Fast start propels No. 2 Hawley past Christoval in football playoff opener

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SAN ANGELO – What a start to the postseason for the No. 2 Hawley Bearcats.

Hawley, which reached the state finals for the first time in program history last year, began its trek toward another run at a state title with a rousing 52-8 victory over Christoval in a Region I-2A Division I bi-district playoff game Thursday at San Angelo Stadium.

There was no letdown, either, after overcoming No. 8 Cisco on a late TD 36-33 a week earlier to win the District 4 title and remain unbeaten.

Chandlin Myers saw to that, returning the game’s opening kickoff 87 yards for a TD to get the Bearcats (11-0) off and running.

It was downhill from there for the Cougars.

Austin Cumpton ran for three TDs, and Rodey Hooper threw for two more, including a 63-yarder to Diontay Ramon for the game’s second score, as the Bearcats cruised to a 45-0 halftime lead.

“When you start out the game returning a kickoff for a touchdown, that’s a good thing,” Hawley coach Mitch Ables said. “Our special teams have not been what we want it to be. I told them, ‘Hey, if they give us a chance, let’s take it. Everybody get their guy they’re supposed to get, and let’s go.’ They kicked it right to Chandlin, and he did a good job, found a seam and took to the house.”

Hawley scored on its first four possessions and five of six in the first half.

“After a game like that one against Cisco, there’s always an opportunity you can come out flat, especially when you’re playing on a Thursday after a Friday game,” Ables said. “I was pleased with how we started the game.”

Cumpton fumbled the ball at the Christoval 44-yard to end the scoring streak on the Bearcats' fifth drive, but sophomore Tate Scott got an interception three plays later to give his team the ball at the Cougars’ 4. Cumpton scored his third TD one play later, with 33 seconds left in the half.

Christoval (4-7) avoided the shutout with Ketcher Joiner’s 11-yard TD run with 55 seconds left in the third quarter, after Hawley led 52-0.

“We knew we were facing a good opponent, and we couldn’t afford to make any mistakes," Christoval coach Casey Otho said. "Those are the things these younger kids have to learn from. Our seniors, they gave it everything they’ve got. I all I could ask for.”

The Bearcats didn’t exactly put up big numbers offensively, other than the scoring, mainly because they didn’t have to drive far for their TDs. Three of their first-half scoring drives started inside Christoval territory at the 35, 49 and 4.

Hooper, though, was impressive in completing all eight pass attempts for 143 yards. He faced only one third-down play – and it went for the 63-yard TD pass to Ramon.

“Rodey’s done a great job,” Ables said. “They can’t all just put eyes on No. 12 (Cumpton) back there, because he makes you have to cover the field. He’s been steady for us all year.”

Hooper has two dangerous receivers, too, in Ramon and Myers, who combined for three catches for 97 yards.

Hawley – 26-1 the past two seasons – will play either Panhandle (8-2) or Floydada (6-4) in the second round next week. Those meet were to meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Canyon.

It was a fun night for Hawley coach Mitch Ables. His son Keagan caught a 10-yard TD pass from Hooper and threw a 31-yard TD pass to Johnny Lee. He also caught a pass on a PAT.

“That’s pretty cool,” Coach Ables said. “It’s fun. After your playing days are over, you kind of live through kids. It’s special when you have one out there playing.”

With his team in command at halftime, Coach Ables turned the game over to his reserves.

The victory is the first step in what Myers hopes is the Bearcats' return to the state finals − and winning it.

“District was big, but these six games are more important,” the junior receiver/defensive back said, referring to the rounds needed to win a state title. “All we want is to get back to that environment in Cowboys stadium. It’s not something a lot of people can do in a lifetime. I’ve been with these boys since kindergarten, and it means the world to me if we can win state. It’s something we’ve talked about our whole life.”

Breaking it down

∎ Turning point: The Christoval Cougars were pretty much doomed after a holding call in the end zone on a third-and-28 play from their own 2-yard line led to a safety and a 16-0 Hawley lead with 5:26 left in the first quarter. The Bearcats took the free kick and needed only three plays to make it 22-0.

∎ Player of the game: Rodey Hooper, quarterback, Hawley – The senior completed 8-of-8 passes for 143 yards and two TDs in only a half action.

∎ Key stat: Hawley scored on its first four drives and five of six in the first half en route to a 45-0 lead.

∎ Coach Ables said: “Our starting guys came out and played a heck of a game,” Coach Ables said. “The good thing about it, we got a lot of young guys in to play. That’s huge for us. Those guys haven’t seen a lot of varsity action, and they did tonight.”

∎ Coach Otho said: “These guys, they fight all the time. That’s what I’m proud of about these guys. The program we’ve built, we’re never going to quit.”

∎ Impact: Hawley remains undefeated and begins what the Bearcats (11-0) hope will be a return to the state championship game. Christoval ends its at 4-7.

∎ Up next: Hawley plays either Panhandle (8-2) or Floydada (6-4) in the second round next week.

REGION I-2A DIVISION I BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF

Hawley 52, Christoval 8

FIRST QUARTER

HAW − Chandlin Myers 87 kickoff return (pass failed), 11:46

HAW − Diontay Ramon 63 pass from Rodey Hooper (Keagan Ables pass from Hooper), 7:10

HAW − Safety, 5:26

HAW −Austin Cumpton 5 run (run failed), 4:05

HAW − Cumpton 25 run (Ramon pass from Hooper), 00:44

SECOND QUARTER

HAW− Ables 10 pass from Hooper (Maddix Salazar kick), 6:18

HAW − Cumpton 5 run (Ramon pass from Salazar), 00:33

THIRD QUARTER

HAW− Johnny Lee 31 pass from Ables (Cumpton kick), 8:51

CHR − Ketcher Joiner 11 run (Kyle Abilez run), 00:55

TEAM STATISTICS

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Christoval, Ketcher Joiner 18-98, Manuel Rios 7-51, Kyle Abilez 4-8, Jake Edmiston 4-(minus 14), Josh McGimpsey 7-(minus 18), TEAM 2-(minus 18). Hawley, Austin Cumpton 8-95, No. 24 3-16 Keagan Ables 2-2, No. 44 1-0.

PASSING: Christoval, Abilez 7-8-1−21, McGimpsey 2-7-0−1. Hawley, Rodey Hooper 8-8-0−143, Ables 2-5-0−36.

RECEIVING: Christoval, Edmiston 4-19, Colt Floyd 1-5, Rios 1-0, Joiner 3-(minus 2). Hawley, Dontay Ramon 2-81, Johnny Lee 2-31, Chandlin Myers 1-26, Ables 2-21, Cumpton 1-12, Will Scott 1-4, Jake McKinney 1-2.

RECORDS: Christoval 4-7; Hawley 11-0.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Hawley crushes Christoval in Class 2A DI football playoff opener