Scoop27
11-17-2016, 11:00 AM
SWEENY — Getting an opportunity of a lifetime, the Sweeny Bulldogs can continue on in the Class 4A Division II Region IV football playoffs with a huge win.
Sweeny (7-4) will face off against Padilla poll’s No. 2 ranked Navarro (11-0) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the area round of the playoffs at Halletsville’s Brahma Stadium.
“Obviously to be playing another week is always good, we definitely feel good about that,” Sweeny coach Randy Lynch said. “We’ve had a good week of practice and with each week in the playoffs, we understand that we are going to be facing a challenge.
“They are a very good football team and are so fundamentally sound and disciplined. They are physical and play tough football, which is one reason why they are ranked so high.”
The Bulldogs are ranked No. 18 in that same poll, but there seems to be no shortage of confidence for the Bulldogs.
“We will shock the world with this victory,” Sweeny outside linebacker Zac Lamb said. “They haven’t lost a game, we are 7-4, it is an opportunity to shock Texas and put Sweeny’s name out there.”
Sweeny is coming off a big bi-district win against Port Isabel (36-21), where they had to make a come back in the second half against the Tarpons.
A defense led by Lamb along with defensive end Elijah Smith and company, limited the Port Isabel offense to less than 50 yards in the second half.
Navarro took care of Poteet (70-14) in seemingly easy fashion behind the running of senior running back Jared Leal, who totaled four touchdowns in the contest.
Besides having an explosive offense that averages close to 50 points a game, the Panther defense is quite stout, holding Poteet to just 29 yards of offense and a first down in the first 24 minutes of play in last week’s bi-district matchup.
“They are the whole package, they’ve got size and are physical,” Lynch said. “They have some large children up front and in talking with their coach, he’s got three or four seniors who started as freshmen for him. This is a good class of seniors he’s got and their quarterback is only a junior and also starts on defense.
“It is going to be a major challenge for our kids, and they understand it is the playoffs — you win, you move on — you don’t, you start picking up the laundry.”
“Will Eveld (59-98, 1,190, .577 completion rate, 16 TDs, 3 INTs) is under center for Navarro as he holds the school career record of 37 touchdowns.
Leal (84-644, 7.7 yards per carry) at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds is one of three skilled running backs who can do the job on any given night. Seniors, Jake Wright (99-671, 6.8 yards per carry) and Tanner Law (85-691, 8.1 yards per carry) also will get a crack at the Bulldog defense.
Some of those big boys up front, whether opening holes or just giving pass protection, are Wyatt Tate (6-foot-6, 300 pounds) and Caleb Hargraves (6-foot-5, 318).
“They have three guys back there and each one can run the ball and like a lot of slot teams, they run, run, run, but they also are very good in the passing game,” Lynch said. “So they not only throw it out of the slot T, but they spread you out, they are very multiple, but primarily they will line up and run it at you.”
Dean Wallace (20-388, 19.4 yards per catch) leads the Panther receivers along with tight end Tanner Whitson (11-281 yards, 5 TDs). Leal (10-129). Law (12-289 5 TDs) can also catch the ball.
“We are not intimidated by nobody as you can see, and I know we are going into this game hard like we have in the past few weeks,” Smith said.
A lot of things will have to go the Bulldogs way against the Panthers.
That means minimizing turnovers along with not allowing penalties that could hurt them.
The Bulldogs also will need some big performances offensively from leading rusher Donovan Banks (136, 1,182 yards, 8.7 per carry, 6 TDs) and quarterback Evan Green (54-109, 981 passing, 6 TDs, 9 INTs; 150 carries, 928 yards, 6.2 per carry, 16 TDs). It was Green who had three long touchdown runs against Port Isabel in the second half that helped seal that win.
“I want them to compete on Friday,” Lynch said. “We have to play well and be at our best in all three phases, offensively, defensively and special teams. Our kids have played well the last few weeks, we hope that continues.”
The winner will face Wharton or Hondo in the region quarterfinal round next.
Sweeny (7-4) will face off against Padilla poll’s No. 2 ranked Navarro (11-0) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the area round of the playoffs at Halletsville’s Brahma Stadium.
“Obviously to be playing another week is always good, we definitely feel good about that,” Sweeny coach Randy Lynch said. “We’ve had a good week of practice and with each week in the playoffs, we understand that we are going to be facing a challenge.
“They are a very good football team and are so fundamentally sound and disciplined. They are physical and play tough football, which is one reason why they are ranked so high.”
The Bulldogs are ranked No. 18 in that same poll, but there seems to be no shortage of confidence for the Bulldogs.
“We will shock the world with this victory,” Sweeny outside linebacker Zac Lamb said. “They haven’t lost a game, we are 7-4, it is an opportunity to shock Texas and put Sweeny’s name out there.”
Sweeny is coming off a big bi-district win against Port Isabel (36-21), where they had to make a come back in the second half against the Tarpons.
A defense led by Lamb along with defensive end Elijah Smith and company, limited the Port Isabel offense to less than 50 yards in the second half.
Navarro took care of Poteet (70-14) in seemingly easy fashion behind the running of senior running back Jared Leal, who totaled four touchdowns in the contest.
Besides having an explosive offense that averages close to 50 points a game, the Panther defense is quite stout, holding Poteet to just 29 yards of offense and a first down in the first 24 minutes of play in last week’s bi-district matchup.
“They are the whole package, they’ve got size and are physical,” Lynch said. “They have some large children up front and in talking with their coach, he’s got three or four seniors who started as freshmen for him. This is a good class of seniors he’s got and their quarterback is only a junior and also starts on defense.
“It is going to be a major challenge for our kids, and they understand it is the playoffs — you win, you move on — you don’t, you start picking up the laundry.”
“Will Eveld (59-98, 1,190, .577 completion rate, 16 TDs, 3 INTs) is under center for Navarro as he holds the school career record of 37 touchdowns.
Leal (84-644, 7.7 yards per carry) at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds is one of three skilled running backs who can do the job on any given night. Seniors, Jake Wright (99-671, 6.8 yards per carry) and Tanner Law (85-691, 8.1 yards per carry) also will get a crack at the Bulldog defense.
Some of those big boys up front, whether opening holes or just giving pass protection, are Wyatt Tate (6-foot-6, 300 pounds) and Caleb Hargraves (6-foot-5, 318).
“They have three guys back there and each one can run the ball and like a lot of slot teams, they run, run, run, but they also are very good in the passing game,” Lynch said. “So they not only throw it out of the slot T, but they spread you out, they are very multiple, but primarily they will line up and run it at you.”
Dean Wallace (20-388, 19.4 yards per catch) leads the Panther receivers along with tight end Tanner Whitson (11-281 yards, 5 TDs). Leal (10-129). Law (12-289 5 TDs) can also catch the ball.
“We are not intimidated by nobody as you can see, and I know we are going into this game hard like we have in the past few weeks,” Smith said.
A lot of things will have to go the Bulldogs way against the Panthers.
That means minimizing turnovers along with not allowing penalties that could hurt them.
The Bulldogs also will need some big performances offensively from leading rusher Donovan Banks (136, 1,182 yards, 8.7 per carry, 6 TDs) and quarterback Evan Green (54-109, 981 passing, 6 TDs, 9 INTs; 150 carries, 928 yards, 6.2 per carry, 16 TDs). It was Green who had three long touchdown runs against Port Isabel in the second half that helped seal that win.
“I want them to compete on Friday,” Lynch said. “We have to play well and be at our best in all three phases, offensively, defensively and special teams. Our kids have played well the last few weeks, we hope that continues.”
The winner will face Wharton or Hondo in the region quarterfinal round next.