Tonight, the Friendswood Mustangs hosted the Texas City Stingarees for Homecoming 2013. The game was expected to be a win for Texas City, and it was. But I don't think any of the "experts" expected this game to be as close as it was. The game was decided in the last two minutes. I spent probably less time sitting down than I have in quite a while, and I'm sure I'll have no voice to cheer on my daughter in her basketball game tomorrow. But, my goodness, what a game.
The game began with Texas City winning the toss and electing to receive the kick off to start the game. Everyone was expecting this game to be "The Foreman Twins Show". But I don't think people were expecting the Mustang defense to contain them as well as they did. Sure, Texas City put up some great numbers tonight. And sure, the run up the middle worked more times than not. But tonight the Mustang defense lived up to the preseason hype. Toward the beginning of the game this evening, I read on twitter that Texas City is over rated. I think I agree. Texas City has 3 really talented players that stand out above the rest. Then they have the rest of the team. If a team can completely contain those three, then Texas City will be beat. Even if an opponent can't completely contain them, the Stingarees can be beat. Don't get me wrong, they are good. But they are not as good as they are purported to be.
Something else I heard, but this was before the game, was that the Mustangs felt like this game was unwinnable. Supposedly, they were going to be happy if they played in the same ball park as Texas City. If that is true, then shame on you Mustangs. You should go into every game believing you CAN win. And had there not been a few plays that didn't go as planned, then you would have.
Based on what I saw at the very beginning of the game, I think that what I heard may have been true. The first few plays - I don't know whose defense that was out on the field, but it wasn't ours. Our defense is too good to allow that many yards without much of a challenge. But after a few plays, our defense showed up. And while they did not play perfect, and a few times they looked like they were tired, they were there to play for the whole game. Our defense was able to hold Texas City to only three points on their first drive. I think that may have been a shock to Texas City. And what shocked them even more - it only took the Mustangs seventeen seconds to score seven points after that. That's right, for almost six minutes of clock time, Friendswood held the lead.
Friendswood utilized a short kick off all night, and even attempted an onsides kick. While I completely understand the strategy and reason for it tonight, I still don't like it. However, tonight it was very effective. Both teams would score again before the end of the first quarter. Texas City a touchdown and Friendswood a field goal. Friendswood did recover a Friendswood fumble during the first quarter. That ball looked like a greased pig as everyone was trying to get it. We actually ended up gaining yards as a result of that recovered fumble. The score at the end of the first quarter was Texas City 17 - Friendswood 10.
The second quarter continued on much as the first, except we saw more punts and the ball being turned over on downs. Both quarterback were forced to throw the ball away during the second quarter; being under lots of pressure from the opposing defense. Once again, the Mustangs watched one of those punts bounce and roll. The ball rolled twenty-two yards on that one. That was after the snap was mishandled and the punter was under a great deal of pressure. I can understand calling for a fair catch in that situation. There were only two Mustangs anywhere near where the ball first bounced. If they had decided to go for it, there was only one person there to block for the ball carrier and lots of white jerseys. But why watch it bounce? Twenty-two yards is a lot. Especially against Texas City. At the end of the first half, the score remained unchanged.
This week's halftime had to be one of the longest halftimes I've ever seen. I know it was homecoming, and that stuff takes time. But it was still long. Congratulations to the Football Sweetheart and the Homecoming Queen.
It took the Mustangs a whole two seconds of clock time to prove that they were not giving up after the first half. Loll had a sixty-eight yard touchdown run on the kick off to even the score. During the third quarter, our defense demonstrated how good they are at stopping an offense that doesn't have much room to work. It took the Stingarees four plays to get into the end zone starting at about the two yard line. Despite the valiant effort of the Mustang defense, Texas City got into the end zone on 4th and 1 inch, bringing the score to 24-17
On the kick off after that score, the Mustangs got lucky. The ball was mishandled and ended up in Texas City hands. The refs declared that the ball carrier (Mustangs) was down by contact and the Mustangs were able to retain possession of the ball. Texas City disagreed with the call, and I couldn't see the play well enough to know who I think was right, but the Mustangs had the ball, so . . .
The Stingaress got close to the end zone again, but with 1:30 left in the third quarter, King got his hands on a mishandled toss and ran ninety yards for a Mustang touch down. The score was tied at twenty-four.
And here is probably the only play that led to the 'boo-birds" on the home side of the stadium On the kick off, the ball went between Foreman's legs and out of bounds. The refs rule it illegal procedure on the Mustangs for kicking the ball out of bounds (I think I've said more than once that I disagree with this rule). Many of the people in the stands said that the ball touched Foreman's leg before bouncing out of bounds. From where I was sitting, it looked like they were correct. However, the ruling on the field cost the Mustangs yards.
Again during the third quarter, Texas City was able to get around our defensive line and make a huge break. Thankfully, this year Friendswood has a couple of players that can run and chase down the opponents when that happens. But it would be better if that kind of thing didn't happen.
At the end of the third quarter, the score was Texas City 31 - Friendswood 24. But hold on, more points go up on the board for both teams.
After Texas City had to punt the ball away, thanks to many mistakes on their part, Sargent threw his only interception of the night. Texas City was able to put some points on the board after that. But they had to work for it. With 7:13 left in the game, the score was Texas City 38 - Friendswood 24.
It only took Friendswood two plays to answer, bringing it back to a seven point game. And shortly thereafter, White intercepted the ball to bring our offense back out on the field. Friendswood ended up in a 4th and 8 situation form the thirty-three yard line. They went for it and were rewarded with a touchdown. Now it's decision time. There's 2:44 left in the game. Do you go for one point, bring it to a tied game, hope you can hold Texas City for the rest of regulation and either score again or prepare for overtime? OR, do you go for two points, and give yourself the lead if you succeed. Friendswood decided to go with the later choice. Unfortunately, it didn't work. Pass was incomplete.
Texas City got the ball back with a 1 point lead and less than three minutes left. Friendswood went for an onsides kick. The kick was touched but not caught by Texas City before going out of bounds at the forty-seven yard line. And of course, Friendswood did not give up. One of the Mustangs (I didn't see who) was able to tip the pass while it was in the air, but it was still caught by Texas City for a gain of six yards. It took Texas City just over a minute to score again. The point after was no good, but there was a flag against Friendswood and Texas City got to kick again. This time the kick was good. Score 45-37 with 1:41 left to play.
Unfortunately, Friendswood wasn't able to do anything with the ball once they got it back. Sargent was sacked twice during that one set of downs. Friendswood went for it on 4th and 15, but the pass was incomplete and the Stingarees regained possession with 53 seconds left in the game.
Final score - Texas City Stingarees 45 - Friendswood Mustangs 37.
Honestly, I knew it would be a close game. And I knew that the Mustangs were capable of wining tonight. Unfortunately, a few things didn't go right and the final score reflected that. This is the first game that for a few years, at least, that the officiating crew called a fair game between Texas City and Friendswood. Yes, I think there were a few mistakes. But I don't think the officials were biased. They made mistakes that both teams profited from.
Texas City tried to help us out tonight. I counted ten penalties against Texas City. But Friendswood wasn't always able to capitalize on those penalties. Some of those penalties were declined and rightfully so. But the flag was still thrown for a Texas City mistake. For a team that is reported to not make mistakes, I'd say that our Mustangs must have rattled a few mental cages tonight.
While we didn't get nearly as many flags thrown against us (I didn't count, but I believe it was less than five), we made our own mistakes. Sargent was not as well protected as he usually is. I counted five sacks for the Stingaree defense, and I'm sure I missed a few. We had too many incomplete passes when Sargent was able to throw. Our offense tried too many times to let Longbotham run the ball up the middle, having seen that that play was ineffective (insanity, guys). And didn't utilize plays that consistently worked often enough. The Mustang offense didn't open the holes it needed to and the defense allowed too many of those holes to be opened by Texas City.
The Mustang defense worked their tails off tonight and I wouldn't be surprised if they all sleep for the whole three day weekend. Most of their breaks were short lived, thanks either to the offense taking less than twenty seconds of clock time to score, or to Sargent being sacked for huge losses forcing a punt. Friendswood proved that the defense has a secondary, which is a very nice change from years past. It also showed that the secondary is better tacklers than the front of the defense. Don't get me wrong, our D-line knows how to stop the ball. But I think the secondary shows better technique. There were too many missed tackles tonight. With as many times as our defense forced the Texas City QB to scramble, there really should have been more sacks for Friendswood than there were.
Tonight's "atta boys" go to Longbotham, Sargent, Page, Loll, White, Thurman, King, Holle, the entire defense, Robinson, Faulk, Stewart, & Makransky.
While the Mustangs played an amazing game tonight against Texas City, and the final score was not what the Mustangs had wanted, they still owe a thanks to Texas City for pointing out what works and what doesn't in order to help the team make a deep play off run. The offense needs to work on blocking as well as opening holes. They also need to work on protecting the quarterback. The defense, while they worked very hard tonight, needs to shore up the line and end the chase of the quarterback sooner. The first line defense also needs to forget how to arm tackle. I haven't seen it much this year - thank you - but I did see it a couple of times tonight.
And to the coaches - why oh why do you think it's a good idea to play off the receivers? I feel like a broken record, saying this every week. But don't allow the reception. Force the incomplete pass. It's much more effective in both the yards gained and the energy used to make the play. I heard one parent say this evening that the secondary would have to play a few yards behind the receivers so that the defense could prevent the break away. Sometimes, a defensive coach or player needs to think offensively. Why prevent big gains after the catch when you can prevent the catch. Go for the interception. Make sure the receiver isn't in place to catch the ball (legally, or course). Yes, I realize that rushing the passer forces the secondary to cover multiple receivers. But teach those players how to read the quarterback. For those long passes, it's a lot easier to be in position. And King did a great job of that tonight. But our players have the speed and ability to break up those short passes, too. Utilize it.
I believe in our Mustangs and I can't wait to see them play again. Next week, the Mustangs will travel to Baytown to take on the Goose Creek Memorial Patriots. Kick off will be at 7pm at Stallworth Stadium. I'll be there. Will you?
On a side note, it's nice to see that our players exhibit good sportsmanship. At least they appear to. As a parent, I like to see that. It also makes an opposing team's poor sportsmanship more obvious. I said this earlier, but I'll say it again. It appeared that Texas City was frustrated during tonight's game. While there was no unsportsmanlike conduct, the body language was made more obvious by the Mustangs positive body language and apparent level-headedness (is that a word?). Kudos to the parents, faculty and staff who have taught these players well.
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that I am watching the game and "taking notes" by twittering during the games. I am at each game with at least one of my kids, if not both. Sometimes, my husband is able to attend with us and sometimes I have other family with me as well. My football education is from attending high school football games for 30+ years and sitting between my dad and my grandpa for the first 12 of those years. I was 3 when my parents bought my first season ticket. I missed 2 home games from the time I was 3 years old through junior high, and started traveling (not missing a single game) during high school. I started taking my kids to games before they could walk and have been taking them ever since.
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