Wall's Defense Puts on Clinic Against Idalou

WALL, TX — Wall's defense put on an absolute show by shutting down Idalou for a 33-10 win Friday on homecoming night.

Despite a whopping six turnovers by Wall's offense, the Hawks' defense rose to the occasion time and time again.

Garrett Guy, Ethan Michalewicz, Bryson McFarden and Briggs Jones all had interceptions for Wall.

Idalou's only touchdown came after a turnover set the Wildcats up at Wall's 11-yard line.

The Hawks led 27-10 at halftime and posted a second-half shutout.

"I thought the defense played as good as they could tonight," Wall head coach Craig Slaughter said. "I thought the defense hadn’t been as good as it can be, and I thought tonight they were very much up to the task, and thank goodness. I still want to see what it looks like when both sides are totally tuned in and amped up and playing better. We know we can."

Idalou struggled in the passing game, completing 12 of 27 attempts for 86 yards in the face of a relentless pass rush.

To his credit, Idalou quarterback Kutter Houchin made plays all game by scrambling out of the pocket. He led the Wildcats with 25 carries for 83 yards, many of them coming while running for dear life.

"That was, I thought, the best our defense has played, and (Idalou is) really good," Slaughter said. "They give you formations and they hurry up. Everything in the book's coming at you, and their quarterback is a stinkin' playing dude. We knew coming in all week, 'Don't let this kid dominate the game.'"

Idalou managed 176 rushing yards on 47 carries — an average of 3.7 yards per carry. 

Dylan Sellers had a team-high 12 tackles for Wall, while Gavin Sisson had 11.

Wall running back Thomas Leanos had 19 carries for 132 yards and a TD. Michalewicz added four carries for 74 yards and a TD, highlighted by a 60-yard run.

Though the Hawks have switched to a spread offense this season, they showed they could still churn out yards on the ground as they have for years.

"Thomas (Leanos) definitely has progressed. He was seeing the blocks better, his cuts were solid, he was very decisive. You take away the one fumble, and it was his best night by car," Slaughter said. "He's running tough, and he's going to carry us a long way I hope."

Wall quarterback Landon York threw for 217 yards and two TDs on 15-of-21 passing as he continues to take command of the Hawks' offense.

Evan Boehle had three catches for 96 yards, including a 78-yard TD that gave Wall a 27-10 lead with 2:45 left in the second quarter.

Reid Robertson, who has emerged as Wall's top wideout, had seven catches for 52 yards and a TD.

Wall's offense simply didn't take care of the ball, though Idalou certainly deserves a lot of credit for the playmakers on its defense forcing takeaways.

“The turnovers right there were just scary because we definitely have not been that,” Slaughter said. “As good as it was last week, tonight was a really, really poor offensive performance, but hopefully we got that one out of our system. I’m thrilled to death we’re 5-1, but six turnovers will scare any coach in America. That was tough.”

Wall, ranked No. 7 in the state in Class 3A Division II, improved to 5-1 after a gauntlet of a nondistrict schedule that also includes wins over Mason, Jim Ned, Monahans and Sweetwater. Wall's only loss is to Brownwood.

Wall will visit Merkel next week to begin District 4-3A Division II play.

Idalou, which fell to 4-2, will be off next week before opening District 2-3A Division II play against Lubbock Roosevelt.

Wall and Idalou are both favorites to win their district, and they could potentially meet again in the playoffs.

Wall 33, Idalou 10

Idalou   7   3   0   0 — 10

Wall   7   20   0   6 — 33

First Quarter

W — Reid Robertson 14 pass from Landon York (Lane Stansberry kick), 10:07

I — Jenson Davis 11 pass from Kutter Houchin (JT Phillips kick), 3:31

Second Quarter

W — Ethan Michalewicz 4 run (Stansberry kick), 11:56

W — Thomas Leanos 1 run (Stansberry kick), 8:03

I — Phillips 35 field goal, 3:46

W — Evan Boehle 78 pass from York (pass failed), 2:45

Fourth Quarter

W — Brylan White 1 run (kick failed), :39