Tonight, the Friendswood Mustangs hosted the Ganders from Baytown Lee. Tonight was also Patriotic Half Time.
While the Patriotic Half Time is pretty much the same every year (Dr. K., can we please find some new patriotic music), I still enjoy it. Its a great reminder that we live in the best country in the world. We have friends and family who have served in our armed forces (including my grandpa, dad, and husband) as well as friends and family who are currently serving. THANK YOU to everyone who is serving/served to protect our freedom. That's something that we don't say often enough, but is felt every day.
Now, on to the football game. Before the game began, the Ganders walked into the stadium with an 0-5 district record for the season and the Mustangs with a 4-1 district record. While the Mustangs definitely used their starters in the game, mainly the first half; tonight was also the night that the people who don't get to play often got some time under the Friday night lights. Lights which went out for a while in the third quarter.
The fans tonight were mostly quiet. There wasn't nearly as many plays to get excited about as there were last week against Dawson. And even though the bands played more, it still left the stadium with a somewhat dead feeling.
Friendswood's defense got some good time in on the field. They were able to force Baytown Lee to punt several times. Lots of sacks and great plays by several people. An interception for White and near interceptions for Makransky and someone else (sorry, I didn't get a good look at your jersey number to see who you were). Yes, the defense gave up a few plays they shouldn't have. And I think (hope) those who were on the field and those who were giving directions know what they did wrong and how to make sure it doesn't happen again. For tonight, those plays didn't make the difference between a W and an L, but in two weeks, they could. The Mustang defense continues to be well disciplined and tenacious. They play hard every play and they never give up. The mistakes were missed tackles and mistakes in reading the offense. Both things that the Mustangs do right regularly.
Friendswood's offense looked great during the first half. During the second half? Not so much. Blumrick came in for most of the second half and his being at the helm seems to set a different tone for the offense. I didn't get a good enough look at the O-line members during the different halves; so I don't know if it was the same players each time. But when Blumrick is playing quarter back, the protection doesn't seem to be as good. Blumrick doesn't make plays as quickly as Sargent usually does. But even if he did, he doesn't have the time to get the ball off. Even when he hands the ball off, the protection isn't as good. And unfortunatley, he doesn't seem to be in sync with the receivers. Perhaps a few more sessions of catch are in order. Or maybe just more overall practice time with the whole offense.
I was excited to see Page take a few snaps. He still played WR and on special teams, but when he's in at QB, he reminds me of Jordon Wood. I think, that with more time under his belt, he'll be even better than Wood. I haven't seen him throw much, but he's got great team mates he can hand the ball off to, and he can run and avoid tackles. He's exciting to watch and I'm glad we get more years to watch him play.
Special team - oh special teams. I'm so glad those mistakes were made against Baytown Lee instead of Dawson. During the first kick off return, you looked like the Mustangs of old, and that's not a compliment. Baytown Lee's receiver dropped the ball on almost every kick off return. You should have capitalized on that every time. Instead, the first one out of the gates and he goes eighty yards? Really? Yes, the defense made up for that, but still. Whatever you did differently this week from last (at practices, before/after school, whatever), please don't do it again.
The refs this week seemed to be okay. Much better than the ones who were here last week. But can someone please explain that delay of game penalty? I've been watching football for 30+ years and I don't think I've ever seen a delay of game penalty against the defense. And I know I haven't seen one on a defense that was standing around waiting for the offense to get themselves ready.
There were a few things that brought some excitement tonight. White's safety (wish I had seen the jersey number of the guy who helped with that play. White's interception. King chasing down receivers who thought they had gotten away. Kings fumble recovery. Holle's, Longbotham's Richardson's Flores', touchdowns. The field lights going out during the third quarter. All great plays. I just wish the fans had been more excited. A couple of other great plays that weren't as exciting - I saw some great blocking by Longbotham and Vandersypen. I've never noticed them making those plays before and I was impressed.
This week's "atta boys" go to Sargent, Page, Holle, Faulk, Faulk, White, Makransky, Longbotham, Vandersypen, Lowe, Chidester, Dooley, Thurman, Bertlesman, Robinson, and all the guys who made great plays who aren't on the published roster. I'll do what I can to learn your names before next week's game.
Before I show the box score and tell you about next week, there is one other thing I have to say. I know that I'm a big picture person when it comes to watching the game. And my eyes tend the follow the ball and miss details that don't happen near the ball carrier, passer or receiver. But I do notice when a player stops playing before the whistle. There were no injuries on the field tonight and therefore no excuse for not playing to the whistle. I'm not going to name names, but you know who you are. And if I were your coach, you'd be running Mustang miles until you threw up for that. If you're not injured and you don't have an equipment failure which prevents you from playing, then there is no excuse.
The box score from tonight's game is below. It's a bit one-sided and obvious when the non-starters got their time to shine.
Baytown Lee 6 0 0 8 14
Friendswood 16 19 0 7 44
And just for the record, did anyone else know it was going to rain tonight? I was wondering what was going on when the band left. But I found out that the awning over the pressbox is enough to keep you dry if the rain is coming at the correct angle and you have your back pressed up against the wall. I was thankful when the rain stopped for the end of the game and we were able to walk out to our cars without getting soaked.
Next week, the Friendswood Mustangs will head south to the island to take on the Galveston Ball Tors to close out the regular season. I expect that to be another game of experiments. Which isn't a bad thing, just not as exciting to watch.
It is my understanding that with tonight's win, the Mustangs have secured the top seed in the large school division of the playoffs. With tonight's loss to Richmond Foster by Angleton, I suspect that we will see Angleton in the first round of the playoffs in two weeks. If/When I get more info, I will share it on twitter: momrod2000
If you're not able to make it to the island next week, I will be there and will be tweeting the game. Amazingly, after watching Galveston County football for most of my life (mostly 4A games), I don't beleive that I have ever been to Galveston Ball's stadium. I think this is the only 4A or larger stadium I haven't been to, so this will mean that I've attended a game in every public high school stadium in the county with the exception of Hitchcock. Hope to see you on Galveston next week!
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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