Wall Dominates Rematch With Idalou, Moves on to State Semifinals

SAN ANGELO, TX — Only one team has played No. 2-ranked Wall close this season, and the Hawks made sure it didn’t happen again.

Wall absolutely dominated its rematch with Idalou on Friday with a 48-7 win at San Angelo Stadium that sends the Hawks back to the Class 3A Division II state semifinals next week.

Idalou gave Wall trouble in their first meeting this season, a game which the Hawks won 35-21.

Friday’s game was no contest as Wall led 21-0 at halftime and 41-0 by the end of the third quarter.

"We're so blessed to be in this position and so blessed to get this win," Wall quarterback Landon York said. "I can't say enough about our defense. That first half, they kept us in the game. We missed a few things on offense, but in the second half we came out and figured things out as a team."

Wall will now try to turn the tables in a rematch of the last game the Hawks lost — a 42-32 defeat against Gunter last year in the state semifinals.

No. 2 Wall (14-0) and No. 3 Gunter (13-1) will meet again next week at a site and time to be determined with a spot in the state championship on the line.

"This team was in that game last year, and that's what we just talked about," Wall head coach Craig Slaughter said. "All respect in the world to Gunter. My God, it's a tremendous program with wins and state titles, you name it. But we don't have to spend this weekend convincing our kids they can compete with those guys. It's how are we going to execute to beat those guys?"

Wall had everything working Friday on offense and defense.

York was 14-of-24 passing for 306 yards and four touchdowns. Reid Robertson hauled in eight of those passes for 153 yards and two scores.

The Hawks' defense was exceptional, forcing four turnovers and not allowing Idalou to score until the final minutes of the game.

Idalou QB Kamdon Lutrick was held to 11-of-29 passing for 100 yards and a TD with three interceptions. The Wildcats managed 140 rushing yards, and much of that came in the fourth quarter.

Idalou's season ended with a record of 10-4.

"If I was Idalou, I would not want to step up against this defense," York said. "They're a bunch of dogs who play for each other and play for us and just play as a team."

Levi King set the tone with an interception on Idalou's opening drive, and the Hawks cashed it in three plays later on York's 12-yard TD pass to Jager Thompson for a quick 7-0 lead.

Jacob Braden then picked off a pass and returned it 32 yards for a score to give the Hawks a 14-0 lead later in the first quarter, and that was all their defense needed.

Idalou only crossed Wall's 20-yard line once in the first three quarters, and the Wildcats were knocked back behind the 20 on the very next play before a 40-yard field goal missed.

A 52-yard TD pass from York to Evan Boehle with 29 seconds left in the second quarter gave the Hawks some breathing room with a 21-0 lead at halftime.

After the Hawks scored on their opening drive of the second half, Wall's Gavin Sisson then intercepted a pass on Idalou's first drive in the third quarter to set up another TD for a 35-0 lead.

Wall's defense was allowing only six points per game entering the night, but a performance like this in the state quarterfinals was still something to marvel at.

"Rock solid," Slaughter said of his team's defense. "That was maybe the best defensive performance (of the season). Man alive did we have total control from the jump. We caused turnovers and scored a touchdown. The kids were cranked up and playing hot."

Wall is chasing its first state title in program history, and the Hawks are now two wins away, but getting through Gunter is a monumental task.

The Tigers are about to play in their 10th straight state semifinal, and they've been in seven of the last nine state finals.

"We're going to celebrate this win tonight, and then we're back at work in the morning," York said. "The job's not done."

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