Phantom Stang
08-29-2008, 03:53 PM
Mustangs' late charge comes up short, 10-6
Written by Ron Howell
Friday, 29 August 2008
WICHITA FALLS — In a game of missed opportunities and stout defense, Burkburnett managed to produce a little more offense than Sweetwater in Thursday's season opener at the Times Record News Kickoff Classic.
That wound up being the difference as the Bulldogs held off the Mustangs, 10-6, at Wichita Falls' Memorial Stadium. Although its defense held Burkburnett to 249 yards and one touchdown, Sweetwater was scoreless until A.J. McCoy's 3-yard touchdown capped a short drive and pulled the Mustangs to within four points with just 2:31 remaining. McCoy's TD was set up by Matt Hord's diving 25-yard catch on a tipped throw.
But little else went right for the Mustangs after that as a two-point pass conversion failed and the Bulldogs recovered the ensuing onsides kick. Burkburnett failed to convert a first down, but there was only :09 showing when Sweetwater got the ball back near midfield. The Mustangs got two more shots at the end zone, but the game ended after an incomplete pass and a sack.
Each team managed just four first downs in the first half. But Sweetwater was probably fortunate to be trailing only 3-0 at intermission, because Burkburnett got inside the Mustangs' 20 on three occasions with the help of three big plays — a 59-yard pass completion and runs of 38 and 47 yards.
Yet all the Bulldogs got was a 39-yard field goal early in the second quarter, while the other two drives ended with a Sweetwater fumble recovery and a missed field goal.
The Mustangs finally launched a serious drive in the final minute of the half, but turned it over on downs at Burkburnett's 24 following a dropped pass and a fourth-and-1 run for no gain.
The Bulldogs then got their only touchdown, which proved to be the winning score, on a 15-play, 82-yard drive capped by Jay Gould's 16-yard run to make it 10-0 with 8:44 remaining.
Sweetwater took over its 32, and steadily moved into scoring range as quarterback Zach Birdwell ran for two first downs and McCoy one. But once again the Mustangs had to turn it over on downs after a fourth-down run by Birdwell came up two yards short at Burkburnett's 16.
A good defensive stand by Sweetwater forced the Bulldogs to punt from their end zone. Kenneth Norman returned the punt for an apparent touchdown, but it was nullified when the Mustangs were flagged for running into the kicker.
Norman got another chance, however, and returned the punt to Burkburnett's 28 to set up Sweetwater's two-play scoring drive.
Coach Kent Jackson said he felt fortunate that Sweetwater was able to stay close after giving up the three big first-half plays. "Our defense bent a long way but didn't break," he said. "It would have been a lot more fun to win, but we'll learn from this and be a better football team for it."
Birdwell finished the game as Sweetwater's top rusher with 59 yards on 14 attempts, most of it in the second half. Although both teams struggled for the most part offensively, the game was cleanly played with only two turnovers and a total of 60 yards in penalties.
Things may not get a whole lot easier next week, though Sweetwater will host its own Classic — the fourth annual, three-day Sammy Baugh Classic — when it returns to action next Friday to host Seminole at 7:30 p.m.
http://www.sweetwaterreporter.com/content/view/107854/122/
Written by Ron Howell
Friday, 29 August 2008
WICHITA FALLS — In a game of missed opportunities and stout defense, Burkburnett managed to produce a little more offense than Sweetwater in Thursday's season opener at the Times Record News Kickoff Classic.
That wound up being the difference as the Bulldogs held off the Mustangs, 10-6, at Wichita Falls' Memorial Stadium. Although its defense held Burkburnett to 249 yards and one touchdown, Sweetwater was scoreless until A.J. McCoy's 3-yard touchdown capped a short drive and pulled the Mustangs to within four points with just 2:31 remaining. McCoy's TD was set up by Matt Hord's diving 25-yard catch on a tipped throw.
But little else went right for the Mustangs after that as a two-point pass conversion failed and the Bulldogs recovered the ensuing onsides kick. Burkburnett failed to convert a first down, but there was only :09 showing when Sweetwater got the ball back near midfield. The Mustangs got two more shots at the end zone, but the game ended after an incomplete pass and a sack.
Each team managed just four first downs in the first half. But Sweetwater was probably fortunate to be trailing only 3-0 at intermission, because Burkburnett got inside the Mustangs' 20 on three occasions with the help of three big plays — a 59-yard pass completion and runs of 38 and 47 yards.
Yet all the Bulldogs got was a 39-yard field goal early in the second quarter, while the other two drives ended with a Sweetwater fumble recovery and a missed field goal.
The Mustangs finally launched a serious drive in the final minute of the half, but turned it over on downs at Burkburnett's 24 following a dropped pass and a fourth-and-1 run for no gain.
The Bulldogs then got their only touchdown, which proved to be the winning score, on a 15-play, 82-yard drive capped by Jay Gould's 16-yard run to make it 10-0 with 8:44 remaining.
Sweetwater took over its 32, and steadily moved into scoring range as quarterback Zach Birdwell ran for two first downs and McCoy one. But once again the Mustangs had to turn it over on downs after a fourth-down run by Birdwell came up two yards short at Burkburnett's 16.
A good defensive stand by Sweetwater forced the Bulldogs to punt from their end zone. Kenneth Norman returned the punt for an apparent touchdown, but it was nullified when the Mustangs were flagged for running into the kicker.
Norman got another chance, however, and returned the punt to Burkburnett's 28 to set up Sweetwater's two-play scoring drive.
Coach Kent Jackson said he felt fortunate that Sweetwater was able to stay close after giving up the three big first-half plays. "Our defense bent a long way but didn't break," he said. "It would have been a lot more fun to win, but we'll learn from this and be a better football team for it."
Birdwell finished the game as Sweetwater's top rusher with 59 yards on 14 attempts, most of it in the second half. Although both teams struggled for the most part offensively, the game was cleanly played with only two turnovers and a total of 60 yards in penalties.
Things may not get a whole lot easier next week, though Sweetwater will host its own Classic — the fourth annual, three-day Sammy Baugh Classic — when it returns to action next Friday to host Seminole at 7:30 p.m.
http://www.sweetwaterreporter.com/content/view/107854/122/