Canadian and Abernathy to Face Off Once Again

By Steve Forrest – Canadian Wildcat Sports Network

This Friday night at Amarillo Dick Bivins Stadium at 7:30, the No. 3 Canadian Wildcats will face the Abernathy Antelopes for the third time in as many seasons. This time it’s a battle between two undefeated teams and there is a little more on the line as it’s the 1-2A Division 1 Region 1 Championship – otherwise known as the State Quarterfinals.

The winner of this game will go on to face the Region 2 champion in the State Semifinal the following week. At this point the Mart Panthers are the strength of Region 2. The Panthers are 21 point favorites over the Hico Tigers in their Quarterfinal matchup this week and should cruise to the semifinal.

The Wildcats hold up another gold ball after defeating Stratford 

The Wildcats stunned the Antelopes in 2012 when Abernathy held a 1 point lead late in the game. With 48 seconds remaining, QB Ben Arbuckle completed a 72 yard TD pass on 4^th down to a wide open Chance Cook.

The conversion was good and the Wildcats would go on to win 36-29.

It was a different story last season in 2013 when the Wildcats traveled to Abernathy in Week 4.


The Antelopes were seeking revenge, but Canadian quickly extinguished any hope
Abernathy had of avenging their heart-breaking loss in 2012.

Arbuckle threw for over 300 yards, tossing TD passes to Chance Cook, Braiden Galla, and Boston Hudson on the way to a convincing 34-7 victory over the Antelopes.

The Wildcats beat Abernathy in 2008 by a score of 41-20 en route to their second consecutive State Championship and again in 2009 by a score of 35-26. Canadian is 4-0 all-time against the Antelopes.

Last Friday in the Regional semifinal round of the playoffs, Abernathy outlasted a gritty Wellington team in double overtime – winning 17-14 on a 47 yard field goal by Sr. Nik Clarkson. Abernathy led most of the way in that game, but Wellington was able to tie it up at 14 late in the game. Clarkson missed a 44 yard FG in the first overtime, but was able to connect on a 47 yarder for the game winner.

The Wildcats defense proved once again just how good they really are against a tough Stratford team, handing the Elks their first shutout loss in 15 years. The last one coming at the hands of Canadian as well in the 1999 season.

Stratford was on a good playoff roll, knocking off New Deal and Ozona handily in the previous two rounds. The Elks, however, had no answer for an amazingly talented and deep Wildcat team. Canadian amassed 447 total yards of offense, while holding Stratford to just 69 total yards in a 34-0 victory.

The Numbers: The Wildcats average 53 points and 443 yards of offense per game while giving up only 12 points and 204 yards per game. Abernathy averages 39 points and 405 yards per game while giving up 15 points and 235 yards per game.

The Game: State Quarterfinal – Canadian (12-0) v. Abernathy (12-0) – 7:30p Friday 12/5, Amarillo Dick Bivins Stadium - Winner goes on to semifinal to play Hico/Mart winner.

Line: Canadian by 15