Wall Shakes Off Slow Start, Runs Past Slaton in Regional Semifinals

SWEETWATER, TX — The No. 2-ranked Wall Hawks were facing a surprisingly difficult challenge from Slaton on Friday with a seven-point lead in the final seconds of the first half in their regional semifinal playoff game.

Everything changed with a momentum-shifting kickoff return.

Kyler Oneal took a kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown with 14 seconds to play in the second quarter, and Wall never looked back again on the way to a 56-7 win at the Mustang Bowl in Sweetwater.

Slaton had just driven 97 yards to pull within 14-7 on a 1-yard TD run by Trea Harris — the first score Wall's defense had allowed in three playoff games — but Oneal's kickoff return stole the momentum right back.

Wall took a 21-7 lead into halftime, then shut out Slaton 35-0 in the second half.

"They really responded great," Wall head coach Craig Slaughter said. "We obviously didn't like how the game started. We weren't doing a very good job on the edge. ... I was probably messing up some calls in the first half. At halftime, we talked about it, and we just played a different coverage and they played great."

Wall improved its record to 13-0 and advances to the Class 3A Division II state quarterfinals next week against Idalou (10-3), which beat No. 6 Canadian 24-17 on Friday.

Wall and Idalou will play next Friday at San Angelo Stadium at a time to be announced. Idalou is the only team to hang with Wall this season. The Wildcats were within a touchdown heading into the fourth quarter before falling 35-21 when they met back on Oct. 3 in Idalou.

"I expect a monster, insane crowd from the jump," Slaughter said. "It'll probably be the most people the kids have ever play in front of. I'm sure the stadium will be absolutely packed out."

Wall running back Brady Neal led the offense against Slaton with two TD catches from 43 and 16 yards out, and had two TD runs covering 7 and 67 yards.

"He had a huge game," Slaughter said. "He's a hard-working kid, and he's a kid that kind of waited in line last year for playing time. The spotlight has found him now, and here we go."

"I give a lot of credit to the O-line," Neal said. "They opened everything up, and our offense was pretty on point today."

Hawks quarterback Landon York threw four TD passes, including scoring tosses to Jager Thompson and Reid Robertson.

Sophomore running back Gunner Garza broke away for a 49-yard TD run late to put the finishing touches on the win.

Despite the defense allowing some long drives to Slaton early, the Hawks dominated the second half and didn't allow the Tigers to remotely threaten again.

Wall has allowed an average of six points per game this season, and the Hawks have given up only two touchdowns in their last six games.

"Defense travels all the time — rain, sleet, whatever," Slaughter said. "We think we'll be in every game because those guys can absolutely play at an elite level."

Wall has posted double-digit wins 13 times since 2010, but the Hawks are still searching for the program's first-ever state title.

They're now two wins away from playing for a state championship.

"We've got to cut out the little mistakes, like some stuff today. We can't have that," Neal said. "We need to have good practices all week and stay locked in."

This story will be updated.

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3:27 p.m. FINAL: Wall 56, Slaton 7 ... The No. 2-ranked Hawks improve to 13-0 and will advance to the regional final next week to play the winner of Idalou and Canadian. Idalou leads that matchup 17-3 at halftime. If that result holds, Wall will play Idalou next Friday at San Angelo Stadium. If Canadian wins, Wall will meet Canadian next Friday at Lowrey Field in Lubbock.

3:23 p.m. We have reached the two-minute warning, and Slaton is facing a fourth down. A punt and a few kneel downs could end this.

3:17 p.m. Wall with a 49-yard TD run by sophomore running back Gunner Garza, and the Hawks lead 56-7 midway through the fourth quarter.

3:13 p.m. Slaton has to punt, and Wall's offense will take over again. A lot of backups in now as the Hawks look to finish off this win. Gunner King in at QB for Wall.

3:05 p.m. END OF 3RD QUARTER: Wall 49, Slaton 7

3:02 p.m. Wall's defense gets its offense the ball right back, and QB Landon York with a 19-yard TD pass to Reid Robertson. Wall leads 49-7 in the final minute of the third quarter.

2:56 p.m. Wall QB Landon York is picked off in the end zone, and Slaton returns it out to the 17.

2:52 p.m. Slaton fumbles on the ensuing kickoff, and Wall pounces on it. The Hawks will take over at Slaton's 35.

2:50 p.m. Brady Neal has two TD catches and two TD runs to lead Wall's offense.

2:49 p.m. Brady Neal with a 67-yard touchdown romp, and Wall is running away with this game. The Hawks lead 42-7 with 3:54 left in the third quarter.

2:44 p.m. Wall's defense forces Slaton to punt, and the Hawks' offense will go back to work.

2:38 p.m. Even Boehle with a 29-yard catch, which sets up Brady Neal's 7-yard TD run, and Wall has taken command with a 35-7 lead with 8:18 to play in the third quarter.

2:36 p.m. Slaton fumbles the ball! Wall recovers, and the Hawks will take over at the Tigers' 34.

2:33 p.m. Screen pass to Brady Neal, and he's able to score from 16 yards out. Wall now leads 28-7 early in the third quarter.

2:31 p.m. Wall QB Landon York with a big pass to WR Kellan Oliver, and the Hawks are down to Slaton's 29.

2:28 p.m. Slaton kicks off to start the second half, and Wall will begin at its 36-yard line.

1:58 p.m. HALFTIME - Wall 21, Slaton 7 .. The Hawks will receive the opening kickoff of the second half.

1:56 p.m. Incredible turn of events as Wall's Kyler Oneal returns the ensuing kickoff 65 yards for a TD with 14 seconds left in the first half! Gigantic momentum shift, and Wall leads 21-7.

1:54 p.m. Trae Harris with a 1-yard TD run for Slaton, and the Tigers march 97 yards against a Wall defense that is one of the best in the state. It's only the second score they've allowed in the last six games. Slaton pulls within 14-7.

1:52 p.m. Trae Harris with a run that reaches Wall's 1-yard line. Slaton stuffed on a QB sneak, then the Tigers with an incomplete pass. Now it's third and goal at the 1.

1:49 p.m. Slaton has picked up another first down, and the Tigers are at the 20.

1:47 p.m. Slaton's Trae Harris breaks a big run to Wall's 33, and the Tigers are threatening as we hit the two-minute mark.

1:44 p.m. Another first-down run, and Slaton is at the 29 with less than three minutes to go in the half.

1:43 p.m. Slaton QB Jacob Lopez with an 8-yard run to give the Tigers some breathing room, and he picks up a first down on the next play. Slaton out to the 19.

1:42 p.m. Another incompletion on a dropped pass, and Wall will have to punt. Levi King's punt pins Slaton at its 3-yard line with 4:03 left in the second quarter.

1:41 p.m. Back-to-back incompletions, and Wall has a third and 20 at its 41.

1:40 p.m. A 31-yard TD pass from York to Robertson, but a holding penalty brings it back.

1:39 p.m. Jager Thompson with a catch that moves Wall to Slaton's 31.

1:38 p.m. Wall's defense is elevating its play now, and Slaton went backwards on its ensuing drive. After a punt, the Hawks will take over near midfield again with 4:57 left in the first half.

1:34 p.m. York with a 15-yard TD pass to Jager Thompson on second and 12, and Wall extends its lead to 14-0 with 6:37 left in the second quarter.

1:32 p.m. A pass from Landon York to Kellan Oliver moves the ball to Slaton's 13.

1:31 p.m. A run by Brady Neal has Wall at Slaton's 35.

1:30 p.m. Wall's defense responds and forces a three-and-out, and Slaton has to punt. Wall will take over near midfield.

1:27 p.m. Slaton's defense makes a stand after Wall reached the red zone. The Hawks attempt a 33-yard field goal, but Klinesmith's kick goes wide, and the Hawks still lead just 7-0 early in the second quarter.

1:24 p.m. END OF 1ST QUARTER: Wall 7, Slaton 0

1:23 p.m. Wall QB Landon York hits Reid Robertson on third down for a deep pass to reach Slaton's 40. We have reached the end of the first quarter.

1:21 p.m. Slaton attempts to pass, and Gavin Sisson blows up the play, breaking up the pass just as the receiver was getting his hands on it. Wall will take over late in the first quarter.

1:20 p.m. Slaton has another fourth down, and the Tigers will call a timeout to think it over. They've chewed up a lot of clock, but they face a fourth and 10.

1:17 p.m. Slaton converts with a pitch to Fabian Perez. The Tigers with an impressive drive moving further into Wall territory. First and 10 at the 31.

1:16 p.m. Slaton facing a fourth and 2 at Wall's 34. Big play here for the Tigers.

1:14 p.m. A holding call negates a first-down run for Slaton. Now its second and 12 at Wall's 44.

1:13 p.m. Slaton QB Jacob Lopez scrambles for a first down on third and 9, and the Tigers are at Wall's 42.

1:11 p.m. A 6-yard run by RB Fabian Perez puts Slaton across midfield into Wall territory.

1:10 p.m. Slaton QB Jacob Lopez picks up a first down for the Tigers. Slaton at its own 48.

1:08 p.m. After a couple short runs, Wall QB Landon York fires a 43-yard TD pass to RB Brady Neal on third down. The Hawks lead 7-0 with 8:47 left in the first quarter.

1:05 p.m. Slaton's offense goes nowhere on its opening drive, and the Tigers will have to punt. Wall will start at Slaton's 48.

1:02 p.m. We have kicked off the Class 3A Division II regional semifinal playoff football game between Wall and Slaton. Wall kicker Tyler Klinesmith boots it through the end zone, and Slaton will start at its own 25-yard line.