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Thoughts on Kickoff Classic
August 29, 2008Here are some of my impressions of Burkburnett's 10-6 victory over Sweetwater in the TRN Kickoff Classic on Thursday night:
* Jay Gould is a player: Lyn Barnes was the team's top runner in the Burkburnett backfield last year, and maybe even FB Jonathan Frank had more yards than Gould (if not, the two were real close).
But Gould showed Thursday he can handle the workload. He was the best Bulldog on the field, and the one threat to take it the distance every time he touched the ball. He had a couple nice runs on traps, and showed excellent vision on his TD run. FB Travis DeVore had a nice run too, but other than that, Gould made the big plays.
* Bulldogs' defense is solid: I remember covering them last year, thinking that this defense flies under the radar. There is not one dominant guy who is going to have a couple of sacks a game, or make 13 tackles. It just plays scrappy as a collective unit, each person doing their job well.
* I know it is the first game of the season, but both offenses were pretty lethargic at times. I cannot remember the last time covering a game where only three points had been scored heading into the fourth quarter. At least it was an interesting ending.
* Each team had only five penalties and one turnover. A rarity in a season opener.
* Sweetwater is a solid team. They will play people tough, and like always, they have some great athletes and play with grit. But it is hard for me to think the Mustangs will make the playoffs in that 2-3A district with Abilene Wylie, Brownwood, Snyder and Graham.
* New ruling affects Sweetwater: The new no-sideline warning penalty cost Sweetwater possession of the football in the first half. The Mustangs went for a fourth-and-one near midfield, and they got it. But there is no sideline warning this year -- it is a 5-yard penalty every time. So instead, Sweetwater had to punt. We will see how much this gets enforced during the season.
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