Unicorns Finally Flip the Script, Dominate Canyon in Rivalry Rout
For three straight years, Canyon had owned the cross-town bragging rights. Not this time.
New Braunfels ended the skid in emphatic fashion Friday night, dismantling the Cougars 41-15 at Unicorn Stadium in a rivalry game that felt one-sided from the jump.
Head coach Brad Molder couldn’t hide his pride watching his senior class – winless against Canyon until now – finally taste victory. “It means the world for those kids,” Molder said after the game.
A Fast Start, A Statement Made
The Unicorns wasted no time seizing control. Quarterback Levi Golla sparked the opening surge with back-to-back screen completions — a 49-yarder to Cameron Pitts followed by a 19-yarder to Cayden Mills. Sophomore back Brock Stewart punched it in from the 1-yard line, and the floodgates opened.
By the time the second quarter started, Golla had already thrown a 32-yard strike to Pitts, linebacker Rocco DeSanto had taken an interception to the house, and New Braunfels was sitting on a 21-0 cushion.
Canyon momentarily breathed life into the contest when Jakob Rodriguez returned the kickoff to the 25, setting up a short drive capped by a Knox Ford-to-Josh Wood touchdown. Donavon Craycraft added the two-pointer to cut it to 21-8.
But any hope of a Cougar rally vanished in less than a minute. Stewart barreled in for his second touchdown, then defensive back Kenneth Harper snatched another interception and set up a 1-yard Harley Ramirez score. In under 60 seconds, the lead ballooned to 34-8.
By halftime, New Braunfels had three interceptions, two turnover-on-down stops, and complete control.
Canyon Stalls, Unicorns Keep Galloping
The Cougars mustered a few sparks — a 52-yard screen to running back Jackson Regan before the break and a 38-yard connection to Isaac Early after it — but drives kept ending in heartbreak. Senior lineman Jaith Ness blew up a fourth-and-2 in the red zone, and defensive back Landin Jackson ended another march with an end-zone pick.
Meanwhile, Stewart added his third rushing touchdown on a 10-yard burst in the third quarter, stretching the lead to 41-8. Quincy Jones’ late 5-yard run made the score more respectable, but the damage had long been done.
The Aftermath
For Canyon (1-1), head coach Sean McAuliffe chose to see the silver lining. “If we’re going to take one like this, better now than in district,” he said.
For New Braunfels (2-0), the night was about redemption and growth. One week after nearly squandering a big lead against San Antonio Madison, the Unicorns never let up against their fiercest rival.
Next up: both squads hit the road on Sept. 12. New Braunfels heads west to face Del Rio at Walter Levermann Stadium, while Canyon visits San Antonio Alamo Heights at Harry B. Orem Stadium.
The Unicorns, once again, are the kings of Wurst Bowl bragging rights — and they didn’t just win it, they owned it.
