Mustangs Ready For Homecoming
By Lew
September 30, 2004
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.
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