3 with 3:37 to go in the second quarter.
6:43 p.m. Canadian punts. Wall will start at its own 8-yard line with 4:32 left in the second quarter.
6:41 p.m. Brylan White knocks down a pass, and Canadian facing a fourth-and-7 on the Wall 45-yard-line.
6:37 p.m. Briggs Jones takes a handoff, breaks a few tackles and is gone for a 76-yard touchdown! Wall now leads Canadian 14-3 with 7:33 remaining in the second quarter.
6:35 p.m. Canadian punts, and Wall will take over at its own 24 with 7:47 left in the second quarter.
6:34 p.m. A bad snap on third down goes over quarterback's head. Canadian recovers, but the Wildcats will have to punt.
6:32 p.m. Ethan Michalewicz sacks Canadian QB Clay Kendall after the Wildcats get a first down on their own 48.
6:30 p.m. Big third-down conversion for Canadian, and the Wildcats move the ball to their 33-yard line.
6:27 p.m. Wall 7, Canadian 3 - end of 1st Quarter
6:26 p.m. Great punt by Levi King, pinning Canadian at its own 5-yard line.
6:25 p.m. A delay of game penalty pushes Wall back. Hawks will now have to punt with 1:01 left in the first quarter.
6:24 p.m. Wall has a fourth-and-3 at Canadian's 39-yard line.
6:22 p.m. Wall converts a third-and-8 with a pass from Landon York to Reid Robertson, and the Hawks are across midfield with about 2:30 left in the first quarter.
6:20 p.m. Canadian unable to convert on third down, and the Wildcats have to punt. It is a bad punt, and Wall will take over on its own 42.
6:17 p.m. Canadian facing a third-and-13 near midfield and calls timeout.
6:12 p.m. Wow, Wall decides to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3. Play-action pass from Landon York to Kellan Oliver for a wide-open touchdown. Wall leads 7-3 with 6:06 remaining.
6:05 p.m. Canadian marches down the field on its opening drive, but Wall's defense makes a stand after the Wildcats had first-and-goal. They have to settle for a field goal and an early 3-0 lead.
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