Go Friday Night

Mustangs Ready For Homecoming

By RON HOWELL/The Reporter Sports Editor
Sweetwater is working on a four-game winning streak after last week's 42-0 shutout at Pecos. It was the first shutout of the year for the Mustangs (4-1), and also the team's biggest victory margin since the 2002 season.

But because this Friday's final non-district game against Levelland is also Sweetwater's homecoming, Coach Kent Jackson's squad has a chance to start a "new" winning streak as well. Until a loss to Midland Greenwood this past season, the Mustangs had won 21 straight homecoming contests dating back to 1982.

The latter streak is an indicator of the strong tradition that Sweetwater has long enjoyed, Jackson said. And the Mustangs will be heavily favored to win their 2004 homecoming.

Levelland, which plays in District 2-3A, is 2-3 and has given up an average of over 38 points a game. The Lobos' three defeats have come against Snyder (53-15), Graham (49-12) and Canyon (42-14).

Levelland, which played in a Class 4A district with Sweetwater for two years in 1994 and 1995, had beaten Seminole (35-20) and Lamesa (41-27) before losing to Canyon last week.

Friday's game will be the first meeting between Sweetwater and Levelland since 1999, when the Lobos won 21-18. Sweetwater had won the teams' previous four games during the 1990s, including a 14-7 area playoff victory in 1996.

Tomorrow's contest is also the last for the Mustangs until the start of District 4-3A play. Sweetwater is currently tied for the district's best record with Wylie and Snyder, who just happen to be the first two opponents on their schedule.

Levelland hasn't reached the playoffs since '96, and its last district title was 16 years ago. But this year's drop to Class 3A could help the Lobos turn things around, as could the fact that Brad Thiessen is the team's new coach after a highly successful 10-year run at Class 1A Stratford.

Levelland's two wins equal its total for all of last year, and Jackson said the new coach is already having a big impact. "It's real impressive to see the strides they've made," he said.

Levelland is picked by some publications to finish second in its district behind Lubbock Cooper, which handed the Mustangs their only loss in Week 1.

The Lobos are led on offense by senior quarterback Cedric Wade, who ran for 90 yards and threw for 39 against Canyon, and by sophomore running back Antron Washington, who ran for 102 yards. On defense, junior linebacker Ray Garza had a team-high nine tackles -- including six solos -- this past week.

• Lew
• September 30, 2004 4:01 PM

The Ramp

From: Stanley Browning 1966 May 18 2004 12:05:20PM
To: Lewis Patton 1970
(24) The Ramp Vs. The Stairs (in reply to 23)

Lew,
My feelings on the ramp mirror those previous eloquent postings by Mr. Redwine on the subject. The feelings and emotions that are stirred when thinking of my walks down the ramp still can give me goose bumps. It was an awesome experience to walk down that ramp with my teammates, huddle at the bottom of the ramp and then burst out onto the field to the cheers from the crowd.

I remember during my Senior year when we got the "new" lighting for the Bowl (the lighting on the poles located at the top of the Bowl were installed in 1965. Prior to then the lighting was located on telephone poles located on the field next to the walls of the bowl). The new lighting was hyped to be 5 times brighter than the old lighting and what a thrill it was to run out onto the field from the ramp into that new bright lights and the support of the Mustang fans, the fabulous band playing Peruna and the cheers from the cheerleaders.

• Lew
• September 30, 2004 11:23 AM

It's Time

From: Lewis Patton 1970 Sep 30 2004 8:53:26AM
To: ALL
(12) Homecoming 2004

Dear Fellow Mustangs,

As I get prepared to enjoy going to this year's Homecoming, I would like to take a moment to pause and reflect on opportunities and how fortunate I have been in life. Let me try and list for you some of the wonderful moments and opportunities this individual has been so blessed to have been afforded:

I hear the song by Tim McGraw, "Live Like You Are Dying" and it makes me stop and recount all the many blessings I have had the opportunity to enjoy.
Please understand, I write this not to crow or to brag, but to simply state how very fortunate I am:

I was able to enjoy growing up in Sweetwater. As far as I am concerned, there is no other place in the world that could have been better. I had the opportunity to have the best Mother, the best family I could ever have wished for. She taught me what it was going to take to survive without her. "The world never owes us a living" still rings through after some 40 years. I was so fortunate to know that at an early age.

I was able to have the best friends ever. Whether you all know this or not, my mission on this site is to try and re-pay all of you for what you gave me long ago. You all helped a kid that didn't have too much to offer, your friendship, and for that, I will continue to try and perk up everyone and try to support you all. In my mind and heart, I will always appreciate each and every one of you and just know that you are very important to me.

I have had the opportunity to raise 3 wonderful kids and am very proud of each one of them...and now I am proud of my grand babies. I am so fortunate. One of my Grand daughters wrote President Bush....and told him how proud she was of him for the job he has done. How fortunate I am to have a 9 year old grand daughter like that.

I had the opportunity to serve my country, and make certain friends for life. Was able to go to Germany twice. Saw things I never could have imagined...castles in Germany, the Black Forest, the Rhine River..

I had the opportunity to love a lady with such passion, to love so strong that even though we are divorced, we still remain friends and civil towards one another...that is important to me.

I had the chance to ride in a race car at 170 mph, tryout for the CBS show Survivor, walk across 10 feet of burning coals, be on a radio station here in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Of course there were bad times, that's part of life. I had the opportunity to pray for my friend's families during some aweful times..
I had the chance to help. I am fortunate for be employed in the best job because I love it, not for the money.

All in all, I just feel so fortunate to be able to tell you all this.
And to think, I am so fortunate to live like I am dying.

Lew

• Lew
• September 30, 2004 11:06 AM

2004 Sweetwater Homecoming

It's here!!!!!
Time for Homecoming!!!!
Time to Level the Loboes!!!!!

Lew

• Lew
• September 27, 2004 2:17 PM

That Time of Year

From: DAVID REDWINE 1969 Dec 9 2003 12:43:03PM
To: ALL
(1) That time of the year

My life has been really crazy the past couple of months and I just wanted to slow down for a minute today and pass on some thoughts. I had a long drive the other day and I thought about all the folks on this site and about the last couple of years.

From time to time I hear people say they wouldn't change a single thing about their life even if they could. Well I would change a lot of things in my life if I had that opportunity. I would have known all of you much better many years earlier. I would have been a little braver with my feelings and a little less apprehensive. I would have been a lot less judgemental with my thoughts and explored the things I didn't understand instead of taking a firm stance against them.

On the lighter side I would have laughed more and been a bit more relaxed. I am not sure my life would have been different but it would have been better.

To all of my friends here my wish is for you and yours to have the happiest of holidays.

God bless each of you,

David

• Lew
• September 26, 2004 9:41 PM

Mustangs Beat Up On Pecos

Mustangs beat up on Pecos

By RON HOWELL/The Reporter Sports Editor
PECOS -- Much of the 2004 football season has seemed like a 1980s or 1990s time warp for Sweetwater.

Three-fifths of the Mustangs' schedule so far has been played against teams that Sweetwater used to face in district competition back when it was a Class 4A powerhouse.

And so far, the results have been quite satisfying for Coach Kent Jackson's Class 3A squad.

Sweetwater (4-1) is now a perfect 3-for-3 against its old rivals after Friday's 42-0 massacre at Pecos. The Mustangs' other "time warp" wins in 2004 have come against San Angelo Lake View (14-7) in Week 2 and Andrews (28-21) in Week 4.

This victory -- Sweetwater's 16th straight against Pecos dating back to 1982 -- was truly a team effort as five different players scored, while on defense the Mustangs forced six turnovers and recorded their first shutout of the year.

A rout seemed inevitable almost from the outset.

Sweetwater kicked off to start the game, but Pecos (1-4) fumbled and Justin Clowers recovered for the Mustangs at the Eagles' 17. Just three plays later Sweetwater was in the end zone as fullback Alan Copeland went in from 13 yards out with 10:44 left in the first quarter.

After the defense forced a quick punt, Sweetwater scored again to make it 14-0 on a 12-play, 71-yard drive capped by a 25-yard pass from quarterback Jeremy Thompson to halfback Kendal Carrillo.

After recovering another Pecos fumble, Sweetwater found the end zone again on its next possession. However, a holding penalty nullified the score, and Carrillo eventually punted. But the Mustangs didn't squander their next chance.

The defense held again and Pecos was forced to punt from its own end zone. The kick was returned 27 yards by Sweetwa-ter's Skye Green to Pecos' 18.

Green's return led to another three-play scoring drive, as Joseph Banyard went over from 10 yards out for the touchdown. Parker Morrow's third straight extra point kick made it 21-0 in Sweetwater's favor with 5:33 to play in the first half.

The start of the second half was delayed because of lightning which was detected in the area, but once it got under way, the Mustangs wasted little time picking up where they left off.

After returning the kickoff to near midfield, Sweetwater used up nearly half of the third quarter with a ball-control drive. It resulted in a 21-yard scoring run by Thompson (14 carries, 113 yards), who broke the 100-yard rushing barrier for the second week in a row and also had his best game throwing the ball, completing 3 of 5 attempts for 46 yards with no interceptions.

Trailing 28-0, Pecos made its most serious threat of the night. A 48-yard throw from quarterback Saul Pina to Rashad Terry gave the Eagles a first-and-goal at Sweetwater's 2. But the defense stiffened at that point, resulting in three straight incompletions and a four-yard loss on a fourth-down running play to give the ball back on downs to the Mustangs.

The defense also played a big part in Sweetwater's last pair of touchdowns in the fourth quar-ter. The first scoring drive was set up by Brittan Pittman's in-terception that gave the Mustangs the ball at Pecos' 42, and it resulted in a 15-yard TD run by Duone Cunnings. Morrow's fifth extra point made it 35-0.

Cunnings then became the second Sweetwater player this season -- and second in three weeks -- to score touchdowns on both sides of the ball. With Pecos threatening again to end the Mustangs' bid for a shutout, Cunnings picked off Pina's pass and returned it 83 yards to paydirt with 4:11 left in the game.

Sweetwater limited Pecos to 234 yards, and much of it came in the fourth quarter after the outcome had been decided.

Clowers recovered two fumbles, both in the first half, and caused another. He also had a pass breakup and five tackles.

Among the other defensive standouts in the contest for the Mustangs were Jacinto Rosas with eight tackles and one pass breakup; Justin Adames with seven tackles and one fumble caused; Edward Salgado, also with seven tackles; and Pittman with an interception, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Carrillo also had an intercep-tion and Green and Rosas also broke up passes, while Garrett Clayton also caused a fumble.

Sweetwater will play its final non-district game here Friday against Levelland.

• Lew
• September 25, 2004 3:14 PM

Business Trip

The Sweetwater Mustangs are playing the Pecos Eagles tonight in Pecos. The Mustangs do not need to be over-confident. The Mustangs should just consider this a business trip, as in taking care of business.
It looks as though the main gun of Pecos is Rashad Terry, a wide reciever and possibly the fastest human in west Texas.

From everything I can gather about the Eagles, (which wasn't much) the Eagles cough the ball up pretty regularly and the coach was noted as saying in their newspaper that his players "needed to grow up." Ouch.

It seems it would be easy for the Mustangs to not take this game very seriously, but let it be known that is a dangerous thing to do on any Friday night.

The Mustangs just need to take care of business, and they will be good-to-go.

Lew

• Lew
• September 24, 2004 7:29 AM

Report From Pecos

The following entry is the last entry posted about the Pecos Eagles from the PECOS FREE ENTERPRISE.

Lew

The Pecos Eagles unveiled their new artificial turf field Friday night for homecoming fans against the Kermit Yellowjackets. But the Eagles’ problems against Kermit were pretty much the same as a year ago on natural grass before their homecoming crowd.

The Eagles, who committed five turnovers in a loss to Kermit last season, turned the ball over six times Friday night against the Jackets. Combined with a bad punt snap that led to a safety and Hunter Hardaway’s big night on offense, it send the Eagles down to a 23-8 loss in their first official home game of the 2004 season.

Pecos had to play their scheduled home opener last week against Denver City in Monahans, and despite four fumbles and 10 penalties, the Eagles were able to rack up enough rushing yards to come away with a 31-13 victory. But playing against a tougher defense on Friday, the Eagles were held to under 100 yards rushing, and when a potential game-tying touchdown was called back late in the second quarter by a holding call, Pecos was unable to get the score back. Instead, they saw Hardaway take a screen pass from Landon Forga and turn it into a 94-yard touchdown with 1:26 left before halftime for a 14-0 Kermit lead.

“We can’t do that against good teams like that. We just left people running free,” said Eagles’ coach Patrick Willis. “We just need to grow up and compete against good teams and cut out those kind of mistakes in big games.”

Luis Ortega’s five-yard score was nullified by a penalty. Three runs after that netted just five yards, and Saul Pina couldn’t connect on a 10-yard fade pass to Rashad Terry in the corner of the end zone on fourth down. The Eagles would stop Cooter Green for a four-yard loss on the next play, but the Jackets then took advantage of Pecos’ aggressive pass rush, with Forga just dumping the ball over the line to Hardaway, who escaped two Eagle tacklers before breaking clear on his long scoring run.

Kermit had taken a 7-0 lead in the opening period when Hardaway connected with Cedric Thompson on a 28-yard option pass, which was set up by a 41-yard pass by Forga to Green. The score came after Randy Castillo picked off his second pass of the game by Pina, after a Gabby Saucedo fumble had given Pecos back the ball one play after Castillo’s first pickoff on the Eagles’ opening drive of the game.

The big first half passes turned out to be the only completions of the night for the Jackets, as Forga’s first two passes of the second half were picked off by the Eagles. Pina deflected a pass by Forga that was intercepted by Jonathan Carrasco, while Terry stopped in front of a pass to Hardaway and picked it off, both coming in the first 2 1/2 minutes of the third quarter.

But in between, the Eagles saw Kermit add another two points to their lead thanks to the punt snap over Eddie Vela’s head, and it came after another holding call wiped out a seven-yard gain by Ortega and Luis Licon couldn’t hold onto a long pass by Pina after getting behind Kermit’s secondary.

“They had a good defensive scheme, but we dropped one touchdown pass, and in a couple of crucial situations fumbled the ball or got a penalty,” Willis said.

Licon had pulled in a 43-yard pass from Pina in the second quarter, on the drive that was stopped by the holding penalty, while after Terry’s interception Pina would hit him with a short pass that turned into a 23-yard gain, setting up Ortega’s 8-yard TD run 6 1/2 minutes into the third period. Booker Fobbs added the two-point conversion run, which got Pecos within a touchdown and another conversion of tying the game, and the Eagles would stop Kermit on their next two possessions.

However, after Hardaway was stopped for an eight-yard loss by Chad Evans on a 3rd-and-9 play, Castillo‘s punt was muffed by Terry and recovered by Raul Resendez at the Eagles’ 15-yard-line. Four plays later, Hardaway got outside the Eagles’ defense on the left side for his second touchdown of the night, a 5-yard run. Michael Kittley’s extra point gave the Jackets a 15-point lead with 5:39 to play.

Pecos had one last chance to get back into the game, and drove down to the Kermit 25-yard line. But on a 2nd-and-10 play Pina tried to hit Terry down the right sideline, only to have Forga come over from his safety position to intercept the pass at the 4-yard-line to seal the victory.

• Lew
• September 23, 2004 4:38 PM

Mustangs Ready for Pecos

This Friday, Sweetwater meets up in a non-district game with a former Class 4A district foe that it dominated during the 1980s and '90s.

Sound familiar? Only it's not San Angelo Lake View we are talking about. That game was three weeks ago, remember.

Instead, the Mustangs are heading to Pecos for their longest road trip of the season. The last time these two old rivals met was in 1997, when they were both in District 4-4A along with Lake View, Andrews, Big Spring and Fort Stockton. Sweet-water's 41-18 win that year was its 15th straight over Pecos dating back to its only defeat in 1981.

Tomorrow's 7:30 p.m. game will mark only the second time the teams haven't met in a district contest. In 1983, Sweetwater and Pecos played twice, with the first game not counting as a district matchup.

A lot has happened since the last meeting in '97, of course. Both teams have since dropped to Class 3A. But Sweetwater is in District 4-3A, while Pecos is a member of 3-3A. That district also includes Midland Greenwood, a team Sweetwater faced a couple of weeks ago on its last road trip and defeated 52-25.

Sweetwater (3-1) and Pecos (1-3) have opposite records this season, and the Mustangs come in with a three-game winning streak. Sweetwater has defeated Lake View (14-7) Greenwood and Andrews (28-21) since losing to Lubbock Cooper, 17-14, in its season opener.

Sweetwater is Pecos' first opponent above the 2A level this season, although the Eagles have faced both Denver City and Kermit, who were in Class 3A until dropping down this year. The Eagles defeated Denver City, 31-13, for their only win but lost to Kermit, 23-8, two weeks ago and fell to Crane, 34-28, this past Friday.

The Eagles have a couple of outstanding skill position play-ers in sophomore running back Luis Ortega and senior Rashad Terry, who plays both wide receiver and cornerback. Ortega, the lone back in Pecos' spread offense, ran for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Crane and had a season-high 227 yards in the win over Denver City.

Terry -- who Sweetwater coach Kent Jackson described as "the fastest kid in the region" -- has two touchdowns of over 80 yards to his credit, one on a pass reception and the other on a 93-yard fumble return against Crane.

• Lew
• September 23, 2004 4:27 PM

"Stuff"

Today is my birthday!!! Yea.......
So my gift to ya'll is an entry from Kay Parker at Classmates.Com on how to make the popular "Stuff". Hope ya'll have a super day!!

Lew

From: KAY PARKER 1969 Jun 19 2003 9:26:08AM
To: TOMMY TABERS 1977
(25) High School Gags and Comics (in reply to 24)

Tom,

I don't really know dates but my Dad worked for Mr. McCoy for years as a butcher. When Mr. McCoy decided to retire my Dad bought the store from him. I was very young. I know I was in high school when my Dad finally closed the store.

At our 20 year reunion Susan Wills husband ?? Bewley asked me to dance. While we were dancing he told me that he had a confession to make...he and his friends used to steal coke bottles from the back of the store and take them in and sell them. He said my Dad never knew but I bet he did. He was a very quiet, kind, and caring man. I am sure he knew just like the people at the little gas station by Ray's knew I stole their coke bottles and sold them back to them.

Those were the days.

Recipe for "stuff"
1 glass of crushed ice.
Table salt
1 lime

Layer crushed ice, salt, and lime in a glass. (put in ice, sprinkle with salt, squeeze on lime juice and repeat until glass is full.) That is all there is to it. You eat the ice and drink as it melts.

As far as the Baker Hotel. I do remember it burning and I remember going downtown to see it. It was really sad. We used to have dances on the top floor when we were in high school. I remember sitting on the window sill and looking down at the street and the cars making the drag. I thought I was on top of the world. I guess at the time I was.

Kay

• Lew
• September 22, 2004 5:26 AM

More Memories of SHS...

From: LEWIS PATTON 1970 Jun 3 2003 4:03:44PM
To: ALL
(1) High School Gags and Comics

One of the funniest guys I ever met, even to this day, was Greg Densmore (1969)
Greg would absolutely crack me up!
The thing was...you could be having a "normal" conversation with Greg...and all of a sudden, he would repeat something you just said, and make it sound like he originated it!! Then to top it off...he would then put that sick, saterical laugh he had behind it...you just could not help but laugh....I mean the guy must have been dropped as a baby..he was just that funny...
Another guy that would just crack me up was Calvin Schuler...
We would be in art class...and Calvin would be sitting very quite...and then all of a sudden...you would think he just had a fit...and he would start acting like he couldn't control normal muscle motor functions....He was hilarious..
There were times that my sides hurt from laughter. I can't tell ya'll how much that was like a shot in the arm for me. Laughter was the best medicene.
Not to be outdone...John Price was a great and funny guy too. He could do the best Johnny Carson I ever saw.
Seems funny to me that the best comedians in school were all from the great class of 69. I have to tell you there were some classic moments I will never forget.
I will go into some of the gags later on, but these guys are on my "All-America" team for comics...man, they really should have gone into show business.

Lew

• Lew
• September 22, 2004 5:11 AM

Memories....

From: Rodger Bruce 1966 Feb 23 2004 1:09:23PM
To: David Redwine 1969
(262) Whatever Happened To..... (in reply to 261)

Gene Offield was famous for taking his driver ed classes to the lake sking during the summer, a habit that eventually got him fired . He also had us drive out to the KPAR tv tower and measure its height with a 300' track tape. We took drivers ed during school in the 9th grade in a 1960 chevy standard shift car that was on its eigth clutch. One of his teaching techniques was to find an empty garage and have each member of the group practice parking. One day the homeowner stayed home due to illness and was shocked to watch a school car drive into her garage 4 times. Rodger

• Lew
• September 21, 2004 4:33 PM

What Andrews Said

The following is from the Andrews County News:
Thanks to Rudy Diaz.

Lew

Penalties hurt Mustangs in Sweetwater loss
(Sunday, September 19, 2004

by RUDY DIAZ
Sports Editor

If the final outcome in the Andrews Mustangs and Sweetwater instant football classic Friday night in Sweetwater would have come down to “heart and guts”, coach Blaine Sprngston’s boys would have walked off beautiful Mustang Bowl with an easy win.
If mistakes had anything to do with the final outcome, and they did, Andrews would have come up short.
They did.

In a game Springston pretty much labeled as a “give away”, his Andrews boys came up on the losing end of a hard-to-swallow 28-21 contest.
The game itself had everything a sports fan might want, but not a coach.
Said Springston moments after realizing it was over, “I’m disappointed because we gave them the ball game. We gave them the first three touchdowns on stupid penalties. That is something we are going to have to address. We’ll punish them for it and if they don’t respond they just won’t play anymore.
“We played much better the second half. Early in the ball game is what killed us.”
Three first half personal penalties on the Mustangs really opened the door for Sweetwater, and like all good teams they took advantage.
Then with the game tied at 21-21 with just 5:25 left in the fourth quarter, and the outcome still very much in the air, Sweetwater managed to put together a 65-yard drive that was capped off by a Joseph Banyard five-yard touchdown run with just 34 seconds left in the game to give the red Mustangs the win.
The game did not lack in excitement, but at the end the results were not what Andrews fans had hoped for.
On the other side of things, it was what Sweetwater coach Kent Jackson had prepared his troops for.
Said Jackson, “When it mattered the most our guys up front were able to take over and help us put a big, big drive together.
“It was a huge, huge win over a great program and a bunch of guys that are going to put a bunch of wins together. It was great work for us tonight. This is what we needed. We we’ve worked for.
“It was a great thrill and we are going to enjoy for a while, and get back to work tomorrow for hopefully bigger things to come.”
Going into the game no one in their right football mind expected a defensive battle and in the first 24 minutes – they would not get one.
Andrews took the opening kickoff and a big 41-yard pass play from quarterback Jeremy Bueno to tight end Chris Stephens quickly had the “good” Mustangs threatening. Three plays later the threat was gone when Stephens tipped a high pass up in the air and Brittan Pittman intercepted at the SW 20 with 9:57 left in the first quarter.
Three plays later, Sweet-water gave it right back when Chris Sauceda recovered a fumble at the SW 20 yard line.
Just like that Andrews had their second scoring threat, but three plays went for minus three yards and on fourth down an incomplete pass gave Sweetwater the ball back.
Sweetwater managed their first down of the game with 6:03 left in the first quarter on a Kendall Carrillo six-yard run. After that the AHS defense rose to the occasion and forced a punt, but Cassidy Hamilton was stripped of the ball and Justin Clowers recovered the ball and raced 33 yards for the game’s first touchdown. Parker Marrow added the extra point and with 4:45 left in the first quarter Sweetwater led 7-0.
Andrews responded just the way one would expect. They took over at their own 35 and under a very heavy rush Bueno somehow managed to get a pass off to Michael Grady for 44 yards to the Sweetwater 21. A Bueno run and sack moved them back to the 26, and on third down Bueno and Grady connected for four yards to the 22. AHS went for it on fourth down and when Bueno hit Ray Dunn to the SW six-yard line, they earned an extra set of downs.
Two plays later, Bueno hit Hunter Morren with a six-yard TD pass and Bueno kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with just 48 seconds left in the first quarter.
Just like Andrews had an answer for the Sweetwater score, the red Mustangs had an answer for the black Mustangs score.
They started their next drive at their own 20 and the first of three, first-half personal fouls on AHS gave them a quick first down. A 20-yard draw by Alan Copeland and a 34-yard scramble by SW quarterback Jeremy Thompson moved the ball to the AHS six yard line. Three plays later, Banyard scored from the two-yard line off the wishbone formation and after Morrow added the PAT, Sweetwater led 14-7 with 9:35 left in the first half.
Andrews went three and out in their next offensive possession, but three plays into the next SW drive, Pablo Gutierrez recovered a fumble at their own 38 to stop a legitimate Sweetwater drive.
Springton’s boys turned it around and marched 62 yards on just five plays and tied the game 14-14 when Bueno hit Hamilton with a 10-yard touchdown pass. While Hamilton got the score, it was a circus-like catch by AHS’s Jesse Ortiz with a defender all over him for 25 yards to the SW 10-yard line that was the highlight of the drive. Still, after Bueno split the uprights on the PAT, the game was deadlocked with 2:52 left in the first half.
Which was just enough time for Sweetwater to march 65 yards and take a 21-14 lead just before halftime. It took SW 12 plays (11 of them runs) to cover the 65 yards of real estate. With SW out of timeouts and the ball at the AHS 16 yard line, Thompson took a QB option right up the middle of the Andrews defense for a touchdown with just 14 seconds left before halftime. Morren added the extra point and the red Mustangs went into halftime with a 21-14 lead.
A different and fired-up Andrews team came out for the second half and it showed right away.
Sweetwater received the second half kickoff, but three plays later Eddie Salgado intercepted a Thompson pass at the AHS 42. Salgado was stripped of the ball on the way down and Ortiz picked it up and raced 22 yards to SW 20 yard line.
After a McQueen five-yard run, Bueno threw a perfect lob pass into the end zone and Hamilton made a great catch for the tying touch-down. Bueno kicked the extra point and with 10 minutes left in the third quarter the game was again tied at 21-21.
The good Mustangs again held Sweetwater to a three and out and took over at their own 42. After an AHS penalty, Bueno hit a streaking Hamilton down the middle of the field for 49 yards to the SW 16 yard line. But a short run and three incomplete passes gave SW the ball back and the “dog fight” was about to go to another level.
For the third time in the second half, the Andrews “11” on defense totally dominated the SW offense. The AHS “11” with the front four of Garrett Ballew, Brad Villa, Gutierrez, and Morren, plus linebackers Roy Rangel, Dunn, and Stephens and the secondary of Chris Sauceda, Salgado, Ortiz and Larry Grant simply were magnificent. They didn’t just toy with the SW offense, they took total control.
After their third three and out, AHS took over at their own 19 late in the third quarter. A McQueen 11-yard run gave them a quick first down, but after that the SW defense forced a punt of their own and took over at the AHS 47 headed into the fourth quarter.
Sweetwater managed to move the ball to the AHS 21, but Morrow was wide left on a 31-yard field goal attempt with 8:20 left in the game and the game not only remained tied, but the ball changed hands.
Behind a 16-yard run by McQueen and a Bueno to Ricky Carrasco 29-yard pass completion to the SW 35, the AHS offense was threatening. But four plays netted just one yard and SW took over with 5:25 left in the game.
Behind huge runs by Thompson and Carrillo, the SW offense moved the ball to the AHS 16-yard line with just 80 seconds left in the game. Runs by Banyard and Carrillo moved it to the AHS 5, and on the next play Banyard went wide right for the touchdown. Morrow kicked the PAT and with just 34 ticks left on the game clock, the red Mustangs had the lead, 28-21.
The good Mustangs made things interesting at the end as they marched into Sweetwater territory behind a Bueno to Hamilton pass completion, but a holding penalty eventually did AHS in and the game ended when Carrillo intercepted a Bueno desperation pass at the SW eight-yard line.
Despite the setback, Andrews played the way they always do – with a lot of pride and guts.
“I’m not disappointed in our kids, they played their guts out,” added Springston.
“Just like true Mustangs, Andrews Mustangs, they give everything they’ve got, all the time. As long as we have that we have a chance to be really, really good.
“We just beat ourselves.”
Yardage wise, the game was pretty even with Andrews totaling 358 yards as Bueno got the majority on 18 of 32 passing for 322 yards. Hamilton had the most receiving yards with 117 on six catches, while Ortiz caught two for 37 and Dunn had three catches for 35 yards. On the ground, McQueen gained 31 yards on nine carries to pace their running game.
For Sweetwater, they ended up with 303 total yards with 290 coming from their running attack. Thompson had the most with 106 on 13 carries, while Banyard added 74 on 14 rushes.
Andrews will finally get to play at home this coming Friday when they host Greenwood at the Mustang Bowl starting at 7:30 p.m.

• Lew
• September 20, 2004 5:52 AM

Sweetwater Wins Thriller Over Andrews

Go ahead and call the current Sweetwater team young. You'd get little argument.

But be sure to also include words such as "talented," "resilient," "determined" and "capable" in the same sentence.

Anyone who witnessed Friday's 28-21 win over Andrews can attest that all of those other adjectives fit this year's squad.

Sweetwater put fans through a roller-coaster of emotions in the contest. But when crunch time arrived, Coach Kent Jack-son's Mustangs responded with a championship-caliber touchdown drive to pull out the win.

Joseph Banyard's 5-yard run with only 34 seconds left broke a 21-all tie, capping a 12-play, 65-yard drive that used up almost five minutes of clock. Banyard's touchdown allowed Sweetwater (3-1) to win for the third consecutive time after a season-opening, three-point loss at Lubbock Cooper.

Andrews fell to 1-2, despite getting a 317-yard, three-touchdown passing performance by quarterback Jeremy Bueno.

Sweetwater had endured a frustrating second half prior to its game-winning drive, failing to reach the end zone after taking a 21-14 lead into the intermission. Before taking over at their 35 with 5:25 to play in the game, the Mustangs' only serious second-half drive had resulted in a missed 36-yard field goal attempt.

But Sweetwater's ground attack, which produced 291 yards in all, worked to near perfection on the winning drive.

The Mustangs' talented -- there's that word again -- running combo of Banyard, Kendal Carrillo, fullback Alan Copeland and quarterback Jeremy Thompson took turns chewing up real estate against Andrews as Sweetwater steadily moved down the field. Only two of the runs, an 18-yarder and 14-yarder by Thompson, who led the team with 106 yards rushing -- went for more than nine yards.

Following a 5-yarder by Carrillo which gave Sweetwater a first and goal at the 5, Banyard took a handoff and sprinted in for the go-ahead score, his second TD of the night. Parker Morrow added his fourth extra point to make it 28-21.

But even with just slightly ov-er a minute left, the lead didn't feel all that safe due to the Andrews aerial assault.

Starting at their 30, the visiting Mustangs managed a net gain of only 15 yards -- in part because of a holding penalty -- and a final Hail Mary pass from Bueno was intercepted by Car-rillo to end the game.

"We did some things all night to hurt ourselves on drives," Jackson said.

"But when it mattered, to go 65 yards like we did, I couldn't be prouder. What a statement."

Though hardly air-tight -- no pun intended -- Sweetwater's defense made several big stops to keep Andrews from taking a lead in the contest. And the of-fense always found a way to get the lead back for Sweetwater after Andrews tied the game at 7-7, 14-14 and 21-21.

"We gave up some big plays, but when it mattered, we got it done," Jackson said. "I really believe our kids grew up a lot tonight, and that speaks volumes for them."

Sweetwater drew first blood in the contest with a big defensive play on a punt return. Jus-tin Clowers reached in to strip Andrews' Cassidy Hamilton of the ball, then ran 34 yards the other way for a 7-0 lead with 4:45 left in the first quarter.

Actually, there were a couple of huge defensive plays, both by Brittan Pittman, prior to Clowers' heroics. Pittman intercepted a Bueno pass after Andrews had driven to Sweetwater's 21 on its opening possession. Andrews got it back deep in Mus-tang territory after a fumble, but Pittman broke up a fourth-down pass to end that threat.

Andrews tied it at 7 in the final minute of the first quarter when Bueno completed a short pass to Hunter Morren, but the Mustangs regained the lead on a 2-yard run by Banyard at the 9:35 mark of the second period.

Andrews took advantage of another fumble to knot it up again, 14-14, on a 9-yard pass from Bueno to Hamilton. But it gave Sweetwater enough time to stage a 12-play, 70-yard drive that resulted in Thompson's 17-yard touchdown run with only 12 seconds left in the half.

Andrews tied the game for the last time, 21-21, after intercepting a Sweetwater pass on the third play of the third quarter and returning it to the Mustang 20. On second down from the 15, Bueno connected with Hamilton for the touchdown.

Andrews had two more good chances to score, but Banyard sacked Bueno to end one of the threats and Carrillo batted away a pass on fourth down to end the other.

Sweetwater makes its longest trip of the season this Friday, as the Mustangs go to Pecos.

By RON HOWELL

• Lew
• September 18, 2004 5:39 PM

Real Mustangs Win

The Sweetwater Mustangs defeat Andrews, 28-21 last night at Mustang Bowl.
Here are the stats:

Sweetwater 28, Andrews 21

Sweetwater’s ground game finally wore down pass-happy Andrews on Friday as the Mustangs scored in the final seconds to top Andrews, 28-21.

Andrews 7 7 7 0—21
Sweetwater 7 14 0 7—28

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

S — Justin Clowers 43 fumble return, (Parker Marrow kick)
A — 5 pass from Jeremy Bueno to Hunter Morron, (Bueno kick)

Second Quarter

S — Joseph Banyard 2 run, (Morrow kck)
A — 10 pass Bueno to Cassidy Hamilton, (Bueno kick)
S — 12 run Jeremy Thompson, (Morrow kick)

Third Quarter

A — 18 pass from Bueno to Hamilton, (Bueno kick)

Fourth Quarter

S — 5 run Banyard, (Morrow kick)

Andrews Sweetwater

First Downs 10 18
Rushes-yards 8-31 58-280
Passing-yards 321 5
Comp-Att-Int 18-31-1 1-4-1
Punts 2-32 2-45
Fumbles-lost 2-1 3-2
Penalties-yards 8-90 5-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Andrews: SW: Thompson 19-104, Banyard 14-62, Kendal Carrillo 12-53

PASSING — Andrews: Bueno 18-31-1 321, Sweetwater: Thompson 1-4-1 5

RECEIVING — Andrews: Hamilton 6-123, 2 TDs. SW: Carrillo 1-5

• Lew
• September 18, 2004 9:59 AM

The Red Sea

Dear Sweetwater Mustang Fans:

Just a note to say I hope everyone attending tonight's game at Mustang Bowl wears red. I think it would be awesome if the whole bowl were a Sea of Red for our visitors from Andrews.

Remember, Mustang Bowl has a history (and the Andrews Coach used to coach here) of being loud and supportive. Let's show the fine folks from Andrews the power of the Red Sea!!!!!

Go Sweetwater!!!!!!!!!!!

Lew

• Lew
• September 17, 2004 6:16 AM
• Comments (1)

What Andrews is Saying

The following is from the Andrews County News:

Sweetwater not lacking in size and speed
(Thursday, September 16, 2004

by RUDY DIAZ
Sports Editor

In the past the annual football wars between Andrews High School and Sweetwater have been billed as the battle for Mustang supremacy.
Both teams have always had excellent programs, but there might not be one other non-district team they would rather beat than the Mustangs of a different uniform color.
The coaches label it as “respect”.
The players are more cut- throat and label it as just not liking each other.

Friday night in Sweetwater, the battle of Mustangs comes to a head once more, and all we can say is “watch out”.
Sweetwater is coming off a solid 52-25 shellacking of an average Greenwood team, and to be as blunt as possible – they looked good.
Said AHS coach Blaine Springston, “They might be one of the best teams I’ve seen at Sweetwater since I’ve been here. They are very, very good.
“Their offense is explosive with a lot of team speed, and their offensive line is just huge. We are excited about playing them, it should be a great high school football game.”
For the last few years anyone that has any kind of high school football knowledge about teams from this area have always mentioned Sweetwater as the team to “watch out for” in the years to come.
The years to come they were talking about were this year, but more so their 2005 ball club.
They pretty much have it all, and the scary part is that they are young.
Their offensive line is simply one of the best in this area. From left to right they go in pounds, 260, 230, 240, 240, 275 and 220, with three of those players being underclassmen.
Their best running back is Joseph Banyard (5’10”, 167), and he is only a sophomore. Their other big threat is Kendal Carrillo, a 6-foot, 180 bruiser, and if the name sounds familiar it is because his brother was their star quarterback of a couple of years ago, Michael Carrillo.
Throw in quarterback Jeremy Thompson, who is an excellent runner, and Sweetwater has the potential to burn the lights out on their side of the scoreboard.
“They are huge, and it appeared to me that they just wore down Greenwood,” said Springston.
“The game was close with 15 minutes to play, and they just exploded. The key for us is to try and stop their inside game and force them to go outside. They have a very strong power game, but at the same time have the explosiveness for the big plays.
“They have a very dangerous backfield with a great team speed and are very athletic.”
Defensively, Sweetwater averages 210 pounds up front, and again they are loaded with team speed. Their linebackers are fast and athletic. Banyard is also considered their best line-backer, with Justin Adams, also a sophomore, patrolling the middle.
The secondary is led by Carrillo at strong safety and junior Parker Marrow at free safety. They have done a good job on pass coverage, but no team has really thrown the ball much against them. Greenwood did hurt them with their power game.
As a unit, Sweetwater starts six underclassmen.
“Carrillo at safety and Banyard at linebacker are very good players,” mentioned Springston.
“Greenwood had some success with their power running game, and we have to control the line of scrimmage. We have to win the battle in the trenches to be able to win this game.
“We’ve had good practices this week and I really think the kids will be ready to play. Sweet-water is a very tough place to play, but it is an exciting place.
“Our boys feel good about themselves after their win over Monahans, and we expect a very tough game from Sweetwater.”
Andrews will still be without the services of linebacker Ray Dunn and lineman Jose Garcia.
Kickoff time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Sweetwater’s much-talked about Mustang Bowl.

• Lew
• September 17, 2004 5:55 AM

District 4-3A Living Up To It's Reputation

District 4-3A living up to its reputation so far

By Ron Howell/The Reporter Sports Editor
Since the current District 4-3A was formed in early February as part of the University Interscholastic League's latest realignment, the conventional wisdom has been that it would be one of the toughest, if not the toughest, Class 3A football districts in the state.

When Sweetwater was placed in the same district with Wylie, Snyder, Merkel and Clyde, head coach Kent Jackson compared it to a favorite breakfast drink.

"The travel is less (than before)," he said, "but it's like orange juice -- it's really concentrated. The potency has gone up."

"Potent" certainly describes the way all of the Mustangs' district foes have looked three games into the 2004 season. The other four members of District 4-3A are off to a 9-3 start and all have winning records.

But as Jackson alluded to in February, that's hardly surprising because Wylie, Snyder and Merkel all advanced to at least the third round of the playoffs a year ago -- as did Sweetwater, by the way. And Clyde, the one team that didn't make the postseason, handed Wylie its onlydistrict loss in 2003.

Although I have reservations about sending three teams to the playoffs in every district from Class 2A and up, the fact is that at least one very deserving team in District 4-3A will be left at home this season.

That, plus the fact that most of the schools are already long-time rivals with each other, only heightens the anticipation and excitement about the district race that will be fast and furious. It gets started on Oct. 8, and ends on Nov. 5 after a mere four games -- plus an open date -- for each school. Sweetwater is off on Oct. 29, the week before hosting Merkel to end the regular season.

Most of Sweetwater's non-district foes -- Pecos being the only exception -- are also playing at least one other team in District 4-3A.

That could make it a bit easier to gauge the Mustangs' standing among their fellow district heavyweights until they start butting heads against each other in less than a month. Here's a closer look at how each of the other four 4-3A schools has fared so far in non-district:

Wylie (2-1): Until they were derailed 42-28 by another perennial power, Aledo, last week, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 8 in the state and looked as if they might be the early district favorite. And they may still be, though it's certainly not a clear cut thing.

Quarterback Case Keenum threw for 444 yards and Michael Kiger ran for 327 in Wylie's first two games as the Bull-dogs disposed of two potential playoff squads -- Class 4A San Angelo Lake View (38-20) and Class 3A Midland Greenwood (27-0) -- in impressive fashion.

But the big two were held in check last Friday. Keenum was 13-of-27 for 173 yards with two interceptions, and Kiger rushed for only 41 yards on 16 carries.

Wylie will host Sweetwater to start district, but the Bulldogs must first survive their remaining non-district schedule. After going to Vernon this week, Wylie plays a pair of state-ranked teams in Class 3A -- Graham (No. 6) and Decatur (No. 4).

Even if Wylie loses all three, which would give it a sub-.500 record entering district, it may not mean much. Remember, the Bulldogs actually lost four straight games a year ago, including their district opener to Clyde, before reeling off seven consecutive wins and advancing to the Division I semifinals, where they fell to eventual champion Gainesville.

Snyder (3-0): Here's where comparisons can get interesting, because Snyder has almost the same non-district schedule as Sweetwater.

Levelland, Lubbock Cooper, Midland Greenwood, San Angelo Lake View and Andrews all scheduled games with both the Mustangs and Tigers.

So far, the only common opponent has been Lubbock Cooper, which beat Sweetwater 17-14 in its season opener but lost to Snyder 20-14 this past Fri-day. But Snyder hosts Midland Greenwood -- which is still winless after falling to Sweet-water, 52-25 -- this week and travels to Lake View on Sept. 24. The Chiefs (0-3) lost to Sweetwater, 14-7, in Week 2.

The game with Lubbock Cooper was the first real test for Snyder, which smashed Levelland (53-15) and Lubbock Estacado (33-0) to open the year. The Tigers typically don't start out this well, but if their early form holds, a 6-0 non-district record isn't out of the question -- assuming they can beat Andrews at home on Oct. 1.

Merkel (2-1): Now that the Badgers have ended their long playoff drought -- they made it for the first time since 1963 this past season -- they are eager to make it an annual event.

And with Riley Lambert, last season's District 3-3A MVP, at quarterback, Merkel certainly can't be overlooked. So far, the team has close wins over Class 3A Monahans (27-19) and 2A Colorado City (28-21), with the only defeat coming last week in a 21-14 setback to Holliday, the No. 2-ranked team in Class 2A.

Merkel's next three non-district games all appear winnable as the Badgers entertain Ballinger this Friday, then travel to Breckenridge on Sept. 24 and to Lake View on Oct. 1. Merkel then has an open date before starting district against Wylie.

Clyde (2-1): Clyde has the same record as Wylie, as well as the same nickname, and last year's head-to-head win proved that the Bulldogs from Callahan County could hold their own against the Taylor County version. But Clyde hasn't made the playoffs since 1996, and will be the clear underdog in its new district despite recent progress.

Clyde, which was 5-5 a year ago, has beaten both of its Class 2A foes (Ballinger and Bangs) so far while losing to Class 3A Breckenridge by a single point. But Ballinger and Bangs aren't exactly run-of-the-mill 2A foes. Ballinger was in the same 3A district with Clyde for many years and is a perennial playoff team. And Bangs has made it to the Class 2A state champion-ship game the past two seasons.

Clyde has a chance to really turn heads if it can win its next three games and equal its 2003 victory total. It goes to Brady (3-0) this Friday, then travels to Coahoma and hosts Vernon. But the real test will be how the Bulldogs perform against Snyder, Sweetwater, Merkel and Wylie, in that order.

• Lew
• September 15, 2004 4:14 PM

My Lil Buddy Caleb Davis

Dear Texas,
I have a little buddy by the name of Caleb Davis. I have never personally met Caleb, but I feel like I have known him a long time. Caleb and I have a history of sorts, and it goes like this. Caleb's grandfather is Mr. Jerry Smith. Mr. Smith was my elementary school principal at Southeast in Sweetwater in the 60's.
Mr. Smith was what I considered a friend in need when we moved to Sweetwater back in about 1963. I was a new kid at school and didn't know a soul. Mr. Smith treated me like family, and I will always be grateful he took interest in me, even though I had to go to his office at times for being a little rough at times. I never got the chance to say thanks to Mr. Smith for having faith in me, in spite of my actions, so I just wanted to say thanks to Mr. Smith.

Now, the world has evolved some 35-40 years. I get the chance to sort of do my part and post a website for Caleb Davis. Folks, when you get down on your knees tonight, say a prayer for my Lil buddy Caleb.
Take a look at caleb's website...his birthday is coming soon. Maybe ya'll can send him an e-mail.
http://www3.caringbridge.org/tx/calebdavis/

Take care Caleb, maybe we can go to a hockey game some day!

Thanks Jerry! I appreciate you!

Lew

• Lew
• September 15, 2004 3:33 PM

Mustang Caravan

From: Lewis Patton 1970 Sep 15 2004 12:54:04PM
To: ALL
(1) Mustang Caravan

Dear fellow Sweetwater Alums,
Homecoming this year is October 1st. For those of you who missed it, we are going to have a caravan from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area meet in Weatherford on October 1st to make the journey to Sweetwater for the parade and game. Several folks are planning to make the trip already. David, Tom, Jerry (maybe), and Clifford. We would love to have a large convoy, so if you interested, let us know! I keep thinking we need to all meet in Weatherford about 1:00 if that's ok with everyone. When we get to Sweetwater, we want to convene at the Old Stars parking lot, and watch the parade. David, can you get in touch with Terry Boley and Aubrey McCain? Anyways, let's have a good turn out. Hope ya'll can join us.

Lew

• Lew
• September 15, 2004 3:04 PM

Cowboy Wisdom

From: LEWIS PATTON 1970 Sep 10 2003 6:42:05AM
To: ALL
(39) High School Gags and Comics

Cowboy Wisdom:
Don't squat with your spurs on.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.

There's two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works.

If you're riding ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

Never drop your gun to hug a grizzly.

If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around.

Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.

When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don't be surprised if they learn their lesson.

Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

When you're throwing your weight around, be ready to have it thrown around by somebody else.

Don't worry about biting off more than you can chew. Your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger than you think.

Like a good cowboy, a good hat just gets better as it gets older.

Always take a good look at what you're about to eat. It's not so important to know what it is, but it's good to know what it was.

It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.

Go after life as if it's something that's got to be roped in a hurry before it gets away.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.

Never get up before breakfast. If you have to get up before breakfast, eat breakfast first.

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Making it in life is kind of like busting broncos. You're going to get thrown a lot. The simple secret is to keep getting back on.

Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut.

• Lew
• September 14, 2004 10:48 PM

Thankful

From: CLIFFORD ASHLEY 1969 Nov 27 2002 4:56:43AM
To: ALL
(1) THANKFUL

I AM THANKFUL FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AM VERY THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS...CALVIN WROTE ME YESTERDAY AND THANKED ME FOR A FORTY YEAR FRIENDSHIP.....WHAT A THOUGHT.........FRIENDS FOR THAT LONG.....HOPE ALL OF YOU AND YOURS HAVE A SAFE HEALTHY HOLIDAY............I ESPECIALLY AM THANKFUL FOR RENEWED RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH THIS SITE......

• Lew
• September 14, 2004 8:50 PM

Mustang of the Week

Football player of the week

Joseph Banyard is Sweetwater High School's football Player of the Week.

Joseph scored one touchdown on offense and another on defense in a 52-25 win over Midland Greenwood this past Friday. As a halfback, he rushed five times for a team-high 78 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown, as well as a 47-yard run that set up another score.

As a weakside linebacker, he scored on a 62-yard interception return and had eight tackles, plus a sack in the third quarter.

• Lew
• September 14, 2004 4:05 PM

Football on the Radio

From: LEWIS PATTON 1970 Sep 28 2002 6:16:40AM
To: ALL
(36) Memories of "The Drag" and going around Rays

I remember on away games for the Mustangs, finding a radio either in the house or in the car, and listening to Jack Stein call the Mustang games on the radio. He was a clasic and effective announcer. I always remember the great reporting he did. Through his descriptions of the game I could "see" what was going on. KXOX Radio did a professional job of presenting Mustang football, and was always a good friend to the folks in Sweetwater. Listening to the way he desribed Charlie Burnett "kicking and scratching his way through the line" or "That offensive line made a hole big enough for Benji Kemp to drive a truck through" was timeless. Or "it's a loooooong pass from McCain to Redwine..............COMPLETE". What a super radio station and what a super guy was Mr. Stein. By the way, I'm not sure now if his name was Jack....that name just popped into my memory.

• Lew
• September 14, 2004 3:58 PM

• Lew
• September 13, 2004 3:34 PM

Retro Mustang

From: David Redwine 1969 May 19 2004 7:54:50AM
To: Lewis Patton 1970
(27) The Ramp Vs. The Stairs (in reply to 19)

Lew:

This is part of the mystique of the ramp. This is not a new prespective of opposing teams at Mustang Bowl. My first knowledge of "The Ramp" and opposing teams came in 1964 or 1965. The late Gordon Wood of Brownwood was scouting the 1964 or 1965, my memory isn't so hot anymore, Mustangs during his open week. It was belived by most in the area including the Abilene Reporter News that the bi-district game would be Sweetwater and Brownwood. Gordon Wood commented in the Abilene paper about the "Snake Pit" and remarked he would opt for a neutral site ie Abilene, rather than gamble on a home for home site. He said, and I am paraphrasing, when kids come down that ramp to enter the field they get their first snake bite and generally it doesn't get any better. Interesting comments coming from a legend like Gordon Wood.

I think this was attributed to the Murray Holditch era. Coach Holditch had this philosiphy when I was working with him: "I don't care how many players I go into that bowl with. I just need eleven, but those eleven will be the toughest eleven I have and when our opponent leaves the bowl win, loose or draw they are going to be glad to get out of here and not want to come back." I will never foget my first experience with coach Holditch when he said I don't care if you are a middle linebacker or a place kicker you do two things if you are a Mustang. You give 100% every time you come off the ball and you take every opportunity to knock someone's jock off every play. Sweetwater will forever play ball in his shadow. I didn't like playing for the man but his direction was without waver and his conviction was from the heart. He passed on some nearly 40 years ago and a kid from Greenwood, Texas, which wasn't even in existance when coach Holditch died has seen his legacy.

Interesting!

David

• Lew
• September 13, 2004 6:19 AM

• Lew
• September 12, 2004 2:16 PM

Poll: Texans get with the programs

Four in five believe that football is important in public high schools

Gene Wier tells people that one way to better appreciate the importance of high school football in Texas is to compare it with another state.

Wier left a successful stint of more than three decades coaching in Kansas to come to Richland two years ago, and said the conditions for athletes in Texas – from rigorous academic standards to the traditional appeal of the area to major-college programs – were the main reasons why.

"I think Texas is much more proactive in terms of what's good for kids, both in football and otherwise," Wier said. "I see priority placed on all the sports. I think it's what kids deserve. I don't know if everyone realizes the quality of programs they have here."

Most Texans agree with Wier, as evidenced by a poll released today by the Abilene-based Scripps Research Center. The Texas Poll shows that 79 percent of Texans think a high school football program is either very or somewhat important in public schools.

A substantial number of Texans, however, think high school football is overemphasized. Half of those polled said public schools statewide place too much emphasis on football, while 40 percent feel the same is true within their own communities.

Rockwall coach Mark Elam said football programs in Texas not only provide a disciplined outlet for at-risk students, but a game night showcases a variety of student activities such as band, cheerleading and drill team.

"A Friday night football game brings the community together. It's as much of a social gathering as it is interest in the game itself," Elam said. "It's not just about playing the game. It's another part of the education system. You can overemphasize anything, but I think we keep our values straight."

Scripps Howard researchers polled 1,000 adults statewide last month gauging their feelings on a variety of Texas football topics ranging from high schools to the NFL. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Among the notable results:

• Almost two-thirds said it was very or somewhat important for colleges to field a winning football team.

• Forty percent said Texas was their favorite college football team in the state, making it a clear leader over Texas A&M (25 percent), Texas Tech (10 percent) and TCU (4 percent).

• Fifty-eight percent described themselves as professional football fans, compared with 46 percent who are fans of the college game. Nearly half said they are more interested in following pro football than college football.

• More than three times as many fans named the Cowboys (64 percent) over the Houston Texans (21 percent) as their favorite NFL team in the state.

• Lew
• September 11, 2004 11:49 PM

Mustangs Thunder Past G'wood

By RON HOWELL/The Reporter Sports Editor
GREENWOOD -- Although held on a football field, Friday's non-district shootout between Class 3A rivals Sweetwater and Midland Greenwood turned into a high school track meet over the last two quarters.

And the Mustangs proved to have the fastest hosses.

Sweetwater's explosiveness and speed had a lot to do with its 383 yards of offense, including 303 rushing, in a wild 52-25 victory over the Rangers.

Consider this: the Mustangs (2-1) had four scoring plays in the game of 46 yards are more, and they came from four (actually five) different players.

Sweetwater completed just two passes in the game, but one was a 64-yard strike from quarterback Jeremy Thompson to Michael Williams for its initial touchdown in the first quarter.

The real fun came in the second half, beginning with a 65-yard run by Skye Green which upped Sweetwater's lead to 32-12 in the third period.

Then Joseph Banyard -- who also had a 24-yard scoring run which got the second-half thea-trics underway -- intercepted a Greenwood pass and returned it 62 yards in the fourth quarter to up the Mustangs' advantage to 45-18.

Sweetwater (2-1), which ended a three game losing streak to Greenwood by winning for the first time since 2001, added a final score when reserve running back Matt Miles broke off a 46-yard run with 5:56 to play.

In all, the Mustangs and Rangers combined for 54 points -- or eight touchdowns, if you pre-fer -- in the second half.

"He came out of shoot No. 3," joked head coach Kent Jackson about Miles, whose season was delayed because of a rodeo-related injury. "We're just fortu-nate to have (Matt) play."

And fortunate to have all that game breaking speed which allowed Sweetwater to finally pull away from Greenwood (0-2).

It began when Thompson hit Williams with the 64-yard pass late in the first period to break the ice and give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead following Parker Mor-row's extra point. Williams, a member the past two years of Sweetwater's state medal winning track relay teams along with Thompson, had gotten almost five yards behind his defender before catching Thompson's throw around the 30 and racing to the end zone.

Sweetwater drove to Greenwood's 13 on its next series before settling for a 30-yard field goal by Morrow to make it 10-0. Greenwood responded with a quick scoring drive to cut the lead to 10-6, but it looked as if Sweetwater would score again on its next possession after a long kickoff return by Kendal Carrillo. However, all the Mustangs wound up with was a 41-yard field goal attempt by Morrow that just came up short.

Carrillo made up for it the next time Sweetwater had the ball, though, as he scored on a 15 yard run with 1:22 left in the first half. Morrow's second PAT made it 17-6 at halftime.

A big defensive play by Banyard helped set the early tone for the second half. Greenwood was at Sweetwater's 35 after re covering a fumble, but Banyard sacked quarterback Colton Wilber on fourth down to end the threat and give the ball back to the Mustangs.

Banyard then capped Sweet-water's seven play drive when he scored on a 24 yard run to make it 24-6 with 6:49 left in the third quarter.

At that point, the teams started to trade touchdowns as the game turned into an offensive barnburner the rest of the way.

Taylor Himbury, who scored all four of Greenwood's touchdowns, narrowed the Sweetwater lead to 24-12 with a 3-yard run. But after regaining possession, the Mustangs found the end zone immediately as Green took a handoff and scored on a 65-yard sweep play down the left sideline. Green also tacked on a two-point conversion run to make it 32-12.

The Rangers answered those fireworks by getting a 61-yard kick return from Justin Sebree, who was finally brought down at Sweetwater's 23. Three plays later, Himbury hit paydirt on a 2-yard run. Wilber's two-point conversion run was short, and Greenwood trailed 32-18 with 2:06 left in the third period.

But the Mustangs finally put the Rangers away in the fourth quarter, which began with a 47-yard run by Banyard to set up Sweetwater with first-and-goal at Greenwood's 5-yard line.

From the 1, Carrillo scored his second TD to increase the lead to 38-18.

Greenwood got a break on its next series, moving into Sweetwater territory when a pass that bounced off a Mustang defender was caught by Lane Flowers for a 20-yard gain.

But Banyard came up huge again, as he picked off a short fourth down pass over the middle and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown, giving Sweetwater a commanding 45-18 lead.

After Miles' TD, Greenwood came back to score a meaningless touchdown with 1:39 to play on yet another short run by Himbury.

Sweetwater will try to make it three wins in a row this Friday when it entertains Andrews at 7:30 p.m.

• Lew
• September 11, 2004 4:51 PM

Mustangs Rout Greenwood

Sweetwater gets some revenge in rout of Greenwood


Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram 09/11/2004



The Sweetwater football team ended its three-game losing streak against Greenwood with authority Friday night.

Too much Mustang firepower and too many mistakes by the young Greenwood offense equaled a 52-25 victory by the Mustangs at J.M. King Memorial Stadium.

Sweetwater coach Kent Jackson deflected any talk of revenge or ending streaks.

"At this time of year, it's just good to get a win," Jackson said. "We have a lot of respect for Greenwood. They're a fine program and they're going to win a lot of ballgames, but to come in and win a game like that, it's just a big honor.'

On the other side of the field, it a much somber mood from a team still searching for its identity early in the 2004 season.

"We just didn't play well," Greenwood coach Bob Purser said. "We gave up some huge plays that should never happen. We played hard for a while but we didn't play hard all night."

The dagger in Greenwood's heart came in the fourth quarter. Sweetwater led 32-18 but the Mustangs put the game away with 20 answered points, highlighted by a 63-yard touchdown interception return by Joseph Banyard, who also added 77 yards rushing and one TD on four carries.

"We just got wore down," Purser said. "We have a lot of things to fix, and most of it is mental. We have to decide if we're going to play football or not this year. We can play a lot better than this, we just have to find out who the players are."

Sweetwater (2-1) was the first to strike with a 64-yard pass play when Mustang quarterback Jeremy Thompson found Michael Williams in front of his defender for a score late in the first quarter.

The Mustangs made it 10-0 when they put together a nine play, 52-yard drive, culminating with a 30-yard field goal by Parker Morrow.

Greenwood (0-2) seemed to move the ball with its running game but the Rangers kept stomping their own foot with six offside penalties in the first half. The Rangers also fumbled on their first possession.

Greenwood was able to get something positive going on offense on its fifth possession when Justin Sebree broke loose for a 55-yard run up the gut of the Sweetwater defense. Two plays later Taylor Himbury scored the first of his four touchdowns on a 16-yard run. The Rangers could not convert on the extra point and the Mustangs held to a 10-6 lead.

After holding Greenwood to a three-and-out, the Mustangs went back to work on offense. After a 10-yard keeper by Thompson, the Mustangs were aided by a 15-yard pass interference penalty, which set the ball on the Greenwood 15. Kendal Carillo, who earlier had a 64-yard kickoff return, scored on a 15-yard run to give the Mustangs a 17-6 edge going into the locker room.

After a defensive first half, there was an offensive outburst from both teams in the third quarter. Banyard had a 23-yard TD run and Skye Green had a 66-yard TD run for Sweetwater. Greenwood had two touchdown runs by Himbury to cut it to 32-18 and keep the Rangers within striking distance.

"That showed their resiliency because we couldn't knock them out," Jackson said. "(On Friday) we were just able to take the next step and make plays when we had to."

Jarrel Brooks finished with 122 yards rushing on 12 carries for Greenwood.

Sweetwater 52, Greenwood 25

Sweetwater 7 10 15 20 -- 52

Greenwood 0 6 12 7 -- 25

First Quarter

SWE -- Michael Williams 64 pass from Jeremy Thompson (Parker Morrow kick), 1:47

Second Quarter

SWE -- Morrow 30 FG, 7:18

GRE -- Taylor Himbury 16 run (run failed), 5:33

SWE -- Kendall Carillo 15 run (Morrow kick), 1:22

Third Quarter

SWE -- Joseph Banyard 23 run (Morrow kick), 6:49

GRE -- Himbury 3 run (run failed), 3:34

SWE -- Skye Green (Green), 3:14

GRE -- Himbury 2 run (run failed), 2:06

Fourth Quarter

SWE -- Carillo 1 run (kick failed), 11:03

SWE -- Banyard 63 interception return (Morrow kick), 8:39

SWE -- Matt Miles 46 run (Morrow kick), 5:56

GRE -- Himbury 1 run (Eric Skaggs kick), 1:39

SweetwaterGreenwood

First downs 14 14

Rushes-yards 33-243 48-294

Passing yards 80 26

Comp.-Att.-Int. 2-4-0 2-6-1

Punts-Avg. 2-47.5 4-31.0

Fumbles-lost 3-1 3-1

Penalties-yards 6-60 10-82

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing -- Sweetwater, Joseph Banyard 4-77, Skye Green 2-75, Kendall Carillo 8-55, Matt Miles 1-46, Jeremy Thompson 7-23, Alan Copeland 8-13, Duone Cunnings 2-1, Justin Clowers 1-(-1). Greenwood, Jarrel Brooks 12-122, Justin Sebree 13-90, Taylor Himbury 8-44, Addison Stewart 4-18, Chad Gann 2-14, Silas Etheredge 1-7, Eric Fruno 2-5, Lane Flowers 3-5, Colton Wilber 2-(-10), Team 1 (-1).

Passing -- Sweetwater, Thompson 2-4-0--80. Greenwood, Addison Stewart 2-3-1--26, Bruno 0-1-0--0, Brooks 0-1-0--0, Wilber 0-1-0--0.

Receiving -- Sweetwater, Michael Williams 1-64, Carillo 1-15. Greenwood, Flowers 1-20, Dallas Golden 1-6.

Missed Field Goals -- Sweetwater, Parker Morrow 41 (WR).

Interceptions -- Sweetwater, Banyard 1-63.

• Lew
• September 11, 2004 7:01 AM

Going to Greenwood

Stewart Doreen
Midland Reporter Telegram 09/10/2004

After weeks of preparation, Greenwood is ready for some football -- high school style.

By Jimmy Patterson
MRT Correspondent

At the turn of the 20th century, when the circus came to town, it was the only show in town, the greatest show on earth.

One hundred years later and at the dawn of a new century, the greatest show comes to town every September. It is football. And it is king of the West Texas jungle. No need for a ringmaster, three rings, clowns or wild animals. Not with head coaches, four quarters, bands, cheerleaders and mascots. Football has it all, and no one even has to clean up behind elephants when the lights go dim.

The people in Greenwood for weeks have been readying the town, the stadium, the school and themselves for tonight's home opener against Sweetwater. Greenwood in a way is like a hundred other West Texas small towns preparing for the debut of this year's model. But to hear those involved tell it, it's unique, too.

"It's the only show in town, a huge, huge deal," said Scott Knippa, principal at Greenwood High School said of the home opener. "Not just because of how good our star athletes may be ... people just want to see their kids. And the pep rally every week... it's such an ordeal, people don't even realize."

How big is it? Greenwood may be one of the only towns where its high school football coach has such a vested interest in the outcome of the game and such a love for the kids who play, he gets out with his coaching staff and personally paints the football field the Thursday before each game.

Greenwood takes its football seriously. Listen to Morgan Love, a cheerleader for Greenwood football teams since she was in third grade, and she'll tell you the town's pride is unlike other towns its size.

"I think Friday night's opening game and homecoming are probably the two most exciting games of the season," Love said. "I think everybody's pumped to get back into football and since it's such a big thing in Greenwood, everybody's anxious to come in and help the team. It's one of our stronger sports and people come back year after year just to see what we have going for us."

Bob Purser has been head football coach in Greenwood for 18 years. He says football's popularity in small town West Texas is easily explained but not unique to Greenwood.

"I think it's typical of any small community in West Texas," Purser said. "It's something that keeps people close, whether it's Stanton or Rankin or wherever. Football involves so many kids ... the band, cheerleaders, pep squad, student body. It's so much bigger than any other sport and the only form of entertainment in a lot of small communities. It's about people caring about each other and I think it's why people like it so much in West Texas: it pulls us together."

Purser said the night of a home opener only magnifies how important the game is to small towns.

"It's showtime, so to speak," he said. "It's showtime for everybody, really. You don't want to get off to a bad start. We'll have a good crowd and it's against Sweetwater, one of our rivals. They'll bring a lot of people because they don't like us a whole lot. I's a unique setting for a Friday night in West Texas and for small town football. And the first game's big because nobody knows how it's gonna go. It's the band's first time to march at home, first time for the cheerleaders ... the whole setting is what makes it so important."

All of the factors that lead to the big feel of a home opener can lead to a certain amount of pressure, too, Love said.

"It can be very stressful in some cases," Love admitted. "In some cases it may take two or three weeks to get all the pep rally stuff together. And before the game you have to have the signs and the yells ready and you have to be willing to make yourself look almost like an idiot to get everybody as pumped as you are"

Game time is not the only objective worked toward in the days and weeks leading up to the first contest of the year, but much emphasis is also put on the pep rally. Each pep rally comes complete with a theme, which takes on a serious note this week with the memory of Sept. 11 fresh on everyone's minds. First responders such as policemen, firemen and EMTs will receive tribute at this morning's pep rally, and a handful representing those different professions have been invited to be on hand Friday morning. The theme for the pep rally is "These Colors Don't Run."

"We have a problem solving exercise we do before each pep rally and doing the Sept. 11 theme was Morgan's idea but we talked about it," said Kandy Bolding, cheerleader sponsor, sophomore class sponsor and special education teacher in Greenwood schools since 1998. "We have an unofficial overall theme this year of 'Traditions Today and Tomorrow,' so (Sept. 11) is something we decided to do."

Love said the fact that Greenwood fell hard -- 27-0 to Abilene Wylie -- in its season opener last Friday will not diminish interest or importance in tonight's game.

"The audience will really be ready to go," Love said. "I won't think about losing last week, but about winning this one instead. Being at home gives people a lot more confidence."

Purser said he was hopeful last week's loss was, "So far away maybe nobody noticed." One thing's likely for sure, though: the people of Greenwood will be forgiving and the slate will be clean come the kickoff at J.M. King Memorial Stadium.

Perhaps one of the things that makes football so special here is the extra mile Purser and his staff go for the kids, the school and the staff, making sure there are enough chairs set up at the pep rally and even going so far to making sure the football field is painted before each week's game -- by Purser and his coaches.

"It just goes back to respect for other people," Purser said. "We have a pretty good relationship with the faculty and the band director is one of the greatest guys in the world and he does such a great job. We try to be there for them like they're there for us, and that's probably why Greenwood is so special. We're pretty close out here, and it's important our coaches don't just become football coaches. We need to be teachers and a part of the community and respect the other entities within the other parts of the school. It's important coaches understand the importance of everything else that makes up the school and community."

Love said she expects tonight last home opener before she graduates may be emotional, but she'll try not to think too much about it. Nor will she think about how tired she may get a couple hours after the lights have dropped. She said the work put into the contest is something at which she has to do her best because "That's the job I signed up for" and she won't complain about it.

No doubt she'll miss following Ranger football -- her favorite version of the sport -- while away at college, but like the other people from this small community she spoke of earlier, she plans on coming home -- and staying -- after college.

"Right now my plan is to become a special education teacher, and I hope to come back to Greenwood and teach," she said. "I just think it's a really good school and a good place to live. I've lived here since I was six, so I don't know if I'd know what to do if I lived anywhere else."

One thing Love would know to do for sure if she ended up living someplace else: Come back every fall for the first game of the season.

• Lew
• September 10, 2004 7:15 AM

The Abilene Factor

Dear Big Country,

Since I am in the mood to write, and since I am not sure who all reads these nice blogs here since hardly anyone sends me any feedback, I thought I might broaden the scope of the blog just a bit and talk about Sweetwater and what I call the "Abilene factor."

I was raised in Sweetwater from about 1960 to 1970.

As a high school student looking for things to do, if we ever wanted to really do something extra-ordinary, we would go to Abilene.

Abilene was in our mind, much better to go to and do things. More people, more movies, there was always more of something in Abilene.

There was a time in the 1950's and early '60's Abilene High School and Sweetwater had some great football games. We sort of thought we were in the same ballpark as Abilene when it came to athletics - football anyway.

I beleive in some sort of way, we were a little jealous of Abilene. Abilene had much more to do, but they always came to the Mustang Bowl, so we sort of had this idea we should have the same as Abilene.

We never would have thought we would ever be in the same district as (cough, cough) Merkel, Wylie or Clyde.

Now, no disrespect to those towns but we were trying to be like Abilene, we didn't need any small town in our way.

Then a funny thing happened. Abilene got another school. Abilene Cooper.
I can still remember Jack Mildren in that championship game.

But the fact was, Abilene grew, and Sweetwater kept losing population and consequently fell from 4A all the way down to 3A.

Sweetwater won the 4A state championship in 1985. Remember Mike Welch?
Well, all things considered, there were 2 classes of 5A (large and small) 2 classes of 4A (large and small) and so on down to A.

There were district re-alignments and nothing was ever the same anymore.
Some of us old-timers remember how much fun high school football used to be.

I don't want to sound like an old geezer, but I wonder how many people care about it anymore? I can tell you I belong to Classmates.com where a whole generation of Sweetwater ex-students remember the good times at pep rallies, booster tags, and Mustang Bowl. Haven't we lost something?

Was it the Abilene Factor?

Lew

• Lew
• September 9, 2004 2:33 PM

Mustangs Hope to Reverse History

Mustangs hope to reverse history

By RON HOWELL/The Reporter Sports Editor
Sweetwater continued its two-decade long dominance of San Angelo Lake View in a 14-7 win over the Chiefs at Mustang Bowl this past Friday. While the teams had not played each other in five years, Sweetwater still had Lake View's number as it beat the Chiefs for the 15th consec-utive time dating back to 1983.

However, the Mustangs will be trying to reverse history at 7:30 p.m. this Fri-day, when they face Midland Greenwood on the Rangers' home field.

Greenwood holds a 3-2 edge in what has become a heated rivalry between the teams, who had never met before 2000, and has won the last three meetings, all by a single touchdown. The Rangers defeated Sweetwater twice in 2002, the last time in the state quarterfinals, and also won 36-29 this past year to spoil the Mustangs' homecoming.

It looked as if the teams might collide again in the playoffs in 2003, but Merkel spoiled that by knocking off Greenwood 26-22 in the bi-district round. The Ran-gers advanced all the way to the state finals after beating Sweetwater in 2002

While the teams have several new faces on their current rosters and no state rankings are on the line -- Greenwood was No. 4 entering last year's contest -- the rivalry has hardly cooled.

"We could both have 22 new faces, and it would still be a war," said Mustang head coach Kent Jackson. "We've had a lot of good history and good matchups. It will be no exception this Friday."

A defensive battle could be in store tomorrow, since neither Sweetwater or Greenwood has exactly lit up the scoreboard due in part to the competition.

The Mustangs (1-1) have scored a total of just 28 points in their two games, and Greenwood (0-1) fell 27-0 to No. 8-ranked Wylie in its season opener last week. But Jackson notes that the Rangers, who had to break in a new quarterback due to a preseason injury, trailed only 7-0 at halftime until Wylie's offense broke loose the final two quarters.

"They look just as good defensively as they were last year," Jackson said. "If not for their quarterback situation, they probably wouldn't be that far off from where they were last year. We're very impressed with what we've seen of their intensity."

Sweetwater's defense showed signs of approaching mid-season form in the win over Lake View. The Mustangs intercepted Chiefs QB Matt Phillips twice and recovered three fumbles while holding Lake View to 240 yards, including just 75 in the second half. On offense, Sweetwater failed to complete a pass but did have 283 yards rushing, with Kendal Carrillo scoring on a 77-yard run and Skye Green finding paydirt on a 3-yard sweep.

• Lew
• September 9, 2004 1:28 PM

Mustang Player of the Week 9/9/04

Player of the week

Brittan Pittman is Sweetwater High School's football Player of the Week.

Brittan had two interceptions, both of which ended potential scoring drives, and seven solo tackles from his strong safety position in a 14-7 win over San Angelo Lake View this past Friday which gave the Mustangs their first win of the 2004 season.

Pittman is also a starting split end for Sweetwater, and one of its few two-way starters.

He caught a 21-yard pass in the Mustangs' season opener against Lubbock Cooper.

• Lew
• September 9, 2004 7:48 AM

Evil Lew

Good Wednesday Morning Big Country,
I am sort of at a loss for words here.

This is a great website that Danny Reagan and the fine folks at the ABILENE REPORTER NEWS has developed. It is very up-to-date and I have monitored the site since it began at the beginning of the high school football season.

It has everything! The web site has so much information on just about every high school football team in the Big Country, has fun things to see from post cards to a live straming show at 10:30 on scores from games on Friday nights.
It's one heck of a site.

Here is my question. How come more people don't write blogs for their teams? How come more people don't give any feedback on their teams?

I have a theory and it isn't very scientific at all. But I believe people log onto a computer and just consume information.

No feedback, no contributions, not even a thank you for writing....just consume and log off.

Oh well, maybe I am wrong..but if you are reading this, please take a second to tell Danny thanks for a great website.

Lew

• Lew
• September 8, 2004 9:32 AM
• Comments (0)

Mustangs defeat SA Lakeview

Even a six-year break in this rivalry couldn't change the familiar outcome.

The Lake View High School football team turned the ball over five times en route to a 14-7 loss to Sweetwater at the Mustang Bowl on Friday.

It was the 15th consecutive loss by Lake View against Sweetwater dating back to 1983.

''We killed ourselves,'' Lake View coach Joey McQueen said. ''I give credit to our offense and defense. We just came up against a good ballclub. We can't cry about it though.''

Three of Lake View's turnovers were fumbles, the last one coming late in the fourth quarter with the Chiefs driving for a tying touchdown. On fourth-and-two from the Sweetwater 28-yard line, Lake View quarterback Matt Phillips was sacked for an eight-yard loss and fumbled the ball.

Lake View (0-2) also fumbled the ball on the possession after Sweetwater (1-1) took a 14-7 lead in the third quarter.

''We were fortunate,'' Sweetwater coach Kent Jackson said. ''I guess we made one more play than they did. We were able to contain them. We bent, but we didn't break. I was proud of our kids.''

Skye Green gave Sweetwater a 14-7 lead when he scored from three yards out on the Mustangs' first possession of the second half.

Neither team scored after that.

''I think we let Sweetwater get into their game,'' McQueen said. ''When you allow them to get ahead, they can just run it.''

Sweetwater's Kendall Carrillo led all rushers with 129 yards on nine carries. Lake View's Robert Payne rushed 21 times for 99 yards.

After a sloppy first quarter that saw both teams combine for three turnovers - two by Lake View - the Mustangs were first on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter.

Carrillo took a handoff from Sonny Birdwell and broke it outside for a 77-yard touchdown run down the sideline to make it 7-0 after the extra point with 7:03 left in the half.

After an interception by each team, Lake View tied the game with less than a minute left in the first half. After a 31-yard pass from Phillips to Derek Murphy that gave the Chiefs first-and-goal from the 3-yard line, Phillips ran it in himself on the next play. After the extra point, the game was tied 7-7.

Phillips completed 14 of 23 passes for 123 yards. Sweetwater did not complete a pass.

The teams combined for five turnovers in the first half - three by Lake View. Tyler Hayes and Christian Perryman each had an interception for the Chiefs in the first half.

Sweetwater 14, Lake View 7

Score by Quarters

Lake View 0 7 0 0 - 7

Sweetwater 0 7 7 0 - 14

--

SCORING SUMMARY

Second Quarter

Sweetwater - 7:03 remaining, Kendall Carrillo 77 run (Parker Morrow kick)

Lake View - 0:49, Matt Phillips 3 run (Travis Manning kick)

Third Quarter

Sweetwater - 5:21, Skye Green 3 run (Morrow kick)

____

Lake View Sweetwater

First downs 15 11

Rushing Yards 34-123 44-290

Passing Yards 123 0

Total yards 246 290

Comp-Att-Int 14-23-2 0-5-2

Fumbles-lost 4-3 1-0

Punts-avg. 3-35.3 4-36.3

Penalties-yards 3-25 1-10

____

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Lake View - Robert Payne 21-99; Matt Phillips 12-17; Tyler Hayes 1-7.

Sweetwater - Alan Copeland 8-28; Jeremy Thompson 7-22; Kendall Carrillo 9-129; Joseph Banyard 6-23; Justin Clowers 2-(-2); Skye Green 3-23; Eric Brown 3-15; Jacinto Rosas 5-44; Kiki Johnson1-(-15).

Passing

Lake View - Phillips 14-23-2, 123 yards.

Sweetwater - Thompson 0-2-1, 0 yards; Birdwell 0-3-1, 0 yards.

Receiving

Lake View - Donnell Harris 1-11; Travis Mateo 5-53; Hayes 1-3; Payne 1-(-2); Derek Murphy 3-45; Enrique Neira 2-4.

• Lew
• September 4, 2004 9:11 AM

Sweetwater Plays Old Foe Tonight

By RON HOWELL / The Sweetwater Reporter Sports Editor

It's been five years since Sweetwater and San Angelo Lake View met on a foot-ball field. And to some fans, it probably seems almost that long since the Mus-tangs have had a home game.

But the wait will finally end at 7:30 p.m. Friday as Sweetwater -- which had both of its preseason scrimmages away from home as well as last week's season opener against Lubbock Cooper -- welcomes the Chiefs back to the Bowl.

Sweetwater and Lake View played in the same Class 4A football district during most of the 1980s and '90s, and it was a onesided rivalry. The Mustangs won the teams' last 14 meetings, the last a 44-20 decision in 1999. Sweetwater was moved down to Class 3A the following year, but Lake View has stayed in 4A.

Kent Jackson and most of his staff at Sweetwater wasn't here back when the teams were regularly butting heads on the gridiron. All the Mustang head coach knows is that Lake View -- which lost to Abilene Wylie, 38-20, in its opener -- will present a considerable challenge tomorrow night.

The Chiefs are led by three exceptional seniors: quarterback Matt Phillips, who has thrown for over 3,000 yards in his varsity career; running back Robert Payne, who was the leading rusher a year ago in District 4-4A with 1,161 yards; and linebacker Tyler Hayes, who in 2003 had 140 tackles, including 51 solos. All three are preseason All-West Texas selections and helped Lake View break a seven-year playoff drought last season.

Lake View, unlike Lubbock Cooper in last week's season opener, operates from a shotgun or no-huddle spread offense in which the pass is a primary weapon.

"It will be so much different from last week," Jackson said. "They will line up and spread the field, and force you to defend with more of an air attack. Our secondary and linebackers will have to concentrate and find a way to put pressure on Phillips. He's a very physical kid and not afraid of contact."

However, the Chiefs had almost a per-fect balance between the pass and run in their game with Wylie, with 33 runs and 31 passes. Phillips went 22-for-31 for 172 yards and a touchdown, while Payne ran for 60 yards on 13 carries. Lake View's top rusher was actually Donnell Harris, who scored the Chiefs' last touchdown on a 68-yard run and finished with 71 yards on just three attempts.

• Lew
• September 3, 2004 8:02 AM

Interview With Coach Jackson

Interview with Kent Jackson, Sweetwater head football coach 08.31.04
August 31, 2004

KTXS TV personality George Levesque has talked with Kent Jackson, Sweetwater head football coach. He discusses the lessons the Mustangs learned from their 17-14 loss to Lubbock Cooper Friday and how he hopes the team will perform in a district stacked with powerhouses from last year.

http://www.reporter-news.com/cr/cda/player/1,1272,ABIL_38665_176_211,FF.html

• Lew
• September 1, 2004 6:22 AM