Canyon Neatly Escapes Threat of Notre Dame

As Canyon High Coach Harry Welch stood on the sideline during the final minutes of Friday’s game against Notre Dame, he looked nervous. The Cowboys’ 27-game win streak was in jeopardy.

Canyon was ahead, 21-14, with slightly more than three minutes left, but Notre Dame had the ball and was threatening.

Then, as he has done throughout his career, linebacker Randy Austin came up with a big play. Austin stepped in front of a pass by John Benz, ending Notre Dame’s chance of upending Canyon’s streak.

“Good luck, you guys,” Welch shouted at Notre Dame players as they ran off the field. “You’re a fine, hard-hitting football team.”

This was a seesaw affair that certainly could have gone either way.

The game was marked by tough defense in the early going. Although neither team managed to score in the first quarter, both teams rolled up some yardage. But nobody could punch it into the end zone.

After the opening kickoff, Canyon rambled--mostly on the running of tailback Lance Cross--from their own 24 to Notre Dame’s 31. The drive stalled, however, when the Cowboys failed to convert a fourth-down play.

Notre Dame was unable to move the ball and after three plays punted back to Canyon.

Once again, the Cowboys were able to move the ball on the Knight defense, this time on the passing and running of quarterback John Watkins. He completed two passes and ran four times, leading Canyon to the Notre Dame 24.

Again, the drive failed when the Cowboys attempted a fourth-down conversion. The Knights caught Watkins behind the line of scrimmage.

Then, from the start of the second quarter on, both offenses seemingly woke up.

Mostly on the running of Jerry Pondella and Nate Milone, and spot passing by quarterback Benz, Notre Dame marched 77 yards on an 11-play drive to a touchdown. Benz passed to John Perak for the score.

The Cowboys pulled up their britches, though, and answered with a 75-yard drive of their own. Key plays in the drive included three Watkins passes that went for 13, 15, and 16 yards, which set up an 11-yard touchdown run by Watkins with 1:27 left in the half.

With 27 seconds left, Canyon got the ball back after forcing Notre Dame to punt. The Cowboys, who had little time, wasted none as Watkins hit Derek Rusk over the middle for a 25-yard gain. Watkins then ran 21 yards to the seven.

Unusual events then took place. With four seconds to play, the officials called defensive pass interference against the Knights. No time remained on the clock.

Canyon was awarded another play--from the three. But pass interference was called again on Notre Dame, and the Cowboys were allowed another play--from the one.

Canyon kept the ball on the ground this time as Watkins pitched to Lance Cross, who swept left for the score.

The Cowboys led, 14-7, at the half.

Neither team let up in the second half.

Notre Dame scored first in the third quarter after driving 45 yards. The Knights got the touchdown as Benz passed to Brian Greenfield.

Canyon then took the ball 80 yards on a patented power-drive aided by Cross’ slashing runs and passes from Watkins to Austin. After taking the Cowboys to the 10 yard line on a 13-yard pass to Derek Rusk, Watkins slammed in for the deciding score on a keeper off right tackle.

The balance of the game was flawed with five interceptions split between the quarterbacks, allowing neither team to score in the final minutes.

Said Austin, following the game: “We were kind of up and down. We didn’t do everything right, but we didn’t do many things wrong.”

Watkins completed 14 of 20 passes for 178 yards. “Watkins played outstanding,” Welch said. “I don’t know how a quarterback could play much better.”