Friday, October 25, 2013

Pearland Dawson Eagels vs. Friendswood Mustangs - October 25, 2013

     I just love it when Friendswood is picked to lose - big - and proves all the "experts" wrong!

     Tonight, the Friendswood Mustangs hosted the Dawson Eagles for the annual pink out game.  If you haven't heard of the pink out, it's an effort to raise awareness for breast cancer. 
     Before I get into the game, let me show you the box score.  It will help you understand what happened.

Dawson               0     7     7     0     14    
Friendswood       0     0    28    3     31

     No, that's not a typo.  Friendswood scored 28 points against Dawson just in the third quarter. 

     Now, for the game.  First, I hate to have to do this, but I have to address the officiating.  The final score really should have been 7-45, instead of 14-31.  The refs' terrible calls cost Friendswood two touch downs and gave Dawson one. I would love, love, love, love to give those refs a clinic on how to call a fair game.  Refs should be unbiased.  Meaning having no prejudice; being fair or impartial.  I've come to the conclusion that asking for refs to call an unbiased game between Dawson and Friendswood is like asking for it to snow in July in Southeast Texas.  No matter what anyone says, it just ain't gonna happen.  Refs, please, please, please review the footage from tonight's game and learn from it.  You can't call a facemask on someone who never touched the players helmet.  You can't call unsportsmanlike conduct on the recipient of the infraction.  You can't change the spot of the ball when the chains come out.  You can't call something legal when one team does it and illegal when the other team does.  You can't decide that the second half of the play doesn't count because the play wasn't blown dead in the middle of it.  If you honestly don't know what you did wrong, I would be more than happy to find time in my busy schedule to go over the game film with you.
     Friendswood's offense was explosive during the second half.  The score only reflects that for the third quarter; but mainly during the fourth quarter this evening, Page showed why Koopman said he thought he would be the Mustang's next quarterback.  He can run, he can throw and he can catch.  We also found out that Longbotham knows how to throw the football.  I haven't seen that play done quite like that in a while, but it was great. 
     Did you notice that I said that the offense was explosive in the second half.  Well, that's because they couldn't' get anything going in the first half.  My notes only show two punts for Friendswood in the first half.  I don't think I got them all.  We also turned the ball over on downs once - see note to refs above.  The play callers called for way too many runs up the middle during the first half.  It wasn't hard to see that Dawson can pick off a pass.  But running up the middle?  Really?  What is the definition of insanity?  Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result (-Albert Einstein).  Anyone we know guilty of that mistake?????
     So, what offensive changes were made at halftime?  The most notable would be the use of two quarterbacks.  Page came in for a few snaps.  Even scored once.  It appeared that the strategy was the allow Page to take the snap on first and second downs and have Sargent come in for third and fourth downs.  As long as Friendswood didn't need those last two downs, Page got to stay in.  It was a strategy that worked and I have to say, I am really looking forward to watching him play more and more.  I didn't really notice any other changes as far as personnel on offense after halftime.  But I did notice what appeared to be a change in moral.  Whatever Koopman said in the locker room was effective.  Page wasn't the only one who played better in the second half.  I think everyone did.
     But I think defense was where Friendswood really showed their muscle tonight.  I haven't seen the stats for tonight's game, but I suspect that the defense was on the field at least 75% of the first half.  And not once did they look tired or beat down.  They played with heart for every second of every play for the whole game.  And that drive and heart was what kept Dawson in check.  Players, I hope you could hear the fans cheering for you all night long.  Many people were on their feet almost all night.  Of course, the defense wasn't perfect.  If they were, Dawson would have gained zero yards on the night.  But recovering a fumble at the two yard line?  Chasing down breakaways on players who aren't used to being caught?  Multiple sacks and tackles for losses in third and fourth down situations?  Having defenders there wherever the ball is thrown?  Interceptions?  The Mustang defense did it all tonight.  The only problem I saw was that they are still allowing that run up the middle too often.  Don't allow those holes to pop up and our defense will be an unmovable wall. 
     Special teams, what can I say?  You got lots of practice tonight during the first half on punts.  And on  the few punts we received, thank you for making a play.  Second half you got more practice on kick offs.  And that action is looking better than it has in a long time.  When the season began, I thought our kick off team was going to be a repeat of years past - the kicker was the only one left to stop a touchdown on kickoff returns way to often in the not too distant past.  But this group of guys has gotten better and better every week.  Now, teams call for fair catches or try to run and gain a few, but nothing of significance.  Well done guys.  Well done.
     This week's "atta-boys" go to: Page, Sargent, Longbotham, Vandersypen, Williams, White, Thurman, Holle, Faulk, Bertlesman, Robinson, King, Bauer, Dooley, Langston, Lowe, #29 (sorry, I don't know your name), the kickoff team, and everyone who kept a cool head under obviously biased officiating. 
     This win secures a place for Friendswood in the playoffs and should give us the number one seed in Division 1 action.  Last I heard, district 23-4A seeds are still being determined. 
     On a side note, today was also the UIL's snapshot day for redistricting.  I looks like Friendswood is on the bubble of moving up.  I SERIOUSLY hope that doesn't happen.  For many reasons.  But if it does, we'll deal with it.  We're Mustangs.  We don't know how to not fight for every victory.  It has been said that the UIL will release the cut off numbers in November.  I'll be tweeting that as soon as I see it.
     Next week will be the last regular season home game for Friendswood this year.  As always, that means that it will be the annual Patriotic Halftime Show.  I  hear that people fly in from all over the world to see this show.  If you'll be in town, be sure to come out to Henry Winston Stadium at 7pm.  While you're there, stay and watch the Friendswood Mustangs take on the Baytown Lee Ganders.  You could even come early and enjoy the pregame dinner hosted by the FHS band and prepared by the Knights of Columbus.  I'll be there.  Where will you be?
    

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