The Canyon Eagles couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the season.
Canyon delivered on both sides of the football in its season opener, piling up more than 500 yards of offense while shutting down Snyder in a convincing 59-13 victory.
Senior quarterback Brox Hacker led the way with a nearly flawless performance. Hacker completed 10-of-11 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns while adding 98 yards and another score on the ground.
By the end of the night, Canyon had rolled up 538 yards of total offense, including 345 rushing yards on 39 carries. The Eagles scored four times on the ground and consistently found ways to move the football.
Hacker spread the wealth through the air, completing passes to seven different receivers. His three touchdown passes went to Bracen Hacker from 16 yards, Tripp Miller from 20 yards and Reece Baca.
Jaylyn Keith provided Canyon’s biggest passing play with a 62-yard reception. Baca caught three passes for 37 yards, while Will Kilgore added three receptions for 22 yards. Asher Cunningham had a 23-yard catch and Jackson Small hauled in a 13-yard reception.
Canyon’s ground game was just as difficult for Snyder to contain.
Austin Turner carried 13 times for 74 yards and a touchdown, while Miller rushed four times for 47 yards, highlighted by a 35-yard touchdown run. Keith also found the end zone on the ground and finished with five rushing yards.
The lopsided victory also gave Canyon an opportunity to get some new faces onto the field. Beau Benson picked up 32 yards on six carries in his first varsity action, while Kage Abernethy made the most of his two attempts with 43 yards.
Lane Burton helped Canyon finish drives with a perfect night in the kicking game. Burton converted all seven of his extra-point attempts and knocked through a 32-yard field goal.
As impressive as the Eagles were offensively, Canyon’s defense made sure Snyder never had much of an opportunity to turn the game into a shootout.
The Eagles limited Snyder to just 149 yards of offense, forced three interceptions and allowed only two touchdowns.
Jace Forney was all over the field, finishing with six tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. Connor Armstrong added six tackles and a sack.
Dillon Hagood provided the biggest plays in the secondary, picking off two passes while also recording a tackle and breaking up another pass.
It all added up to a statement opening night for the Eagles.
Canyon starts the season 1-0 after showing plenty of offensive firepower, a deep collection of playmakers and a defense capable of creating problems in the backfield and secondary.
