Cedar Park 27, New Braunfels Canyon 16

Quick take: Cedar Park evaded the upset-minded Canyon Cougars 27-16 during a Christmas Eve showdown Thursday afternoon in New Braunfels.

Canyon’s defense knocked the high-octane Timberwolves (12-0) out of rhythm at times, but Cedar Park managed to put together enough big strikes to survive the Class 5A Division I regional matchup. Three of the Timberwolves’ four touchdowns came from 27 or more yards away.

The Cougars (11-2) trailed 27-10 before Micah Williford took a short pass and shed several tacklers en route to an 85-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter. Canyon later picked off Cedar Park’s Ryder Hernandez for just the second time all season after a deflection by Alex Bouloubasis, but the Timberwolves’ Josh Bretz returned the favor by intercepting Dallas Gomez moments later.

Cedar Park preserved the win after forcing a turnover on downs with 1:49 left to play.

Highlights: Trailing 6-0, Canyon was given a jolt when Logan Dolle sacked Hernandez and forced a fumble that was covered up by Joey Drastata.

The Cougars later converted a fourth-and-11 with a 30-yard pass to Gavin Payne, and Gomez hit Kyle Endlsey for an 8-yard touchdown pass two plays later as Canyon evened the score at 6-6.

Cedar Park ended the first half with a flurry. Hernandez fired a 40-yard touchdown strike to Jack Hestera, and following a three-and-out by the Cougars, Hernandez directed a seven-play march that was capped with his 10-yard scoring toss to Gunnar Abseck that came with 27 seconds remaining.

Hernandez added a third touchdown toss — this time to

Josh Cameron — to extend the Timberwolves’ lead to 27-10 with 4:09 to go in the third quarter. What it means: Canyon caps a memorable and historic year with a tough loss, going 11-2 following a winless 2019 season. Canyon’s district title in 2020 was the program’s first since 1995.

Game balls: Hernandez finished 31 for 46 passing for 356 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His top targets were Cameron and Abseck, who combined to haul in 19 receptions for 200 yards and a pair of scores.

Bouloubasis finished with a sack for Canyon’s defense and also set up his team’s late interception. Williford had two receptions for 88 yards and a TD and also ran for 44 yards on 16 carries.

Up next: Cedar Park advances to face either Fort Bend Hightower or Manvel in the Class 5A Division I Region IV final next week.

Photos by Tom Reel / Staff photographer New Braunfels Canyon running back Micah Williford, who had 44 yards rushing and 88 yards receiving with a touchdown, battles a Cedar Park tackler on a run Thursday.

Cedar Park receiver Gunnar Abseck, who had 10 receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown, reaches out for a long pass with a New Braunfels Canyon defender draped over him.