Boerne Champion hasn’t had the kind of start to district play they were hoping for after beginning 12-5A DI at 0-2.
The good news is that there’s still a chance to make the playoffs with five games left, but the bad news is that the Chargers have very little room for error the rest of the way.
Champion is off this week and resumes district play on Oct. 7 with a visit to Seguin. They have Wagner, Smithson Valley, Kyle Lehman and MacArthur left on the schedule after that.
Chargers coach Keith Kaiser figures they must win at least four of those games but five would do it.
“Five puts you in and four you’re going to need help. We have our work cut out for us,” he said. “We don’t have the death sentence, but we have to do something now. We have to win a tough game, but that’s how you get into the playoffs, especially in this district. You don’t make the playoffs if you can’t win the tough ones.”
Champion, just like every high school team in America, has its share of bumps and bruises and Kaiser said it’ll be good to get some rest.
“We have to heal up, we have some guys dinged up,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for us to grow through it and refocus. We have to be smart in how we go about this bye week and let them know we’re playing for something still and go to work.”
Champion has competed well in every game this year but has had problems finishing in its three losses. They’ve let leads slip away against Eagle Pass and NB Canyon, and while they never had the lead last week against Buda Hays, they just couldn’t make the play to get them over the hump and lost 34-29.
Against the Hawks, the Chargers had a touchdown called back, had a fumble at the Hays 1-yard line and almost had another score but a good hit by the defender separated the Champion receiver from the ball. If they score on any of those plays, they outcome might have been different.
“It’s a lot of would’ve, could’ve, should’ve,” Kaiser said.
Colin Ryan had a great game running the ball and rushed for 181 yards on 20 carries. Kaiser said the Hays defense was focused on stopping QB Jordan Ballin by protecting the edges and Ryan made them pay to the tune of 181 yards on the ground straight up the gut.
“Their game plan was to play wide and contain Jordan, but it did leave that gap open in the middle,” Kaiser said. “They had decide which one they wanted to stop, do you stop Jordan or do you stop the run? I thought their game plan was good, they were going to play wide and not let Jordan escape outside and he did a few times, but not like in the other games.”
Ballin ran for 8 yards on 4 carries and threw for 29 times and completed 12 passes, 2 for touchdowns to Griffin Jones and Kannon Brooks, while Ballin and Cole Riha both ran the ball in for scores.
Sawyer Bolli made his presence felt in his return and came up with an interception for the defense, while Evan Kuhl was a busy man and came up with nine solo tackles and assisted on three others in the game for 12 total. Jared Wingo finished with 6.5 tackles, while Tony Graves and Riha both added 5.5 tackles apiece.
Kaiser said it’ll be a long two weeks between games but added that they’ll use that time wisely.
“We’re going into the bye and we’ll regroup,” he said.
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