After Weathering Early Storm, Wall Eyeing 8th Straight District Crown Against Breckenridge

WALL, TX-- When Houston Guy took over the Wall Hawk football program in 2007, it was already steeped in tradition.

Wall had won 16 district championships and made 19 playoff appearances in the 41 years prior to Guy’s arrival.

Guy, his staff and the Wall community have taken that tradition to another level.

Since taking over, Wall has made playoffs 10 times now after clinching last week and have won seven straight district championships with a chance at an eighth this weekend. Each of those figures have come consecutively. Wall started their playoff streak in 2009 and their district championship streak in 2011.

Yet, with another district title within reach, Guy wants his team to maintain that laser focus which earned the previous seven and put them in the driver’s seat for an eighth.

After starting 0-2 in a gauntlet nondistrict schedule and having a game canceled due to weather, Wall has kept that focus to win five straight games. That’s a testament to the program and its winning ways.

“After the first couple of games, we knew we could be 0-2,” Guy said. “We knew our schedule was a very difficult schedule. I felt we could pick up some wins those first couple of games and I knew our district was gonna be tough, but I felt like we had a chance to run the table if we played really good and stayed healthy. That’s the key. You know, we haven’t stayed really healthy, but we’ve had a lot of guys step up and fill roles for those guys who have gone down with injuries.”

Most of those players stepping up have been sophomores. Guy said those guys “have saved a lot of these games.”

“These seniors have been great leaders,” Guy added. “They’ve kinda stepped in and had to do double duty, playing both sides of the ball, doing extra time and they’ve been great leaders about the whole situation.”

But how can a team plug in relatively unproven athletes and still operate smoothly? Great coaching, “a blue collar attitude,” as Guy said, and the aforementioned tradition, which is implanted seemingly as soon as a Wall kid is born.

“Starting at pee-wee and YMCA and everything, our parents have taught us not to quit and try our very best,” said senior defensive end Gage Weishuhn, who is also a right tackle now due to injuries. “Hopefully we come out on top and if we do, don’t celebrate too much, just after the game and move on.”

While losses aren’t frequent at Wall -- they’ve lost just 20 games over the last 10 years -- the mentality is the same: just move on. That’s shown in the 2018 season.

“I think we’ve handled [the season] well,” Weishuhn added. “We lost those first two games then went and beat Sonora pretty good. We’re just rolling now and everything’s clicking. It’s just going good right now.”

One of the many reasons for Wall “clicking” at the moment is the Hawks proving they are not one dimensional in their triple-option offense.

In their patented veer, Wall has thrived running the ball year in and year out. This year is no different in that regard.

However, Wall has shown great potential in their aerial attack, something uncommon for many triple-option offenses, especially at Wall.

Junior QB Mason Fuchs has completed 41 of 72 passes for 892 yards and eight touchdowns for a QB rating of 109.3. Those passing numbers are easily at the top of the list for Guy’s tenure.

“It’s been really fun,” Fuchs said of the increase in passing. “Throwing the ball is always fun to do. It’s always a fun time airing it out.”

That added dimension is something not many teams have seen from Wall. Given the complexities defending the triple-option run brings, adding a burn-you-over-the-top passing game makes defending Wall’s offense that much more difficult.

“I think it makes us pretty scary,” Fuchs said. “But we’re gonna keep doing what we do best, which is run the football. But then keep adding those passing elements into our game. I think that’s only gonna open up the offense more and make us more lethal.”

Wall (5-2, 3-0) hosts the Breckenridge Buckaroos (3-5, 1-2) for just the fifth all-time meeting between the teams.

A win for Wall would lock up at least a share of the District 3-3A Division I title.

“Friday night will be pretty big,” Fuchs said. “It’ll be senior night and for the district championship. We’re pretty fired up and prepared for it.”

Kick off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. this Friday.