Game-by-Game Narratives
2004

Week Four: Westwood
Monday, September 26th

Timberwolves 17, Warriors 20 (OT)

Turns out Hurricane Rita had nothing on Hurricane Chase Rich. The Westwood quarterback blew through the Timberwolves for 276 passing yards at Bible Memorial Stadium on a rare Monday night game in week four, the most ever by an opposing quarterback against Cedar Park, as the Warriors came back from a ten point first half deficit to take the lead and later win it in overtime with a 35-yard Matt Cavanaugh field goal 20-17.

The Warriors started out trying to deceive the Timberwolf defense by moving away from what Westwood had established as their strength so far this season. Westwood ran the ball and threw short flat passes and screens throughout most of the first half.

Coach Steve Balthrop (center) and several Timberwolves pause during the school song prior to the Westwood game. Travis Watson (7), Joe Strother (81), and Garrett Dixon (24).

Those tactics played right into the strength of the Gang Green defense, as ‘Wood was held to just 47 yards through their first four possessions of the game, and zero points until the halftime buzzer.

Meanwhile, Cedar Park had produced two effective drives, ending in a Wes Wagener field goal of 32 yards, followed by a crisp 85-yard march for a touchdown, fueled by several nice runs by Tyler Smith. The “T” was rewarded for his efforts with the touchdown carry, going over from 5 yards out. Wagener’s 48th consecutive PAT put Cedar Park up 10-0.

It was a wild end to the first half.

The O-line with some great seal action as Tyler Smith takes off around the right side, as Kyle Bayer (58) seals off the back side.

Following the Cedar Park touchdown, Westwood then turned to their proven offensive mode, the medium-range pass. Wideouts Andy McClain and Todd McCormick were open all night long about 25 yards out right in the middle of the field, and late in the first half was the first time the Warriors took advantage of that situation, moving the ball quickly to the CP 18, where Cavanaugh lined up for a field goal from the 25 with two minutes left.

Westwood either suffered a bad snap or faked that field goal attempt. The resultant busted-play fiasco turned into a fumble that bounced and shimmied forty-two yards back toward the Warrior goal line, chased by a herd of players from both sides and finally recovered by Cedar Park’s Tim Knicky at the 34. Sensing an opportunity to blow the game wide open, the Timberwolves went for the jugular, and got bitten. Quarterback Travis Watson threw to the end zone, but the pass was picked off, thwarting the T’wolves’ bid to extend their lead to 17-0. That interception ended up being the turning
point of the game.

This Wes Wagener field goal made the score 10-0 Timberwolves.

Again Rich went to the medium-range passing game and the Warriors moved the ball easily. Cavanaugh hit a 31-yarder as the clock expired, scoring Westwood’s first points on Cedar Park in seven quarters dating back to 2003.

The second half opened with a lightning strike of a kickoff return by Daniel Dilworth who took it up the right sideline for 59 yards to set the Timberwolves up in striking distance at the Westwood 39. But three plays later the T’wolves had lost 13 yards and were forced to punt.

Leading the team out of the Timberwolf run-through cave to open the second half: Eric Bayer (73), Trey Hawkins (72), Tim Knicky (16), and Anthony Peneschi (23).

Westwood drove for 38 yards but also ended up punting, and CP returned the favor after moving it out of the shadow of their own goal line 18 yards. There followed a five-play 40-yard drive by the Warriors that ended in their lone offensive TD of the night, a sixyard pass from Rich to McClain on fourth down. Cavanaugh’s kick tied the game at 10.

A 23-yard kickoff return by Matt Raesz started the T’wolves out in decent field position at their 38, but once again no offense was generated, and Brandon Haug went into punt formation standing at his own thirty. On the snap, a jailbreak ensued. At least three Warriors stormed right up the middle and clobbered that punt. Brian Artz picked it up on the run and scooted into the end zone and Westwood had the lead. Cavanaugh’s kick put the Warriors up 17-10.

Cedar Park’s offensive frustration continued into their next possession, as the T’wolves went backwards six yards in three plays and punted again.

Coach Ross giving Trey Hawkins some last-second instructions.

That would ignite a busy last five minutes for Warrior kicker Cavanaugh. Westwood drove 38 yards in eight plays to the CP 25, and with 4:33 left in the game, the Warriors tried to ice a win with a 42-yard field goal, but Cavanaugh missed and Cedar Park was still alive.

The Timberwolves then produced perhaps the prettiest drive of the night on their next possession. It was certainly the most necessary. With a nice mix of swing passes to Tyler Smith and various rushing plays, the T’wolves knifed 75 yards in seven plays, with Smith taking it over from the 2, and Wagener’s extra point tied the game at 17 with just 1:50 left on the clock.

Back in aerial circus mode, Rich passed the Warriors down to the Cedar Park 29 and with one second on the clock, Cavanaugh again lined up for a game-winning field goal. He left it short and the school-night and work-night crowd was looking at overtime.

Over Cedar Park’s relatively brief football history, overtime has not been kind. In fact, the very first full varsity (with seniors) game the program ever played was an overtime loss at Bastrop. Another OT loss at Harker Heights followed that same year. The only overtime win ever registered by Cedar Park is the thrilling 2004 Battle of Bagdad, the 23- 20 win over Leander just last year.

The Gang Green defense ready to pound some Warrior hide.

Against Westwood, the Timberwolves went first, and a run to the right by Smith on the first play was sniffed out and turned into a five-yard loss. Two incomplete passes put Wagener in a big hole. The ball would be snapped from the 30, making his field goal attempt a tough 47-yarder, right at the edge of his range. But it would get even tougher.

An illegal substitution penalty moved the ball back five more yards, and Wagener’s kick would come from 52 yards out- a personal and school record if he was successful. It was struck hard, true, and straight, but fell about two feet short.

Westwood ran three plays for seven yards in their half of the overtime “inning”, then Cavanaugh nailed his game-winning 35-yarder.

The scene along the line of scrimmage as the clock ticked to zero. Westwood has just missed a field goal that would have won it for the Warriors. Overtime came next.

For all of Rich’s passing yardage, the Warriors only got one offensive TD and two field goals – both at the buzzer – to show for their yardage.

Cedar Park did make progress in the turnover department, losing but one fumble and one interception. They had lost eight in the previous two games. But untimely penalties killed many a Timberwolf possession, including Wagener’s shot at an overtime field goal.

Tyler Smith was the brightest spot for the Cedar Park offense, as his productivity was the biggest catalyst of both long touchdown drives, at the end of which he scored both TDs. Smith ran 20 times for 118 yards – with five runs of double-digit yardage – and he caught three passes for 43 more.

Cedar Park fans were stunned at the turn of events that resulted in the upset overtime loss to the Warriors.

It was the first loss at Bible stadium in seven games, and the first district loss since falling to Pflugerville in October of 2003, almost two years ago. The Timberwolves were now 2-2 overall, 0-1 in district play.

There would not be much time to dwell on this game, as coming up Saturday - just five days away - would be a date with the McNeil Mavericks, 3-1 overall and also 0-1 in league play, having dropped their own OT game against Leander this same Monday night. (Our apologies from the press box as we announced a McNeil victory over the Lions in that game. Our contact at the Parmer Palace erroneously told us that a 28-21 score – McNeil leading – was a final.) Due to both team’s OT losses in week four, Saturday night’s game would take on added importance. In a contest between the two teams that advanced farther in the state playoffs last year than any other teams in Central Texas, the loser of this one would be on the outside looking in at the 2005 district 15-5A playoff picture.