Phantom Stang
11-18-2006, 05:20 PM
Mustangs bend, but don't break
Written by Ben Barkley
STEPHENVILLE — The sign of a championship football team is one that overcomes mistakes and finds a way to win.
That is just what the Sweetwater Mustangs (9-2) did Friday night in the Class 3A, Division II playoffs. Sweetwater overcame four turnovers and held off Argyle 20-14 to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
“We made some horrible, horrible mistakes,” said Sweetwater head coach Kent Jackson. “But we overcame those mistakes and the kids found a way to win.”
The win was sealed with two fourth quarter interceptions to stop the Eagles (7-4) from tying the game.
Sweetwater wanted to hold Argyle in check and not give up a big play. It did just that — especially in the second half.
“We put a lot of pressure on them in the second half. It seemed they got a little rattled,” Jackson said. “We could give up the stuff underneath, but we did not want to give up the big play. We used the bend, but don’t break approach.”
Jackson also said the ball control of the Mustang offense was crucial.
“We wanted to use ball control in the second half. There was nothing flashing … we just wanted to keep our defense off the field.”
The halftime adjustments worked as Sweetwater moved into the second round of the playoffs, where it will meet the winner of Saturday’s Perryton-Vernon game later this week. Details of the game will be announced Monday.
Sweetwater took the opening kickoff and the Eagles were able to shut down the offense — only the second time this year the Mustangs have not score on its opening series.
So the Argyle offense hit the field throwing — 49 times overall, in fact.
But on J.J. Harp’s eighth pass attempt of the night, senior Joseph Banyard stepped in front of a receiver and intercepted the pass. The senior returned the ball 72 yards for a touchdown. Justin Adames added the extra point kick as Sweetwater led 7-0 with 6:51 left in the first quarter.
Argyle came right back and threw the ball down the field. Harp hit Brice Bode on a nine-yard scoring pass with 4:31 left in the quarter to tie the game.
Then the game turned into a defensive battle. Both teams had possessions and were able to move the ball. But neither team could find the end zone.
That was until the Mustangs were able to put together a two-minute drill late in the first half.
With three minutes left on the clock, Sweetwater went to work. The key play in the 57-yard drive was a 23-yard pass from Duone Cunnings to Justin Adames with 32 seconds left on the clock.
That pass to the one-yard line set up Banyard’s second score of the night – a one-yard dive into the end zone with 29 seconds left in the half.
Sweetwater carried the 14-7 lead into halftime and wanted to make sure it stayed that way in the second half.
The Mustang defense recorded a three-and-out on Argyle on the first possession. But the offense was still unable to move the ball, but it did run the clock.
But on the second possession, Sweetwater fumbled the ball back to the Eagles at midfield.
Five plays later, Justin McGuffey caught a 17-yard pass from Harp and Ben Parks added the extra point kick to tie the game with 4:34 left in the third quarter.
Sweetwater responded by marching down the field. When the drive stalled, Jackson called on Adames for a 29-yard field goal. But the kick sailed wide and the game remained tied.
The Mustang defense stopped Argyle on its next drive and forced a punt.
With the ball at the 30, Cunnings found the one seam in the Eagle defense and raced 70 yards for a touchdown to give Sweetwater a 20-14 lead with one second remaining on the third quarter clock.
Jackson turned the game over to the defense and challenged them to hold the Eagles.
Adames started the stand when he recovered a fumble on the next series. Sweetwater was able to run a few minutes off the clock and turned the ball back over to the Eagles.
The defense continued to rise and forced a punt. With eight minutes remaining in the game, Sweetwater was able to move the ball, but a fumble ended the drive and Argyle regained possession.
But it did not take long for the Mustangs to make a stop. Keke Wallace made a diving interception to stop the drive.
After forcing a Sweetwater punt, the Eagles were ready to hit the field and tried to tie the game. But Thomas Holsey ended any chance for a comeback with his fourth interception of the season with 46 seconds left in the game.
Sweetwater ran the clock out and escaped with the win.
“We saw one of the very best teams in the state,” Jackson said. “We were very fortunate tonight.”
Copyright © 2006 Sweetwater Reporter
Written by Ben Barkley
STEPHENVILLE — The sign of a championship football team is one that overcomes mistakes and finds a way to win.
That is just what the Sweetwater Mustangs (9-2) did Friday night in the Class 3A, Division II playoffs. Sweetwater overcame four turnovers and held off Argyle 20-14 to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
“We made some horrible, horrible mistakes,” said Sweetwater head coach Kent Jackson. “But we overcame those mistakes and the kids found a way to win.”
The win was sealed with two fourth quarter interceptions to stop the Eagles (7-4) from tying the game.
Sweetwater wanted to hold Argyle in check and not give up a big play. It did just that — especially in the second half.
“We put a lot of pressure on them in the second half. It seemed they got a little rattled,” Jackson said. “We could give up the stuff underneath, but we did not want to give up the big play. We used the bend, but don’t break approach.”
Jackson also said the ball control of the Mustang offense was crucial.
“We wanted to use ball control in the second half. There was nothing flashing … we just wanted to keep our defense off the field.”
The halftime adjustments worked as Sweetwater moved into the second round of the playoffs, where it will meet the winner of Saturday’s Perryton-Vernon game later this week. Details of the game will be announced Monday.
Sweetwater took the opening kickoff and the Eagles were able to shut down the offense — only the second time this year the Mustangs have not score on its opening series.
So the Argyle offense hit the field throwing — 49 times overall, in fact.
But on J.J. Harp’s eighth pass attempt of the night, senior Joseph Banyard stepped in front of a receiver and intercepted the pass. The senior returned the ball 72 yards for a touchdown. Justin Adames added the extra point kick as Sweetwater led 7-0 with 6:51 left in the first quarter.
Argyle came right back and threw the ball down the field. Harp hit Brice Bode on a nine-yard scoring pass with 4:31 left in the quarter to tie the game.
Then the game turned into a defensive battle. Both teams had possessions and were able to move the ball. But neither team could find the end zone.
That was until the Mustangs were able to put together a two-minute drill late in the first half.
With three minutes left on the clock, Sweetwater went to work. The key play in the 57-yard drive was a 23-yard pass from Duone Cunnings to Justin Adames with 32 seconds left on the clock.
That pass to the one-yard line set up Banyard’s second score of the night – a one-yard dive into the end zone with 29 seconds left in the half.
Sweetwater carried the 14-7 lead into halftime and wanted to make sure it stayed that way in the second half.
The Mustang defense recorded a three-and-out on Argyle on the first possession. But the offense was still unable to move the ball, but it did run the clock.
But on the second possession, Sweetwater fumbled the ball back to the Eagles at midfield.
Five plays later, Justin McGuffey caught a 17-yard pass from Harp and Ben Parks added the extra point kick to tie the game with 4:34 left in the third quarter.
Sweetwater responded by marching down the field. When the drive stalled, Jackson called on Adames for a 29-yard field goal. But the kick sailed wide and the game remained tied.
The Mustang defense stopped Argyle on its next drive and forced a punt.
With the ball at the 30, Cunnings found the one seam in the Eagle defense and raced 70 yards for a touchdown to give Sweetwater a 20-14 lead with one second remaining on the third quarter clock.
Jackson turned the game over to the defense and challenged them to hold the Eagles.
Adames started the stand when he recovered a fumble on the next series. Sweetwater was able to run a few minutes off the clock and turned the ball back over to the Eagles.
The defense continued to rise and forced a punt. With eight minutes remaining in the game, Sweetwater was able to move the ball, but a fumble ended the drive and Argyle regained possession.
But it did not take long for the Mustangs to make a stop. Keke Wallace made a diving interception to stop the drive.
After forcing a Sweetwater punt, the Eagles were ready to hit the field and tried to tie the game. But Thomas Holsey ended any chance for a comeback with his fourth interception of the season with 46 seconds left in the game.
Sweetwater ran the clock out and escaped with the win.
“We saw one of the very best teams in the state,” Jackson said. “We were very fortunate tonight.”
Copyright © 2006 Sweetwater Reporter