Canyon outlasts Pampa in 75-60 shoot-out

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Basketball season may not start for a couple more weeks (the Lady Harvesters scrimmage White Deer in Pampa next Saturday), but Friday night’s football game was as high-scoring as a game of hoops.

Canyon (7-1, 1-0) had allowed 111 points scored against them all season, Pampa (6-2, 0-1)was able to hang up 60 in the game Friday in a losing 75-60 effort.

“That team gives up 15 points/game, when you score that many points (60) you should be able to win a football game. When you’re playing a good football team, you can’t shoot yourselves in the foot,” Head Coach Cody Robinson said. “We had some opportunities early: recovering two onside kicks and turned the ball. They found some things in our defense that they exploited. Some weak spots in personnel.

“All we can do is get back to work. I’m extremely proud of our football team and our kids. Harvesters never quit, we’re never going to. We’re not going to let the score make us do something out of character. I’m proud of that, I’m proud of our young men. It’s been an emotional week and I know it felt good for these kids to come out and play the game that they love in front of an awesome crowd and awesome community. I love that. This wasn’t our desired result at all, but I’m still proud of our kids.”

The Harvesters deferred the kick-off with Canyon driving down for the opening touchdown.

Pampa didn’t get on the board until their second drive, when they set up shop at the Canyon 24-yard line with 5:04 left in the first quarter after the interception by senior defensive back Cason Floyd. The pick was his third one in three games.

Three plays into the drive, senior quarterback Sam Anguiano carried the rock for seven yards. Three plays later, Anguiano found senior running back Jordan Lacy on the sideline for the 28-yard touchdown. With 2:23 left in the first quarter, Pampa pulled within a score at 16-8.

In their third drive, Pampa took over at the 45-yard line with 1:31 left in the quarter. The Harvesters moved within the 10 with a 21-yard pass from Anguiano to Lacy. The Canyon defense stiffened on the drive and held the Harvesters to a 29-yard field goal to make it 24-11.

Canyon began to pull away at 31-11 with 6:06 left in the second quarter. The Harvesters took over from the Pampa 44-yard line. Senior running back Cornelius Landers had a series of carries with gains of nine, 12 and 5 yards. The next play Anguiano found senior wideout Bryson Murrack on the right side-line on a jump-ball catch. The next play, Anguiano punched it in on the one-yard carry to make it 31-18 with 4:24 left in the half after the failed two-point conversion.

The Eagles failed to field the ensuing kick-off, setting up Pampa at the Canyon 32-yard line. It was a one-play drive as Anguiano hit Jessie Alvidrez on the right side-line for a 32-yard touchdown. Pampa had once again pulled within one drive at 31-24.

Canyon added 17 points in the final moments of the half and the teams hit the locker room trailing 48-24.

The Harvesters scored first in the second half on their second drive of the third quarter. Landers ran 38 yards to move the chains. Two plays later, Anguiano moved the chains with a five-yard carry. Anguiano capped off the six-play drive with a five-yard keeper. At 6:09 left in the third quarter, it was 48-31 Pampa.

Canyon answered with a touchdown of their own and on the ensuing Pampa drive, senior running back Cornelius “Peanut” Landers took the rock 65 yards to pay-dirt. With 3:51 left in the third quarter, it was 54-38 Canyon.

After the Canyon touchdown, the Harvesters overcame penalties before a pass from Anguiano to Landers moved the chains and Pampa had a first down at midfield. Three plays later, Lacy picked up a fresh set of downs and moved Pampa into plus territory at the Canyon 34-yard line. Three plays later, Anguiano found senior wideout Hunter Dyer on the 23-yard touchdown pass, with 10:31 left in the game, Pampa trailed 61-46 after the two-point conversion.

The Harvesters defense forced the Canyon punt and Dyer picked up where he left off in the following Pampa drive, hauling in a 41-yard diving catch to move Pampa to the Canyon 46-yard line. The Harvesters were the beneficiaries of a defensive pass interference call and later Anguiano punched it in for the touchdown. Pampa trailed 68-53.

“Hunter is a competitor. He does not say a lot, he’s just quiet and ice cold,” Robinson said. “He has ice in his veins. When it’s online, Hunter is going to compete his tail off. That says a lot of about that person. He is a gritty kid with a high motor and is very explosive. I don’t have favorites, but if I did, Hunter would be one of them.

Canyon answered with a touchdown.

The Harvesters added one more touchdown before the end of the game when Anguiano found Dyer on a 33-yard touchdown catch-and-run. Canyon led 75-60 after the touchdown and held the victory formation on the following drive.

The Harvesters get back to work Saturday and begin to prepare for next week’s District contest at Hereford. Game time is 7 p.m.

“We’ve got to go in the fieldhouse tomorrow and fix us. Our district is as competitive as any district in the state. It’s a toss-up. You’ve got teams that are well-coached with high-character kids that play good football,” Robinson said.

“We’ve got to get into the fieldhouse tomorrow, fix us and start working on Hereford. I already can’t wait to see our kids play again. I love our team. Can’t want to get in the fieldhouse tomorrow. I think a lot of our young men, what they stand for and how they play. I can’t wait to get into the fieldhouse and get to work with them tomorrow.”

Unofficial stats

Sam Anguiano went 10-23 for 248 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

Cornelius “Peanut” Landers had 139 yards on 20 carries, a touchdown and a fumble lost; Jordan Lacy had seven carries for 79 yards; Anguiano had 16 carries with 83 yards and three touchdowns.

Jordan Lacy had 33 yards on two catches and a touchdown; Hunter Dyer had three catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns; Jessie Alvidrez had a 32-yard touchdown; Landers had a 14-yard catch and Bryson Murrack had a 28-yard catch.

Erick Hernandez had a 29-yard field goal and was perfect in extra points.

Cason Floyd and Hernandez both had interceptions.