The Canyon (New Braunfels, TX) varsity football team will play a neutral-site playoff game against Harlan (San Antonio, TX) on Friday, November 29, at 1:30 PM at Texas State. This matchup is part of the 2024 UIL Texas Football State Championships for Conference 6A Division 2.
Canyon vs Harlan Game Info:
What: Texas High School Football Playoffs
Who: Canyon vs Harlan
When: Friday, November 29, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 UIL Texas Football State Championships – 2024 Football Conference 6A D2
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Game preview: Canyon vs Harlan
As the 2024-25 football season heats up, the matchup between the Harlan Hawks and Canyon Eagles has garnered attention. With both teams boasting strong records and impressive individual performances, this game promises to be a showdown worth watching.
Team Performance Overview
Harlan (24-25) comes into the season with a remarkable overall record of 11-1, and a dominant district performance of 7-1. Their balanced offense and defense have led them to an impressive 0.917 win percentage and a district win percentage of 0.875. The Hawks have scored a total of 522 points, while allowing only 267 points, averaging 43.5 points per game across four quarters. Their attack is especially strong in the first two quarters, with an average of 13.0 and 13.3 points respectively.
On the other hand, Canyon (24-25) holds a solid 8-4 record, with a district performance of 4-2. The Eagles have a win percentage of 0.667 and have put up 395 points on the board, while allowing 341. Canyon averages 32.9 points per game, with the most significant surge occurring in the fourth quarter (11.3 points). Canyon’s early game production is lower, averaging just 4.7 points in the first quarter.
Offensive and Defensive Comparisons
Harlan leads the stat sheet in several categories, especially in total offensive yardage. They average an impressive 445.2 yards per game, compared to Canyon’s 285.3 yards per game. This is fueled by their strong rushing game, where Harlan averages 255.2 yards per game, significantly higher than Canyon’s 162.3 yards.
The passing game also favors Harlan, with the Hawks averaging 190.0 passing yards per game versus Canyon’s 122.9. Similarly, Harlan’s receiving yards per game (184.6) vastly outpaces Canyon’s (57.4), indicating their ability to stretch the field and execute a multi-dimensional offense.
Defensively, Harlan shows their dominance with 50.2 tackles per game and an average of 1.8 sacks per game. Canyon, while competitive, does not publish these defensive statistics, although they have demonstrated solid play with key contributors in tackles and points allowed.
Key Players to Watch
For Harlan, Aldric Trotter is the standout player, with impressive averages of 73.2 rushing yards per game and 175.3 passing yards per game. He is also the team leader in total yards (248.5 per game), making him a dual-threat that defenses must account for. Trotter’s ability to both run and throw adds a dynamic layer to the Hawks’ offensive game plan.
Another standout is Caelan Grbic-Schultz, who leads the team in receiving yards (56.4 per game). Meanwhile, Dwayne Wingfield is a defensive force, averaging 5.9 tackles per game.
For Canyon, Jackson Regan has been the standout performer with 145.7 rushing yards per game, leading the Eagles’ ground game. Reece Deitrick has been a reliable presence in the passing game, averaging 147.3 yards per game, while Kindru Walker provides solid contributions in the receiving game.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Both teams have faced common opponents, with both securing victories against East Central. Harlan won 31-27 on the road in late August, while Canyon defeated East Central 43-40 in mid-October. This suggests that both teams are capable of close, competitive matchups.
Playoff and Record Breakdown
Looking at their overall records, Harlan has the upper hand with an 11-1 record, including an undefeated 5-0 away record. Canyon, at 8-4, has had a more balanced approach with a 3-2 away record. Both teams have shown resilience, with Harlan holding a perfect 2-0 record in neutral site games, while Canyon is also undefeated (1-0) in neutral-site play.
In district play, Harlan boasts a strong 7-1 district record, while Canyon’s 4-2 district record shows they’ve had a competitive season. However, Harlan’s consistency and dominance in both home and away games have made them the team to beat.
Conclusion
As Harlan and Canyon prepare to face off in this exciting matchup, both teams bring impressive statistics, talented players, and a history of success to the field. Harlan’s offensive explosiveness and defensive strength position them as the favorites, but Canyon’s resilience and standout players like Regan and Deitrick could turn the game in their favor. Fans can expect an action-packed, high-stakes game that could have playoff implications.
