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Phantom Stang
10-31-2013, 05:56 PM
SW seeks win at Monahans
October 31, 2013

By
Ron Howell
sweetwatersports1@yahoo.com

Sweetwater will make the three-hour trip to Monahans on Friday seeking a win — a win that would not only greatly improve its chances of making the postseason, but also be a huge boost to the football program.
The Mustangs (1-2 district, 3-5) will face a Loboes team that sits atop the 4-3A race with a perfect 3-o mark — but needed a big fourth-quarter rally to win 35-34 over Snyder last week.
Snyder, which fell to 1-2 in district, held a 34-21 lead with 7:41 to play after a 100-yard interception return.
However, Monahans got two scores down the stretch and Jacob Lair kicked the game-wnning PAT with 1:16 to play after a 54-yard scoring drive by the Loboes. It was Snyder’s fifth loss by four or fewer points.
Sweetwater and Snyder are still solid contenders for a playoff spot, despite their records. Even if Sweetwater should lose to Monahans, the Mustangs can make the postseason should Sny-der defeat Wylie (2-1) this Friday, and Sweetwater then knock off the Bulldogs next week in their season finale at Mustang Bowl. Such a scenario would eliminate the defending District 4-3A champions, according to Sweetwater coach Shane Mobley, whose team lost 65-42 to Big Spring this past Friday at the Bowl.
Mobley was pleased with his team’s offensive effort, but Sweetwater had trouble containing a Big Spring team that had 552 yards and did not have to punt a single time in the game.
The teams traded scoring drives until the Steers took a 21-14 lead in the second quarter. Sweetwater got to Big Spring’s 12 on its next series and appeared to be on the verge of tying the game again until being stopped on a fourth-down run that gave the ball back to the Steers offense.
Big Spring started from its 13 but drove 87 yards in nine plays to open a two-touchdown advantage.
After that, Sweetwater was never able to get closer than 1o and Big Spring was ahead by as much as 31 in the fourth quarter en route to going 2-1 in district.
Another key play which hurt Sweetwater came after the Mustangs tied it 14-14 with 9:44 to play in the second quarter on quarterback Kaegan Jeffrey’s 1-yard run and Michael Hunt’s PAT.
Sweetwater successfully fielded the ensuing onsides kick, but was whistled by officials for being offsides on the play and Big Spring regained possession.
“Those were probably the two biggst plays in the game for us,” said Mobley.
Big Spring then opened a 31-14 halftime lead until Sweetwater cut it to 31-21 in the third quarter on a 54-yard fumble recovery and return by Isaiah McGee that re-energized the team.
“We made some adjust-ments at halftime and I told them to keep believing,” Mobley said.
“Then Izzy made the big play where he stripped their guy. But they’re (Big Spring) no doubt the best offensive team we have played.”
Sweetwater faces a differ-ent challenge in Monahans, which is considered primarily a running team but actually had more yards passing (226) than rushing (196) against Snyder. Monahans quarterback Hassan Walker was 12-of-22 with a pair of TD passes, while the defense held the Tigers’ powerful running game to a season-low 225 yards.
The Loboes had a balanced rushing game against Snyder led by Lair with 78 yards on 18 carries and Justice Andrews with 51 yards on 13 carries. Nick Jasso chipped in with 49 yards on just four rushing attempts.
The Loboes’ top receiver was Junior Morales, a 6-5 target who had four catches for 89 yards.
However, a 9-yard run by Bryan Venegas on his only carry of the contest was the game-winner as it capped the final scoring drive for Monahans.
Monahans handed Wylie its only loss in district play, 25-7, a week before its nar-row escape against Snyder and began district with a 42-14 win over 0-3 Midland Greenwood, the only team without a victory in district play so far.
“One game at a time is all we can do at this point,” Mobley said. “We can’t look ahead. Of course you want more wins, but we’ve got to just go out Friday and execute.”

http://sweetwaterreporter.com/content/sw-seeks-win-monahans

EagleEye
10-31-2013, 06:44 PM
See you tomorrow night!!!!!!! Go- Grin- go.

Halup
10-31-2013, 07:27 PM
I have enjoyed Ron Howell's articles throughout the year and have been looking forward to this weeks article involving "my" Loboes. After reading his article, my respect for him has only increased. His treatment of the Loboes was accurate and fair.

We welcome you to the Land of the Loboes and the Home of the "Gringos".

tex_male
11-01-2013, 10:40 AM
Please pass on to those that will be making the drive to Monahans: Construction I-20 between Midland and Ector County, FM1788 to Loop 338. Very, Very Heavy Traffic Congestion area reduced to one lane both directions expect delays and being cutoff while approaching due to poor driving habits of those in this area!

Sweetwater Red
11-01-2013, 10:11 PM
Looks like a few position changes on D and our freshman MLB
getting another week of varsity practice in might have made a
big difference. Congrats Mustangs!

EagleEye
11-01-2013, 10:21 PM
Good win Sweetwater. Sorry we couldnt have given a better game but we kinda stunk the place up. We better pull our heads out next week or Big Spring will end up winning district with Abilene Wylie.

Phantom Stang
11-04-2013, 12:56 PM
SW upsets 1st-place Loboes
November 4, 2013
By
Ron Howell
sweetwatersports1@yahoo.com

MONAHANS — Sweetwater’s football team made the long trip to Monahans on Friday knowing it might face long odds of getting into the Class 3A playoffs without a victory.
They also knew they had to play better defense than what they have shown for most of this season.
After Friday’s 28-9 win, the Mustangs are undoubtedly feeling a lot better about that defense.
They also are probably feeling a lot better about their playoff chances, although there is still some work to do before that possibility becomes reality.
The defense was simply dominant, which was hardly expected given what has happened so far. Coming into the game, Sweetwater was allowing just over 40 points a game and had given up a season-high 65 to Big Spring one week earlier at Mustang Bowl.
But Monahans (3-1) — which was the only unbeaten team in District 4-3A but fell into a three-way tie with Wylie and Big Spring — managed just one touchdown and its explosive offense failed to reach double digits against the inspired Mustangs.
Sweetwater (2-2 district, 4-5 overall) played well defensively from the start as Monahans went three-and-out and was forced to punt on its first two series, while gaining a total of just 14 yards.
However, the Loboes put together a scoring drive on their third possession, moving 59 yards in six plays — all runs by Jacob Lair, who rushed for a game-high 155 yards. Lair scored from the 1, then added on the extra point for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
But even though Sweet-water trailed, the deficit did not last long. Isaiah McGee returned the kickoff to the Sweetwater 48, and it took just five plays for the Mus-tangs to tie the score at 7.
McGee was a big part of the touchdown drive as well, which he began with runs of 16 and 4 yards to get Sweetwater into Monahans territory. Two plays later, he caught a 34-yard pass from quarterback Kaegan Jeffrey to give the Mustangs first-and-goal at the 2.
From there, Jeffrey threw to Bray Amos for the touchdown and Michael Hunt’s kick made it 7-7 with 11:22 left in the second quarter.
More Sweetwater defense would soon follow.
A personal foul penalty on the Mustangs gave Monahans a first down at the Sweetwater 38, but Loboes quarterback Hassan Walker was intercepted by Dylan Bennett on the next play.
Monahans was on the move again after forcing a Sweetwater punt, moving from its 29 to the Mustang 23-yard line after a 15-yard run by Walker. But then the Mustangs literally stole the momentum back.
Defensive lineman Cory Mendez, in a play similar to what McGee had done against Big Spring a week earlier, stripped Lobo running back Nicko Jasso of the ball and returned the fumble 81 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, Sweetwater was ahead 14-7 with 5:37 left until halftime.
The defense preserved that 14-7 lead at halftime, stopping Lair a yard short on a fourth-and-three run from Sweetwater’s 41.
In the third quarter, it was Monahans’ turn to get a big play from its defense. The Loboes pinned the Mustangs at their 2 after a 57-yard punt, then came up with a safety to cut the lead to 14-9 after tackling a runner in the end zone.
Monahans got the ball back due to the safety, but failed to take further advantage and had to punt it back to Sweetwater, which again started deep in its own territory.
But this time, the Mus-tangs got their offense rolling again — and opened up a 21-9 advantage — with one of their longest scoring drives of the year.
A 27-yard Jeffrey completion to Kaleb Hoover on third-and-13 from Sweetwater’s 17 allowed the drive to continue, as did two Jeffrey first-down runs. Monahans was flagged for pass interference on another third-and-13 play, setting up a 26-yard touchdown run by McGee that completed the 12-play, 92-yard drive and came with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Once again, the Mustang defense bent but refused to break on Monahans’ next possession. The Loboes got to Sweetwater’s 22 on the final play of the quarter, but Walker was stopped for a 2-yard loss and then threw an incomplete pass on fourth down to give the ball back to the Mustangs.
Sweetwater then tightened its grip on the game with another excellent scoring drive, moving 76 yards in 11 plays to open a 28-9 lead with 6:01 to play.
The Mustangs immediately overcame a holding penalty with a 21-yard Jeffrey pass completion to Michael McCoy.
Jeffrey then began dialing his own number with great success, gaining 10, 14 and 14 yards on consecutive runs to move Sweetwater into scoring range.
The Mustangs were facing fourth-and-9 from the Loboes’ 21 when Jeffrey hit McCoy again, this time for 14 yards to the 7.
From there, Amos — the dynamic junior receiver who on Friday had just 16 yards on his five catches — nevertheless caught his second touchdown pass of the game.
There was still time for one more heroic defensive stand by Sweetwater.
Monahans managed to overcome third-and-15 with a 17-yard Walker comple-tion to Junior Morales — his first completed pass of the game after eight misses and an interception.
But the Mustangs rose up to stop the Loboes again. First, Bennett broke up a long pass on third-and-16, and a 15-yard completion to Austin Montez on fourth down was just short.
Sweetwater hosts Wylie this Friday to end the regular season. Wylie clinched a playoff berth by beating Snyder (1-3) on Friday. If Sweetwater and Snyder both finish 2-3, the Tigers will get the last playoff spot by virtue of their 41-14 victory over the Mustangs.

http://sweetwaterreporter.com/content/sw-upsets-1st-place-loboes