Wall wanted to make sure that the second meeting against Idalou didn’t go like the first, and that’s exactly what happened.
The Hawks took control early and put it on the Idalou Wildcats in a dominating 48-7 win to claim a second straight UIL Class 3A Division II state quarterfinal championship Friday night at San Angelo Stadium in San Angelo.
Wall is not only back in the state semifinals for a second straight year, but for only the sixth time in school history.
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“I’m super excited for us and what we’re doing,” Wall head coach Craig Slaughter said. “I didn’t want us to stumble and come up short this year. This team is too special. We still have goals left and a lot to go, but I want this team to be remembered. We are marching on and we can’t wait for the next round.”
The Hawks (14-0) are now set for a state semifinal rematch with powerhouse Gunter (13-1), with that game set for 6 p.m., next Friday at Mike Copeland Field in Art Briles Stadium in Stephenville.
The Tigers won the Region II-3A Division II championship for an unprecedented 10th straight year with a 45-14 blowout victory against Leonard on Thursday. Gunter also ended Wall’s season a year ago 42-32.
For Idalou, a team making its first appearance in the state quarterfinals in 10 years, end a fantastic season at 10-4.
“We didn’t play our best game,” Idalou head coach Clay White said. “I’ll say this, Wall is a complete of a football team I’ve seen and we’ve gone against. We made mistakes and they took advantage. I’m proud of our guys and I want to give a shoutout to the past players here at Idalou. There is a great tradition here, and when I came in four years ago we made some changes. These guys bought in and have carried that torch.”
In the first meeting where Wall won 35-21 against Idalou in Week 6, the Wildcats were able to force the Hawks into key mistakes. That didn’t happen this time around, in fact, it was the Hawks defense flying around the football pressuring Idalou to make uncharacteristic miscues with four turnovers.
Wall’s Levi King got this going on the opening drive by intercepting a quarterback Kamdon Lutrick pass. Three plays later, Wall quarterback Landon York hit a 12-yard strike to Jager Thompson for an early 7-0 lead that the Hawks never relinquished.
Moments later, Jacob Braden picked off a pass for the Hawks taking it back 32 yards for a score making it 14-0 and it was all Wall from there.
York and the offense started rolling in the second half as this game got out of hand by the third quarter.
“Give credit to head coach Clay White and his staff there at Idalou,” Slaughter said. “They have an amazing team and a great future. I was proud of how we were able to be aggressive and get turnovers. Not only did we get turnovers, but we capitalized on them and took over the game.”
The Wall defense held a very good Lutrick to 11-of-28 passing with three interceptions. AJ Huddleston was a bright spot for the Wildcats rushing for 91 yards on 13 carries.
York diced up the Idalou defense going 16-of-27 for 307 yards with four touchdown passes. Reid Robertson showed how dynamic he is as a mismatch on the outside, catching eight passes for a game-high 153 yards with two touchdown receptions of 37 and 21 yards.
“Reid (Robertson) is a great athlete and Landon (York) drives the bus for this team,” Slaughter said. “We have several great players that are making this such a special year, but I love to watch Landon play. He has great ball placement, and then Reid makes such impressive grabs.”
Wall 48, Idalou 7
Idalou 0 0 0 7 — 7
Wall 14 7 21 7 — 48
First Quarter
W – Jager Thompson 12 pass from Landon York (Tyler Klinesmith kick), 9:20
W – Jacob Braden 32 interception return (Klinesmith kick), 3:07
Second Quarter
W – Evan Boehle 52 pass from York (Klinesmith kick), :29
Third Quarter
W – Braden 5 run (Klinesmith kick), 9:38
W – Reid Robertson 37 pass from York (Klinesmith kick), 7:19
W – Robertson 21 pass from York (kick failed), 3:12
Fourth Quarter
W – Gunner Garza 66 run (Klinesmith kick), 10:17
I – Cooper Hammock-Wilson 21 pass from Kamdon Lutrick (kick good), 5:16
Individual Statistics
Rushing – Idalou: Kamdon Lutrick 13-37, Cooper Hammock-Wilson 1-7, AJ Huddleston 13-91, Brooks Bozeman 2-21. Wall: Brady Neal 10-60, Gunner King 1-4, Kazen DeLong 2-5, Jacob Braden 1-5, Gunner Garza 4-78.
Passing – Idalou: Lutrick 11-28-3-97. Wall: Landon York 16-27-0-307.
Receiving – Idalou: Hammock-Wilson 4-34, Peytan Moyers 1-4, Huddleston 4-22. Wall: Reid Robertson 8-153, Bryson McFarden 2-58, Jager Thompson 3-31, Evan Boehle 2-50, Garza 1-15.