Successful Homecoming
By Lew
October 2, 2004
Game of the Week: Mustangs bowl past Levelland at homecoming
By Joshua Parrott / Reporter-News Staff Writer
October 2, 2004
SWEETWATER — With his older brother in the stands, Kendall Carrillo wanted to make up for last season’s disappointing homecoming loss.
Mission accomplished.
With older brother and former Sweetwater High School standout Mychal Carrillo in attendance, Kendall Carrillo scored a pair of touchdowns as the Mustangs blew out Levelland High School 48-6 in their homecoming game on Friday night at the Mustang Bowl in the Abilene Reporter-News Game of the Week.
"I wanted for the crowd to see I’m as good as Mychal was," said Kendall Carrillo, who finished with 53 yards rushing on only three carries. "Having him (Mychal) at the game really helped because he was the guy I looked up to when I was younger, plus with the big crowd, my adrenaline was really flowing."
Sweetwater finished with 298 yards of total offense and scored on all five of its first-half drives as the Mustangs (5-1) stormed out to a 41-0 halftime lead over the Lobos (2-4). The Mustangs’ win on Friday night atones for a 2003 homecoming loss to Midland Greenwood High School.
Sweetwater coach Kent Jackson had a couple of familiar faces on the sidelines on Friday night, including former Hardin-Simmons University all-America wide receiver Kirk Rogers and 2004 Sweetwater graduate Giles Montgomery. Rogers played his high school football under Jackson at Olney High School, while Montgomery was in town from Texas Christian University, where he is a freshman on the Horned Frogs’ football team.
Kendall Carrillo said having both Rogers and Montgomery on the sidelines helped his team’s confidence, as did playing in front of such a raucous crowd. Sweetwater’s Jeremy Thompson added 100 yards rushing and one score for the Mustangs, while Alan Copeland, Justin Clowers and Sonny Birdwell each ran for touchdowns in the win.
Levelland’s Andrew Dorow ran for a game-high 123 yards, but the Lobos fumbled four times and threw one interception in the loss.
"Over the past two weeks we’ve lost two or three running backs, plus our timing was off from the beginning tonight," Levelland coach Brad Thiessen said. "Our effort wasn’t good; we didn’t play good, and we just got whipped tonight."
The Mustangs wasted little time scoring the first points of the night as Sweetwater’s Joseph Banyard picked up a fumble by Levelland’s John Reyes and ran 58 yards for a touchdown on the fifth play of game. Parker Morrow’s extra-point kick gave Sweetwater a 7-0 lead with 9:54 left in the opening period.
On Levelland’s ensuing drive, Banyard recovered another fumble to give the Mustangs the ball at their own 24-yard line. Carrillo then capped a nine-play, 76-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run, and Morrow’s kick gave the Mustangs a 14-0 lead.
Later in the first quarter, after forcing a Levelland punt, Sweetwater scored again as Carrillo barreled in from three yards out. Morrow’s kick extended the Mustangs’ lead to 21-0.
Not much changed as play resumed in the second period as a trio of Sweetwater defenders blocked Levelland’s punt to give the Mustangs the ball at their own 1. Copeland then dove in for a 1-yard score, but Morrow missed the kick to keep the score 27-0 early in the second.
On Sweetwater’s next drive, Thompson did his best Michael Vick impression, sprinting from the right sideline to the left sideline and slipped past Levelland safety Cedric Wade at the 3-yard line to complete a 70-yard touchdown sprint. Morrow’s kick gave the Mustangs a 34-0 lead midway through the second.
Sweetwater’s dominance continued after forcing another Levelland punt as Clowers rolled around the right side of the field before following a bevy of blockers for a 40-yard score. Morrow’s kick with 2:12 left in the half made the score 41-0, which was the score at halftime.
After being forced to punt on their first drive of the second half, the Mustangs got the ball back when Brittan Pittman picked off Wade’s pass and returned the ball to Sweetwater’s 25. Birdwell then added to the score with a 26-yard run, and Morrow added the kick to give the Mustangs a 48-0 lead early in the third.
Levelland scored its only touchdown of the game when J.J. Gonzales pushed into the end zone from five yards out, but the Mustangs blocked the kick to keep the score 48-6 with 2:52 left in the third.
The Mustangs open District 4-3A play on Oct. 8 on the road against Wylie High School, which lost Friday night to Decatur High School 44-7.
"Going out there and getting a victory in front of this huge crowd will just help us with district coming up," Kendall Carrillo said. "This game was really exciting for all of us."
Sweetwater 21 20 7 0—48
Levelland 0 0 6 0—6
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
S - Joseph Banyard 58 fumble return (Parker Morrow kick)
S - Kendall Carrillo 15 run (Morrow kick)
S - Carrillo 3 run (Morrow kick)
Second Quarter
S - Alan Copeland 1 run (Kick failed), 11:53
S - Jeremy Thompson 70 run (Morrow kick), 7:38
S - Justin Clowers 40 run (Morrow kick), 2:12
Third Quarter
S - Sonny Birdwell 26 run (Morrow kick), 7:19
L - J.J. Gonzales 5 run (Kick failed), 2:52
Contact sports writer Joshua Parrott at parrottj@reporternews.com or 325-676-6711
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