TigerPride
12-02-2005, 08:46 AM
By Jason Weddle / Reporter-News Staff Writer
December 2, 2005
Most high school football teams would be thrilled to be playing in the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.
Not Sweetwater.
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The Mustangs, who play Monahans tonight in Midland for the right to advance to the state semifinals, have been here before. It's getting to the next round that has been the problem.
''This is the third time we've gotten this far, and it is a hump that we need to get over,'' Mustangs defensive end Russell Clayton said. ''We know that special teams and simple mistakes can make us lose, and we've got to do good on all three sides of the ball.''
Those simple mistakes were brought to the forefront last season when Snyder advanced after a missed extra point by Sweetwater that would have tied the game at 21 with just 36 seconds left.
In 2002, Sweetwater lost another close game in the quarterfinals, when it fell to Midland Greenwood 34-28. Despite a tradition of playoff success, no Mustangs team has advanced to the semifinals since 1987.
Sweetwater coach Kent Jackson said he isn't concerned about the Mustangs' past fourth-round troubles, and he and the team are working under the mindset that each team ''stands on its own'' and has a clean slate.
And as he added, this year's Sweetwater team is starting to feel like luck is on its side, instead of working against the Mustangs as in years past.
''I really think that something special happened last week in Stephenville and brought them together in a very unique way,'' Jackson said. ''When you have a chance to rally in a situation like we did, it blows some special life into you and there's been some extra pep in everybody's step this week.''
The Mustangs found themselves down 21-7 late in the fourth quarter of last week's game against Iowa Park, but mounted a furious charge to tie the score and send the game into overtime. Kendall Carrillo scored on a 1-yard run to win the game in overtime and cap a 20-0 Sweetwater run that ended the game and kept the Mustangs alive.
As in most of Sweetwater's contests this season, it was the offense that got the majority of the credit for last week's victory. What many don't take into consideration is that the Mustangs defense rose to the occasion, as it has all season, holding Iowa Park scoreless and doing just enough to allow the offense to work its magic.
''When people see the early numbers we put up and see some of the games where we did have some success offensively, it is easy to focus on that,'' Jackson said. ''But when you get the ball back after three-and-outs, you have more chances offensively to make things happen.''
The Mustangs' defense has been stingy all season long after recording shutouts in two of the team's first four games. On the season, the unit has been even better than in years past, allowing opponents just 228.9 yards per game, including a dominant run defense that allows fewer than 71 yards per contest.
''I think we've just grown up and have more experience,'' said middle linebacker Justin Adames of the defense. ''We just have a swagger now. We're more physical now and we just try to always be the most physical team on the field.''
Those defensive statistics are especially impressive considering the fact that two freshmen, linebacker Rufus McCann and tackle Brandon Bugarin, are in the starting lineup.
''They came in straight out of eighth grade and are playing on the varsity level in big games and are doing it big for us,'' Clayton said.
For Sweetwater to put the ''quarterfinal curse'' behind it this week, the Mustangs' run defense will have to stay true to form against what could be its toughest challenge of the season.
Like the Sweetwater offense, Monahans relies heavily on its running attack. Senior running back Sam Graves has rushed for 1,765 yards on the season for 33 touchdowns and anchors a smash-mouth running attack that resembles Sweetwater's offense in many ways.
''We're just focused on stopping the run and we'll do everything we can to prevent the two backs from getting into the end zone,'' Clayton said. ''If we stop the run, we feel like we have a better chance if they start throwing the ball.''
Expect the same from Monahans in an old-fashioned West Texas playoff slugfest.
December 2, 2005
Most high school football teams would be thrilled to be playing in the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.
Not Sweetwater.
Advertisement
The Mustangs, who play Monahans tonight in Midland for the right to advance to the state semifinals, have been here before. It's getting to the next round that has been the problem.
''This is the third time we've gotten this far, and it is a hump that we need to get over,'' Mustangs defensive end Russell Clayton said. ''We know that special teams and simple mistakes can make us lose, and we've got to do good on all three sides of the ball.''
Those simple mistakes were brought to the forefront last season when Snyder advanced after a missed extra point by Sweetwater that would have tied the game at 21 with just 36 seconds left.
In 2002, Sweetwater lost another close game in the quarterfinals, when it fell to Midland Greenwood 34-28. Despite a tradition of playoff success, no Mustangs team has advanced to the semifinals since 1987.
Sweetwater coach Kent Jackson said he isn't concerned about the Mustangs' past fourth-round troubles, and he and the team are working under the mindset that each team ''stands on its own'' and has a clean slate.
And as he added, this year's Sweetwater team is starting to feel like luck is on its side, instead of working against the Mustangs as in years past.
''I really think that something special happened last week in Stephenville and brought them together in a very unique way,'' Jackson said. ''When you have a chance to rally in a situation like we did, it blows some special life into you and there's been some extra pep in everybody's step this week.''
The Mustangs found themselves down 21-7 late in the fourth quarter of last week's game against Iowa Park, but mounted a furious charge to tie the score and send the game into overtime. Kendall Carrillo scored on a 1-yard run to win the game in overtime and cap a 20-0 Sweetwater run that ended the game and kept the Mustangs alive.
As in most of Sweetwater's contests this season, it was the offense that got the majority of the credit for last week's victory. What many don't take into consideration is that the Mustangs defense rose to the occasion, as it has all season, holding Iowa Park scoreless and doing just enough to allow the offense to work its magic.
''When people see the early numbers we put up and see some of the games where we did have some success offensively, it is easy to focus on that,'' Jackson said. ''But when you get the ball back after three-and-outs, you have more chances offensively to make things happen.''
The Mustangs' defense has been stingy all season long after recording shutouts in two of the team's first four games. On the season, the unit has been even better than in years past, allowing opponents just 228.9 yards per game, including a dominant run defense that allows fewer than 71 yards per contest.
''I think we've just grown up and have more experience,'' said middle linebacker Justin Adames of the defense. ''We just have a swagger now. We're more physical now and we just try to always be the most physical team on the field.''
Those defensive statistics are especially impressive considering the fact that two freshmen, linebacker Rufus McCann and tackle Brandon Bugarin, are in the starting lineup.
''They came in straight out of eighth grade and are playing on the varsity level in big games and are doing it big for us,'' Clayton said.
For Sweetwater to put the ''quarterfinal curse'' behind it this week, the Mustangs' run defense will have to stay true to form against what could be its toughest challenge of the season.
Like the Sweetwater offense, Monahans relies heavily on its running attack. Senior running back Sam Graves has rushed for 1,765 yards on the season for 33 touchdowns and anchors a smash-mouth running attack that resembles Sweetwater's offense in many ways.
''We're just focused on stopping the run and we'll do everything we can to prevent the two backs from getting into the end zone,'' Clayton said. ''If we stop the run, we feel like we have a better chance if they start throwing the ball.''
Expect the same from Monahans in an old-fashioned West Texas playoff slugfest.