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More playoff magic for Sweetwater?

By Lew
December 10, 2005

More playoff magic for Sweetwater??

By RON HOWELL/Reporter Sports Editor

For the first 11 games of this season, Sweetwater had the reputation of being a front-runner who blew out opponents early and coasted late. The Mustangs were usually so far ahead by the fourth quarter that they didn't have to come up with any late heroics.

But for the last three weeks, just the opposite has happened.

Instead of fast starts, Sweetwater has started slowly in playoff wins over Littlefield, Iowa Park and Monahans only to come up huge in the second half - and the fourth quarter in particular.

In those three games, the Mustangs have a total of just 28 points in the first half, but 72 in the second half. And in the fourth quarter (plus one overtime), Sweetwater has been dynamite, out-scoring those three teams 51-7.

The 51 points are eight more than Sweetwater scored in the fourth quarter of its first 11 games.

That fourth-quarter magic is the main reason the 13-1 Mustangs will be facing Tatum (14-0) in the Class 3A, Division II semifinals at 6 p.m. this Saturday at Irving's Texas Stadium.

Sweetwater held narrow leads over Littlefield and Monahans until outscoring those two teams by a combined 31-0 in the final period. And two weeks ago, the Mustangs trailed Iowa Park by 14 points midway through the fourth quarter until scoring 20 straight points for an overtime win.

“We didn't panic last week or the week before, and we can't this week,� said head coach Kent Jackson. “They (Tatum) are going to make some plays. We know going in that's going to happen. We just have to stay focused and make them work for it, and play within ourselves.�

It hasn't been just a handful of athletes making big plays, either. Though 1,000-yard running backs Skye Green and Joseph Banyard have continued to star in the playoffs, they have had plenty of help.

Quarterback Sonny Birdwell and fullback Auston Davis each ran for a season-high total (94 and 87 yards, respectively) to pace the team in last week's win over Monahans and safety Brittan Pittman had three interceptions, almost doubling his total for the season.

Birdwell and Sweetwater's other quarterback, Kendal Carrillo, combined for three touchdown passes against Iowa Park after throwing for a total of just three in the first 12 games, and Carrillo - who has missed almost half the season because of a knee injury - scored the winning touchdown in OT.

Pittman hasn't been the only defensive standout, as practically every starter has come up huge the last three weeks, while the offensive line and special teams have also done their part to help Sweetwater continue its great playoff run.

They will all need big games again Saturday in order for the Mustangs to reach the state title game for the first time since 1985 and only the third time in school history.

If Sweetwater defeats Tatum, it faces either Hutto (12-2) or top-ranked Cuero (13-0), who also hold their semifinal Saturday. Those teams will meet at 7 p.m. tomorrow at San Antonio's Farris Stadium.

While Sweetwater has made a habit of second-half heroics of late, Tatum's defense has basically shut down opponents after halftime during the playoffs.

The Eagles have given up only 59 points in their four postseason games, and just 13 have come in the last two periods.

Jackson reached a pair of big milestones last week when the Mustangs gave him his 100th career win, as well as his first-ever trip to the state semifinals in 12 years as a head coach.

But another win for Sweetwater would be historic for the football program, which with 13 victories this season has al-ready equalled the 1985 state championship squad and the 1997 team - which reached the quarterfinals - for the most in school history.

A win on Saturday would also be the first for the Mustangs at Texas Stadium, who lost semi-final games there to Carthage in 1991 and to Denison in 1984.

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