SCHERTZ — Clemens ended Canyon's hopes of reaching the playoffs on Friday, defeating the Cougars 20-7 at Lehnhoff Stadium.
The Buffaloes silenced a Cougar rally late in the fourth quarter to clinch fourth place in District 27-4A and the loop's final playoff spot. In the process, they handed Canyon its fourth-straight loss and prevented the Cougars from reaching the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
“We had the opportunities,” Canyon coach Les Davis said. “We've just got to put the ball in the end zone; we've got to get points. I don't know what to say, but it wasn't lack of effort.”
With Clemens leading 13-0, Cougars quarterback Lane Fife connected with Zach Williams in the back of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown pass with just over two minutes to go in the fourth.
Canyon (3-6, 2-4) recovered the onside kick in Buffs territory as J.R. Sauceda outwrestled a Clemens player for the loose ball.
“J.R. made a great play fighting for the ball,” Davis said. “I've never seen an onside kick where two guys are wrapped around it and rolling and neither one of them is going to give up. They fought and fought.”
Down 13-7, Canyon took over at the Clemens 47 with plenty of time to go.
But the Cougars just couldn't get anything going.
Fife completed a short pass to Tyler Figol, but that was it. On fourth-and-3 from the Clemens 40, Fife attempted to connect with Figol again, but the pass was swatted away - along with Canyon's postseason ambitions.
“I've got to give it to them,” Davis said. “Their defensive guy made a great play on fourth down to break the ball up. We took a shot and that's all we can do.”
Clemens (6-2, 4-2) took over, and Zachary Winbush bobbed, weaved and juked in a 51-yard touchdown run - his second score of the evening - to put the game on ice.
Lanky quarterback Stanley Harris led the Clemens offense in both rushing and passing. The explosive senior ran for 133 yards and passed for 114 yards and a touchdown.
“He's a great athlete,” Davis said of Harris. “They've got some guys that are going to play Division I football next year, and there's a reason for that. We love our kids, and we can't ask for anything more. My heart breaks for them. Unfortunately, we just didn't make plays.”
Canyon piled up 368 yards of offense but struggled when it moved into Clemens territory. Fife was 26 of 47 passing for 314 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.
Davis complimented Fife for how he's led the offense this year.
“Lane has done a tremendous job all year, and he was kind of beating himself up here at the end,” Davis said. “He's trying to make plays, and he's done just a fantastic job. He's a great kid and done a great job leading us all year.”
Because the Cougars have been statistically eliminated from postseason contention, they'll be playing for pride next week when they host Boerne Champion in the season finale.
“It's all about the kids,” Davis said. “It's not about me, the coaches or anybody else. We're going to provide the kids the opportunity to have a successful life, and this is part of it. It's all about overcoming adversity and learning to always work and get better. We're going to play our seniors, let them get after it and hopefully have a happy ending.”
