2nd Half Adjustments Save the Wall Hawks from Jaws of Defeat

WALL, TX — A state-ranked matchup saw the no. 4 Wall Hawks (3A-1) take on the no. 4 Cisco Loboes (2A-1) tonight at Hawk Stadium in Wall. A tale of two halves defined the Hawks’ evening. Early offensive mistakes and big plays saw the Hawks fall behind early. Halftime adjustments by the coaching staff and two significant takeaways by the defense in the second half led to a comfortable 35-14 victory for the now 2-0 Wall Hawks.

The first quarter kicked off with a strong defensive start for the Wall Hawks, quickly forcing Cisco to punt after a three and out. Wall’s first offensive possession started with excellent field position at the Cisco 43 yard line. However, misfortune would befall the Hawks as their promising first drive ended with a costly fumble at the Cisco 21 yard line. The Loboes immediately answered on a three-play 79-yard drive that ended with an explosive 72-yard touchdown run by #22 RB Jerrod Fisher. Down 7-0, as the first quarter ended and the second quarter began, Wall proceeded to dredge out a long and grinding drive. Converting three fourth down conversions on the possession, QB #12 Drew Morrison finally punched it in with a 10-yard TD score. After converting a 2-point conversion, the Wall Hawks took back the lead 8-7.

Cisco’s big plays continued in the second quarter as QB #14 Hunter Long got the job done both on the ground and through the air. A penalty backed Cisco’s offense up deep into their own territory, but Long converted a 20-yard run to set the Loboes up near midfield. Next, a 20-yard pass from Long to TE #10 Dawson Hearne drove the Loboes deep into Wall Hawks territory. After stalling outside the 20-yard line, Long threw a pass between two defenders that was miraculously pulled in by Dawson Hearne in the end zone. Cisco wrestled the lead back, 14-8. In the proceeding series, a rare pass from Wall QB #12 Drew Morrison to WR #3 Jacob Richardson put the Wall Hawks into scoring position again, but this time, the Cisco Loboes’ defense stonewalled the Hawks at the 10-yard line. A failed fourth down attempt gave the ball back to Cisco. As the half came to a close, Wall had one final opportunity to score but simply ran out of time. The Hawks headed back into the locker room down, 14-8.

The start of the second half changed everything for the struggling Wall offense. Converting two big plays of their own, the Hawks made short work of their first possession. Marching 60 yards in 5 plays, QB Drew Morrison walked into the end zone, putting the Wall Hawks back on top, 15-14. Then, a mental mistake by the Cisco Loboes ended what should have been a promising scoring opportunity on the ensuing drive. Driving deep into Wall territory, the Lobo offense mishandled the ball, putting it on the ground and into a Wall defensive lineman’s waiting arms. This play ended up permanently shifting the momentum of the game. Capitalizing on the turnover, Wall extended their lead, 21-14, on a 15-yard rushing TD.

Turning the ball over again on the Cisco Loboes’ following possession allowed the Wall Hawks to pull away as the game entered the fourth quarter. A short 1-yard touchdown run by QB Drew Morrison put the Hawks up 28-14, putting the game virtually out of reach for Cisco. Although the Cisco Loboes never gave up, they could not recapture enough of their first half success to pull themselves back into this game. Scrappy defensive play by the Hawks and another rushing touchdown ensured victory. 

The Wall Hawks won tonight 35-14.

While both Wall and Cisco performed well in the first half, only Wall kept up the required grueling production for the entire game. Turnovers completely changed the momentum of the game in the third quarter. Because the Loboes could not answer the Wall Hawks’ initial second half score, the game grew further and further out of reach. Offensively and defensively, Cisco might have found a powerhouse moving forward. Playing on both sides of the ball, #10 Dawson Hearne made his presence known. Finishing with multiple catches, a touchdown grab, and more than one first down conversion carrying the football, Hearne will be a force the rest of the season.

The Wall Hawks’ offensive adjustments in the second half paved the way for their ultimate victory. 

When asked after the game, Wall Head Coach Houston Guy said, “Offensively, we kind of figured out where (the defense) was lining up…we came in and said we think we can run this. We just started grinding it out inside and getting some of their guys blocked that we were missing in the first half. I thought our offensive line took control in the second half.” While in the first half, most of the Hawks’ runs were to the outside, the noticeable change to inside runs with QB Drew Morrison showed. Morrison ended up leading the Hawks’ offensive production with 22 carries for 132 yards and 3 touchdowns. After the game, Morrison said, “I have to give credit to the offensive line. I think they did a great job, especially coming out in the second half. They made some really good adjustments. It was just a whole different game in the second half.”

Wall looks to continue their success next week when they take on their long-time rivals, the Mason Punchers, at home, Sept. 18, 2020, at 7:30 pm, at Hawk Stadium in Wall.