Friday night was a special night for seniors and their parents. Before the big game got underway many tears were choked back during the honoring of senior parents.

Many enjoyed watching the pride-filled faces of parents and players alike. It was a bitter sweet moment for the parents, and the eyes of a senior mom told the story of emotions running wild.

The players soon retreated to the locker room and began listening to a short emotional speech by Coach Walker. Just before heading out to play a very talented Canyon Lake squad, Walker asked them to bow their heads and focus. The lights went out and the meeting room was pitch black. Speakers began to hum and crisp familiar words followed.

‘Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted, one moment, would you capture it, or just let it slip?’ Lose yourself by Eminem continued to play, emotions were uncontrollable and the moment was indescribable.

As the Dawgs poured out of the locker room it was just as the song lyrics stated, they lost themselves, seized the moment and put on a show that, if duplicated, will hold strong against the best 3A has to offer this year.

An onside kick started the game and gave Canyon Lake possession at their own 47.

The Bulldog defense bent a little but never broke and turned the ball over on downs on the tenth play.

Solid defense had the teams trading a few punts and what a job Tyler Clark did in that department with a 48-yard average.

A game changing interception by Spencer Thurman eventually started something the Hawks couldn’t stop. Thurman sprinted 63 yards on the return before being caught at the Canyon Lake 22.

It was pitch and catch from there when on the first snap Dillon Chafin tossed one to Brandon Jacque for a 22-yard touchdown. Clark’s kick made it 7-0 with 48 seconds left in the first.

A three and out by the stingy Dawg defense ended the first quarter and a nice 41-yard Quade Stubblefield return had Burnet starting the second period with fantastic field position just 15-steps from paydirt.

A holding call soon had the Dawgs back-tracking, but two completions to Thurman quickly netted 15. Chafin then went to Josh Barrera who followed a sweet block by Stephen Young before dashing to the corner for a 10-yard touchdown. Add on Clark’s kick and it was 14-0 with 10:51 left on the first half clock.

Guys like Taylor Letterman, Ethan Lyda, Alex Wallace, Dustin Kuehler, Nick Jung and other Bulldog defenders continued to ruffle Hawk feathers with aggressive play, and before you knew it Thurman was at it again with his second pick of the night.

This one was a beauty of a catch on a deep Hawk pass that gave Burnet possession at their own 23.

Barrera hauled in the next pass and galloped to the midfield stripe. Zac Maldonado produced 18 more yards with back-to-back rushes. Stephen Young was the recipient of a nice Jacque block on an end-around run that went for 27-yards to the Burnet 11.

Two plays later Thurman simply went up and took what was his as he hauled in a Chafin pass for an 11-yard score. Clark’s kick sailed true and it was 21-0.

Following a Vincent Rivera stop inside the 20 on the kickoff, the Hawks put together a 14-play scoring drive. On a fourth-down play at the goal line, the Hawks pushed one across as Zac Henshaw plunged into the zone for a 3-yard score with 48 seconds left in the half.

Burnet had possession at their own 32 with 42 ticks left following a Stubblefield return. Many thought that was it for the half, but Jathan Craig and the Dawgs had different plans.

The O-line laid down some great blocks, Craig found the corner, made a few moves, and blazed 47-yards before being run out of bounds 21 steps from the zone.

Two plays later Chafin tossed one up to the night’s play maker Thurman who didn’t disappoint The crowd erupted as he hauled in his second touchdown of the night.

An errant snap farced a conversion attempt that failed leaving the score 27-7 at the break.

The second half started with a nice Barrera return to the 42, and that was followed by a clutch 26-yard Young catch to the Canyon Lake 33. Two plays and a penalty later Chafin hit Jacque in stride for a 40-yard touchdown. The two point attempt failed and it was 33-7 with just 55 ticks off the second half clock.

The Hawks answered with a 12-play drive that was kept alive with a questionable no fumble call, and a pass interference call on a third and 20.

The Dawg D-line continued with some outstanding play and the secondary helped force a turnover on downs at the Burnet 29.

The Dawgs leaned on Young, Maldonado and then Craig to move the chains. Young struck again with a 28-yard catch and run to the Canyon Lake 23 and pushed the rock to the 5-yard line two plays later, but the drive ended with a fumble on an exchange between Chafin and Craig.

Tackles by Craig, Young, and Rivera helped the defense force another turnover on downs, including a huge fourth down stop with Rivera leading the charge.

This gave Burnet excellent field position just 22-steps from the zone, but the Hawks came up with a pick of their own in the endzone on Burnet’s first play.

Burnet’s final scoring drive came early in the fourth and began at their own 35. The Dawgs started in the hole after a 9-yard sack by the Hawks on play one. That was followed by a personal foul, giving Burnet a first down.

Craig soon moved the chains again after a nice 11-yard burst. Jacque hauled in a Chafin pass for 15-steps before a late hit flag flew giving Burnet control 9-yards from the zone.

The Hawks got a beneficial flag themselves on the next play, backing the Dawgs into a first and 19. Craig got the next two touches pushing just inside the 5-yard line before Chafin found Thurman on a slant for his third score of the game. Clark’s kick made it 40-7 with 8:53 left in the fourth, and that was the final score.

The Dawgs showed a total team effort and hope it will offer a momentum boost as they prepare for post season play.

Coaches had numerous honorees from the game. Obviously, their offensive player of the week was Thurman. It was a career night for sure. Chafin also deserves some big props as he threw his 30th touchdown of the season.

Kuehler, Thurman, Fluke and Wallace gave tremendous effort on defense, and each earned a defensive POW spot. Rivera and Clark locked down the special teams award.

Game changing plays went to Thurman and Craig. Just about all selections came in a variety pack, big hit went to Stubblefield, Rivera and Thurman; big block went to Young, Wallace, Barrera and Thurman.

There are plenty of others who earned recognition.

Just remember, this was a team win and that’s what it will take for a lengthy playoff run.

Gatesville built a 21-0 lead early on but lost their game to China Spring 42-41 after going for two for the win late in the game. They run a spread offense and certainly have some athletes, but at the same time they had better beware of the Dawgs.

No prediction will be thrown around, but if the Dawgs bring their A-game, the six-year playoff win drought should end soon.

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday night in Copperas Cove.