Stangs Remain in Title Chase

By Lew
October 16, 2004

Stangs remain in Title Chase

By RON HOWELL/The Reporter Sports Editor
Playing four good quarters isn't always necessary in order to beat a good football team in a must-win game.

Sweetwater proved in its District 4-3A shootout with Snyder on Friday that three outstanding quarters will do the trick in a 35-25 victory over the Tigers at Mustang Bowl.

Coach Kent Jackson's team dominated the first three periods to take a commanding 35-7 lead, until Snyder launched an 18-0 rally in the fourth quarter to make the game's final outcome much closer.

But a win is a win, and Sweetwater needed this one badly.

The Mustangs' victory, which followed a district-opening 13-7 loss to Wylie, leaves Sweetwater and Snyder both 1-1 in 4-3A play. Wylie (2-0) is now alone at the top after beating Merkel, 51-14, on Friday, but the Bulldogs still have to play Snyder.

In addition, both Merkel and Clyde -- which hosts Sweetwater this Friday -- are still alive in the title chase although both have 0-1 records. Clyde had an open date this week.

Sweetwater (6-2 overall) was able to establish control of the game through a combination of solid and opportunistic defensive play, a punishing running game led by quarterback Jeremy Thompson, and some precision coffin-corner punting by Kendal Carrillo that helped the Mustangs enjoy great field position all night.

Snyder (6-2) hurt itself with three turnovers, all of which led directly to Sweetwater scores, as well as a costly personal foul facemask penalty that helped to sustain another drive which resulted in a touchdown.

Sweetwater had a single turnover, and it didn't come until after the Mustangs had built the 28-point cushion. Yet it also boosted the Tigers' fourth period rally that almost turned an apparent blowout into a nail-biter for Sweetwater.

Snyder rallied behind 1,000-yard running back Dee Walker and backup quarterback Dustyn Williams, who was 13-of-16 for 203 yards after coming in as a replacement for starter Matt Reigh late in the first half.

Williams cut the lead to 35-25 when he connected on a 13-yard pass to Lico Castillo with 1:16 to play. But a two-point pass attempt failed -- the third straight time in the quarter that Snyder had failed to complete a two-point pass after a touchdown. The Tigers went for the onside kick, but Sweetwater recovered at Snyder's 42. Skye Green then ended any hopes of a miracle comeback with a first down run, as the Mustangs defeated Snyder in the Bowl for the second consecutive year.

Although Snyder had a slight statistical edge in the game, the Tigers generated little offense until Sweetwater had built a 21-0 advantage.

After a defensive stand by the Mustangs to begin the game, Thompson raced 70 yards for a touchdown, giving Sweetwater a 7-0 lead after Parker Morrow's extra point kick with 7:49 remaining in the first quarter.

Carrillo's first two punts both died inside Snyder's 10, and the second one, which was killed inside the Tigers' 1, helped to set up Sweetwater's second TD.

The Mustangs went 58 yards in 12 plays to take a 14-0 lead, with Thompson getting his second score on a 17-yard run with 4:26 left in the opening half.

Carrillo intercepted a pass on Snyder's next possession, and returned it to the Tigers' 15. He then capped a short, three play drive for Sweetwater by scoring on a 1 yard run to give the Mustangs a commanding 21-0 lead.

Williams took over the signal calling duties when Snyder got the ball back with 2:27 left in the half, and he directed a nine play drive that resulted in a 25-yard touchdown pass to Castillo with :00 showing.

But any momentum that may have been gained for the Tigers soon evaporated once the second half got underway.

Carrillo's punting -- his first kick of the third quarter was killed at the 1-foot line by team mate Duone Cunnings -- and two lost fumbles by Snyder allowed Sweetwater to increase its lead to 35-7.

Garrett Clayton fell on the first loose ball at the Tigers' 27 after Brandon Fangman caused the fumble. Five plays later, Joseph Banyard hit paydirt on a 6-yard run and Morrow kicked the extra point to make it 28-7.

Snyder was moving toward a possible score on its next possession after a 16-yard completion to Castillo. But a second Tiger fumble -- this one caused by Banyard and recovered by Carrillo -- set up Sweetwater's final touchdown. It came on a 20-yard run by fullback Alan Copeland, opening up a 28-point lead with 24 seconds left in the third quarter.

Snyder narrowed it to 35 -13 with 7:59 to play in the game on a 7-yard run by Walker, then got it back just over a minute later after a fumble.

The Tigers then scored again with 4:49 left on Walker's 5-yard run. Green intercepted a pass in the end zone one play earlier, but a pass interference call gave it back to Snyder.

"Kendal's punting and field position was huge for us," Jackson said. "We had some misfortune that helped them get back in it. But that's part of the learning process for this group. Tonight the kids stepped up big in a lot of ways."

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