Phantom Stang
10-21-2005, 09:09 AM
Mustangs can't afford letup
By RON HOWELL/Reporter Sports Editor
There may be a feeling of deja vu this week for many of the Sweetwater players and their coaches.
For the second year in a row, the Mus-tangs enter the third week of District 4-3A play against Clyde with a 1-1 record. And for the second straight year, Sweet-water has done it by coming back from a district-opening defeat against Wylie to knock off Snyder.
All that's left for Coach Kent Jackson's team to do now, of course, is exactly what Sweetwater did last year - win its last two games against Clyde and Merkel and assure itself of a playoff spot. But a slip-up against either of those teams - who are a combined 2-12 this season - could jeopardize the Mustangs' hopes.
For that reason, Jackson knows there is no time to relax.
“We haven't acted or prepared any differently this week,” he said on Wednes-day. “We know that if we lose another one, we can't control our destiny and we want to be able to do that.
“You can't take anything for granted. It (the district race) went right down to the end last year, and this year it should be no exception.”
Friday's 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Mustang Bowl marks the final home appearance for several seniors, all of whom will be recognized prior to the game. But while Sweetwater has plenty of motivation, so does Clyde (2-5 overall), which last made the playoffs in 1996.
“They need to win this one to stay in it,” Jackson said of Clyde, which had an open date last week after losing to Snyder 42-6 in its 4-3A opener. “I know that they will be ready for us.”
After an 0-3 start, Clyde got its only two wins in back-to-back weeks against Class 2A Brady and Coahoma, who are a combined 1-13 this season, before a close loss to Vernon and its blowout defeat to Snyder two weeks ago. However, Jackson noted that the Bulldogs trailed the Tigers by only 8-6 at halftime.
Sweetwater, on the other hand, had a solid defensive effort throughout against Snyder, which played host to the Mus-tangs for the first time since a 26-20 double overtime win in 2002 and was ranked No. 3 in the state entering the game.
This time, Sweetwater - which moved up to No. 9 in the rankings this week and dropped Snyder to No. 10 - built a 10-0 halftime lead and expanded it to 17-0 early in the fourth quarter before giving up a relatively harmless touchdown with only 4:11 left in the game.
“It was definitely a positive deal to win in such a tough environment,” said Jack-son. “Coming into somebody's place and picking up a win is always a great thing. It makes you really feel like you've accomp-lished something.”
Sweetwater held Snyder to 217 yards, its best defensive showing since holding Andrews to 195 yards in the fourth week of the season. “I was proud of the way the defense stepped up for us,” Jackson said. “And our offense strung some long drives together, which was also a big factor.”
Jackson said the team had no signifi-cant injuries last week, and at least one and possibly two of his key players could finally see some action Friday after long injury-related layoffs. Kendal Carrillo, a starter at both safety and quarterback until suffering a knee injury in a Week 3 win over Greenwood, is listed as probable though Jackson said he would not start. Lineman Ty Jones, who also had a knee injury two weeks after Carrillo, may also be available to play Friday.
Copyright © 2005 Sweetwater Reporter
By RON HOWELL/Reporter Sports Editor
There may be a feeling of deja vu this week for many of the Sweetwater players and their coaches.
For the second year in a row, the Mus-tangs enter the third week of District 4-3A play against Clyde with a 1-1 record. And for the second straight year, Sweet-water has done it by coming back from a district-opening defeat against Wylie to knock off Snyder.
All that's left for Coach Kent Jackson's team to do now, of course, is exactly what Sweetwater did last year - win its last two games against Clyde and Merkel and assure itself of a playoff spot. But a slip-up against either of those teams - who are a combined 2-12 this season - could jeopardize the Mustangs' hopes.
For that reason, Jackson knows there is no time to relax.
“We haven't acted or prepared any differently this week,” he said on Wednes-day. “We know that if we lose another one, we can't control our destiny and we want to be able to do that.
“You can't take anything for granted. It (the district race) went right down to the end last year, and this year it should be no exception.”
Friday's 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Mustang Bowl marks the final home appearance for several seniors, all of whom will be recognized prior to the game. But while Sweetwater has plenty of motivation, so does Clyde (2-5 overall), which last made the playoffs in 1996.
“They need to win this one to stay in it,” Jackson said of Clyde, which had an open date last week after losing to Snyder 42-6 in its 4-3A opener. “I know that they will be ready for us.”
After an 0-3 start, Clyde got its only two wins in back-to-back weeks against Class 2A Brady and Coahoma, who are a combined 1-13 this season, before a close loss to Vernon and its blowout defeat to Snyder two weeks ago. However, Jackson noted that the Bulldogs trailed the Tigers by only 8-6 at halftime.
Sweetwater, on the other hand, had a solid defensive effort throughout against Snyder, which played host to the Mus-tangs for the first time since a 26-20 double overtime win in 2002 and was ranked No. 3 in the state entering the game.
This time, Sweetwater - which moved up to No. 9 in the rankings this week and dropped Snyder to No. 10 - built a 10-0 halftime lead and expanded it to 17-0 early in the fourth quarter before giving up a relatively harmless touchdown with only 4:11 left in the game.
“It was definitely a positive deal to win in such a tough environment,” said Jack-son. “Coming into somebody's place and picking up a win is always a great thing. It makes you really feel like you've accomp-lished something.”
Sweetwater held Snyder to 217 yards, its best defensive showing since holding Andrews to 195 yards in the fourth week of the season. “I was proud of the way the defense stepped up for us,” Jackson said. “And our offense strung some long drives together, which was also a big factor.”
Jackson said the team had no signifi-cant injuries last week, and at least one and possibly two of his key players could finally see some action Friday after long injury-related layoffs. Kendal Carrillo, a starter at both safety and quarterback until suffering a knee injury in a Week 3 win over Greenwood, is listed as probable though Jackson said he would not start. Lineman Ty Jones, who also had a knee injury two weeks after Carrillo, may also be available to play Friday.
Copyright © 2005 Sweetwater Reporter