By correspondents and staff
November 21, 2003

CANYON — Kendal Carrillo capped a 60-yard drive to lift Sweetwater (9-2) narrowly past Perryton 28-27 in the area playoff game.

The Mustangs were trailing by six points with just 1:10 left to play in the game, but managed to march the ball down the field and stay alive in the postseason.

Carrillo led the Sweetwater offense, carrying the ball 18 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns. He also went 3-6 for 77 yards and one passing score. His go-ahead touchdown came right after Perryton’s Bo Merrell ran one of his two touchdowns in.

Neither team held momentum regularly through the game. There were five lead changes in the game.

Merrell led Perryton (8-4) offensively, rushing for 47 yards and two scores and throwing 7-16 for 186 yards.

Despite the relatively high-scoring game, both defenses came up with big take-aways. Perryton recovered two Sweetwater fumbles, while the Mustangs recovered one fumble and picked off two Merrell passes.

Sweetwater 6 15 0 7—28
Perryton 7 2 3 15—27

First quarter

S — Jeremy Thompson 15 run (kick failed), 6:27
P — Trey Allen 38 fumble recovery (Allen kick), 2:33

Second quarter

P — Punt blocked out of end zone for safety, 9:37
S — Kendal Carrillo 27 run (Josh Jackson run ), 6:14
S — Giles Montgomery 30 pass from Carrillo (Parker Morrow kick), 0:36

Third quarter

P — Allen 43 field goal, 2:45

Fourth quarter

P — Bo Merrell 2 run (Allen kick). 6:25
P — Merrell 1 run (Merrell run), 1:10
S — Carrillo 2 run (Morrow kick), 0:11

Sweetwater Perryton

First Downs 18 13
Rushes-yards 53-283 35-87
Passing-yards 77 186
Comp-Att-Int 3-6-0 7-16-2
Punts-avg. 4-24 4-37
Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-yards 9-80 11-65

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Sweetwater: Carrillo 18-124, 2 TDs; Clyde Delao 11-60, Thompson 8-42, 1 TD Perryton: Merrell 17-47, 2 TDs; Jake Waide 13-48.
PASSING — Sweetwater: Carrillo 3-6-0, 77 yards, 1 TD. Perryton: Merrell 7-16-2, 186 yards.
RECEIVING — Sweetwater: Montgomery 2-58, 1 TD. Perryton: Allen 3-96.