Canyon’s Jack McKay (18) celebrates with teammate Joe Shaw (8) after Shaw caught a first quarter touchdown pass against Palo Duro on Thursday night at Dick Bivins Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
The Canyon Eagles picked up where they left off last season, opening the 2019 campaign with a lopsided 50-7 win against Palo Duro on Thursday night at Dick Bivins Stadium.
Canyon pulled away in the second quarter, and never looked back scoring 42 unanswered points in the victory.
It’s the second year in a row the Eagles have dismantled the Dons after a 44-21 win in last years opener.
How it happened: Miscues plagued the Dons throughout the first half of the season opener. On the first drive of the season, Palo Duro running back Anthony Randle fumbled at his own 40-yard line giving Canyon outstanding field position. Two plays later Canyon found pay dirt when quarterback Jay Defoor hit Joe Shaw on a 16-yard touchdown pass.
With Palo Duro trailing 8-7, the Dons caught a break recovering the ensuing kickoff inside the Eagles 30-yard line. That opportunity fell to the wayside as the offense went four downs and out.
The biggest mistake came down 16-7 late in the first quarter. Kameron Washington returned a kickoff 80 yards inside the Canyon 25-yard line.
Palo Duro pushed the ball inside the 5-yard line, but a Dondray Degrate pass was intercepted by Canyon’s Braden Brewer for a touchback.
The Eagles offense started to roll from that point forward.
Canyon’s Aiden Hildinger (22) ran for 146 yards with two scores against Palo Duro on Thursday. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Impact players: The Eagles showed great balance rushing for 260 of their 456 yards. Running back Aiden Hildinger carried the load, putting up 146 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns.
Quarterback Jay Defoor had a superb debut. His second pass was a touchdown, and he managed the offense calmly. Defoor ended his night 13 of 16 for 196 yards with three passing scores and a rushing TD.
Records:Canyon improves to 1-0. Palo Duro falls to 0-1.
Up Next:The Eagles will face rival Randall. Palo Duro is at Plainview.
Canyon 50, Palo Duro 7
Canyon 16 14 6 14 — 50
Palo Duro 7 0 0 0 — 7
First Quarter
C—Joe Shaw 16 pass from Jay Defoor (Rafe Butcher pass from Defoor), 9:52
PD—Israel Guevara 48 pass from Dondray DeGrate (George Martinez kick), 7:12
C—Aidan Hildinger 2 run (Shaw pass from Defoor), 3:18
Second Quarter
C—Shane Whitworth 5 pass from Defoor (pass failed), 2:17
C—Brandon Driskell 19 pass from Defoor (McKay pass from Defoor), 1:01
Third Quarter
C—Defoor 2 run (kick failed), 7:13
Fourth Quarter
C—Wayne Sheard 15 run (Rafe Butcher kick), 11:54
C—HIldinger 10 run (BUtcher kick), 5:49
Canyon Palo Duro
First downs 21 9
Rushing 260 114
Passing 196 112
Total yards 456 226
C-A-I 13-17-0 10-21-1
Punts 4-41.8 7-33.7
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1
Penalties-yards 4-35 5-51
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Canyon: Defoor 4-4, Hildinger 23-146, Ethan Cowan 9-89, Brody Cook 1-5, Sheard 1-15, Driskell 1-(-4), Kam Reagan 2-5. Palo Duro: Anthony Randle 11-47, Treyson Dilworth 9-23, DeGrate 4-12, Jibri Edwards 5-19, Danny Dilworth 1-13.
PASSING—Canyon: Defoor 13-16-0-196. Driskell 0-1-0-0. Palo Duro: DeGrate 10-21-1-112.
RECEIVING—Canyon: Cook 1-15, Shaw 3-27, McKay 1-8, Driskell 4-42, Brayden Brewer 2-34, Whitworth 1-5, Sheard 1-65. Palo Duro: Guevara 6-72, Esley Fields 1-23, Randle 3-17.