In a tale of two halves, Canadian’s defense made the biggest play at the biggest moment when it counted in the final seconds helping secure a thrilling 27-21 victory over Idalou during a Class 3A Division II regional semifinal Friday at Happy State Bank Stadium.
Canadian not only knocks Idalou (10-3) out of the playoffs for the fourth time in five years but carries on quite the legacy advancing to the state quarterfinals for the 12th time in 13 years.
“I think that says there has been a lot of great players and a lot of hard work done,” Canadian head coach Andy Cavalier said. “We talk all the time about being a great ancestor and honoring those before us. We want to live and play so the people next up will want to honor those. We’ve had great coaches and players come through this program and getting back to the regional finals once again says we are in a special place.”
Canadian has bounced Wall from the playoffs the past two seasons with lopsided 45-10, and 31-12 victories in this same upcoming round.
Like we’ve seen before in 2007 and 2021, this Canadian-Idalou game came down to the final play and Friday wasn’t any different.
Seeing a 27-0 lead dissipate down the stretch, Canadian was now clinging to a 27-21 advantage with Idalou looking in prime position for a complete comeback with the ball first and goal at the Canadian four-yard line and 1:47 to play.
With only one timeout, Idalou’s head coach Clay White had to be strategic where he wanted to use it.
Standing on its heads most of the second half, the Canadian defense stopped fullback Gentry Pounds for no gain on first down. On second down, Idalou quarterback Kutter Houchin called his own number and tried to get the edge but once again there was a host of Canadian defenders waiting.
Now at under 35 seconds to play, Canadian made the first of two huge plays when Houchin rolled left on a third down but was swarmed and sacked as Idalou now faced a fourth and goal with the game on the line with only 11 seconds to play.
Idalou got called for a false start pushing the Wildcats back to the 16-yard line with fourth and goal to go.
Following a Canadian timeout to see how Idalou was lining up, Canadian defensive back Julian Dominguez made the biggest play of his career to date.
Idalou called a reverse pass giving the ball to receiver Kamdon Lutrick. With pressure in his face, Lutrick tossed a pass short of the endzone that went off the hands of Lucas Jarnigan and right to Dominguez for the game sealing interception for Canadian.
“Throughout the game the defensive effort was on point,” Cavalier said. “When it came down to it and everything on the line, we got good pressure, and Julian came up with an interception at the biggest moment of our season. We say all the time, when things get tight, we want to be at our best. We were there for each other and it was exciting to watch.”
Canadian dominated the first half owning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The Wildcats opened the scoring when Dominguez scored the game’s opening touchdown catching a punt off a bounce and sprinting 42-yards giving Canadian a 7-0 lead.
Canadian then went up 20-0 by halftime highlighted by a pair of Junior Cervantes touchdowns.
Canadian punished Idalou on the ground throughout the first half and the early stages of the third when Slayden Dickinson broke free for a 13-yard score as Canadian was in total control up 27-0 with 10:42 left in that third quarter.
Idalou never went away. After finally scoring cutting the lead 27-7, Idalou capitalized off a Dickinson fumble early in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard pitch and catch from Houchin to Kash Koontz and it was now 27-14.
With the momentum clearly turned to open the fourth, the Idalou defense flustered Canadian quarterback Clay Kendall. Kendall tried to deliver a screen pass to Cervantes, but AJ Huddleston jumped the route taking it back 45-yards for a pick-six cutting the lead 27-21 with 6:10 to play.
Following that play, Canadian somehow was able to regroup in the final few minutes to fend off Idalou and preserve the dramatic victory.
“We had to stay with it and trust ourselves,” Canadian linebacker Wyatt Davis said. “We never gave up and the defense stepped up and made a play when we needed to. We were able to save the season and we’re now playing December football again.”
“Slayden was amazing,” Cavalier said. “A lot of that has to do with the guys in front of him working to create those holes, but Slayden is extremely tough and extends runs. I’m super proud of him and have been all year long. He has provided a lot of success for our offense.”
Canadian quarterback Clay Kendall used his feet as well going for 68 yards on 13 carries.
Idalou’s Houchin finished 11-of-22 for 164 yards with a pair of touchdowns and 33 yards on 18 carries despite constant pressure in his face.
The Canadian defense played stellar the entire way holding Idalou to 226 total yards.