by Jason Strunk
Lubbock High School Head Football Coach
Follow @WestTXCoach
Yes, this wrap up is coming late. We played last Thursday night. On Friday, we hosted a tripleheader with Andrews HS for our subvarsity teams. We had practice and meetings on Saturday, with more meetings on Sunday. Monday, we practiced again and then spent the rest of our day with family. It’s been a little hectic in Lubbock, Texas.
Going back to Thursday night, we dropped a tough one to Andrews, losing 28-16. This was a real good game. We played hard. We had tremendous effort. We did a lot of good things. We just needed a few
more breaks to go our way. It didn’t happen, so all we can do is improve each week and we will do that.
I said all week we needed to control the clock, steal possessions and keep their QB Triston Williams in-check. Well, we did all of that.
I called for an onside kick to start the game. We recovered it and chewed time off the clock. Their QB, who is one of the best in the state and a great kid, was held to just six completions. So, as you can see, we accomplished what we set out out to do. We controlled the game. Nobody would argue with that.
However, Andrews capitalized when they had the chance and we did not. On their first possession, backed-up on their own 1-yard line, their QB dropped a 99 yard TD pass on us. We answered with a FG, but Andrews struck quick again, twice, and were up 21-3. We missed a FG, but were finally able to punch one in late in the half. Isaiah Johnson, a freshmen, took swing pass from Kwami Wilborn and took it in. We went into half down 21-10.
At the half, we had run 42 plays to Andrews 15. We were doing what we needed to do. We just weren’t finishing drives.
The second half saw us do much of the same. We had chances and came up short. We were driving late in the third quarter. In my head, I’m thinking we are about to make this game 21-17, but on the next play we fumbled and Andrews recovered.
Our defense held strong all night. They didn’t give up a point in the second half. What a tremendous effort by our D! Andrews scored on a deflected interception deep in our own territory to make it 28-10. That was all they scored in the second half.
We tacked on a TD when Wilborn drilled Happy Martinez down the middle for a TD pass. That closed the scoring at 28-16.
Yes, we lost, but we improved dramatically from Week1. We have something to build on.
Andrews’ Williams is one of the most prolific passers in the state, throwing for 60 TD’s last year. In his Week 1 game, he threw another five to start 2016. He is good…he’s lethal. Their offense is one of the best on the state. They outgained us 323 to 307. Our defense didn’t allow a second half point.
We did what we needed to do to have a shot. We just didn’t capitalize, but like I said, we did some good things and we are heading in the right direction!
Very proud of this team. Good things are ahead for us.
Now, we begin gearing up for the Dumas Demons. I will be blogging daily this week, maybe even from the bus on Friday for our 3.5 hour trip up there.
That’s it.
FIO.
