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WALL — The Class 2A D-II No. 7 Wall football team got off to a fast start scoring 27 points in the first half of its 33-10 win over Idalou on Friday at Hawk Stadium.
In a highly-anticipated matchup between teams that could meet in the playoffs, the Hawks (5-1) never trailed against the Wildcats (4-2). The last time they faced each other was in the regional semifinal in 2022, where Wall came away with a 30-0 victory.
Wall scored on the opening possession after Idalou attempted a surprise onside kick to start the game. The Wildcats tied the game on the next possession, but the Hawks outscored Idalou 20-3 before the first half concluded. The second half was less eventful as both teams struggled with turnovers on offense. The Hawks had six total turnovers and four came in the second half. Idalou quarterback Kutter Houchin threw three interceptions after coming into the game with four on the season.
“The turnovers were scary because we definitely have not been that,” Wall coach Craig Slaughter said. “As good as our offense was last week, tonight was a really poor offensive performance and hopefully we got that one out of our system.”
How it happened
York hit Reid Robertson for a 12-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead.
A high snap and sack-fumble gave Idalou the ball on the Hawks’ 11-yard line where Houchin hit Jenson Davis for a touchdown pass on the next play to tie the game.
The Hawks then marched down the field, scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run from Ethan Michalewicz to take a 14-0 lead.
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Linebacker Garret Guy’s interception gave Wall the ball on Idalou’s 34-yard line. The Hawks scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Thomas Leanos. Idalou responded with a long drive resulting in a 19-yard field goal.
On the next drive, York hit wide receiver Evan Boehle down the left sideline for a 78-yard touchdown pass — the game’s longest play from scrimmage. And the Hawks took a 27-10 lead into halftime.
Both teams traded turnovers until Wall came out with its jumbo package of three linebackers in the backfield with four minutes left. Linebacker Ethan Michalewicz broke off a 50-yard run before getting tackled inside the Idalou 10-yard line.
Defensive end Brylan White scored on a 1-yard touchdown run from the same jumbo formation, taking a 33-10 lead with 39 seconds left.
They said it
Wall coach Craig Slaughter on Michalewicz’s long run: “Michalewicz probably hasn’t had a run over 10 yards in his high school career. I mean, you know, we just hadn’t let him carry the ball much. I was like, ‘Let’s get in the big boy package and let’s change it up.’ And it was a great dive right there to end it.
Slaughter on having Briggs Jones back in the lineup: “It’s awesome. And we definitely didn’t do as good of a job letting him get loose tonight. But I know we will, and he’ll get up to game speed. He’ll play even better as he gets more comfortable. He’s an absolute weapon and incredible athlete.”
Up next
Wall begins its district schedule next week with a trip up to Merkel at 7 p.m. on Friday. With the loss, Idalou drops its second game in a row, but heads into an open week before hosting Roosevelt on Friday, Oct. 18.
Wall 33, Idalou 10
Wall 7 20 0 6 – 33
Idalou 7 3 0 0 – 10
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
W – Landon York 12-yard pass to Reid Robertson (Lane Stansberry kick).
ID – Kutter Houchin 11-yard pass to Jenson Davis (Gio Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter
W – Ethan Michalewicz 4-yard run (Lane Stansberry kick)
W – Thomas Leanos 1-yard run (Lane Stansberry kick)
ID – Gio Gutierrez 19-yard kick
W – Landon York 78-yard pass to Evan Boehle (Two-point attempt failed)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
W – Brylan White 1-yard run (kick failed)
Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @Paul_Witwer.
