Jacoby Josephbs 48 yard touchdown catch with 44 seconds to go sent the Westfield Mustangs to victory 35- 32 over the Klein Forest Golden Eagles Thursday night at George Stadium. With the win they avoided a 0- 2 district start and handed the Golden Eagles their first loss of the season.
” We knew it was going to be a tough game.” “They were coming with a swagger because of the lost to Dekaney.” “So we knew were going to get their best game.” “We tried our hardest but you have to give it up to them they made big plays,” said Klein Forest Linebacker Cameron Nwosu.
Neither coach was surprised to see the lead change so frequently with both offenses averaging 49 points a game.
Westfield’s Josh Jenkins got things started off with a bang taking the opening kickoff 107 yards for the games first touchdown. Using only 14 seconds to go end zone to end zone.
The Eagles marched down the field on their first possession and got a 35 yard field goal from Decker, cutting the lead in half, 6-3.
Klein Forest stopped the Mustangs on their next drive but couldn’t protect the ball, turning it over after a lengthy drive that started at their 11 yard line. Idlebird carried the ball down to the Mustangs 43 yard line. One play later a beautiful halfback pass from Pain to Lewis Williams was dropped around the 12 yard line. On the next play McMurry intercepted the shuffle pass from Davis at the 43 and return it 27 yards to the 30 yard line of Klein Forest.
Damian Pain returned the favor, intercepting Walker to give the ball back to the Golden Eagles. His pick came on the Klein Forest 12 yard line and he returned it to the 38.
Davis kept the Eagles rolling scampering down to the Westfieldbs 27 yard line. Two plays later Davis hooked up with Travis Gatlin, the 6b4 receiver was wide open on the left side of the field for the 27 yard touchdown reception. That gave the Eagles the lead, 10-3 with 3:55 to go in the first quarter.
A bad snap on fourth down, with the Mustangs in punt formation gave Klein Forest possession at the one yard line. The snap was low, wobbly and sail pass Hector Diaz down to the one yard line where he grabbed the ball and attempted a pass that fell incomplete.
One play later the Golden Eagles increase their lead on Idlebird’s carry up the middle, 17-3.
Klein Forestbs good faith would change.
Both teams traded punts before Westfield drove 65 yards for their next touchdown. Walker scrambled down the right sideline and out of bounds for 8 yards, before he was tackled late, drawing a personal foul penalty against the Eagles. That moved the ball in the Golden Eagles territory at the 43. Then a 12 yard pass to Jordan Sampson and a 13 yard burst up the middle by Preston Dotson helped put the finishing touches on Walker’s 8 yard touchdown keeper, trimming the lead 17-10.
The mistakes and penalties begin to take toll on Klein Forest.
A pick by Westfield’s Holmes Plaza in the Eagles territory at the 30, cost them.
Christian Jones caught a key pass on fourth and 4 for the Mustangs that covered 12 yards. Jones ran a quick slant and was able to get inside of the defender for the catch, which kept the drive alive. Walkerbs 10 yard strike to Joseph put the Mustangs back in front, 20-17 with 4:42 to go in the half.
Another interception this one going to Mark Johnson who picked it off at their 21 and return it to the 45 yard line of Klein Forest. This would also produce points for the Mustangs. A Diaz 30 yard field goal gave Westfield a 6 point halftime lead at 23-17.
In the third quarter the Eagles forced a turnover when Josh Jenkins who fumbled the punt while trying to field it, was jolted by Corrick Robertson who also recovered the ball at the 19 of Westfield. Davis quickly found the end zone on the keeper, but a block in the back negated the touchdown. It was a spot foul so they only lost one yard, back to the 20 yard line. Davis then got the touchdown on a 5 yard keeper, regaining the lead 24-23.
The Golden Eagles had a number of chances to put this game away, holding the Mustangs yet again and forcing a punt. But they couldnbt overcome the penalties and mistakes. They had a golden opportunity starting a drive at the Westfieldbs 33 yard line. A holding call after a 12 yard pick up by Idlebird and a sack of Davis left the Golden Eagles empty.
” I think that when we make that many turnovers the other team is going to win the game.” “I think if we take care of the ball the first quarter, the first half the score might be 35-28.” “We went from having the ball on our 30 or 40 to turning the ball over on the other end of the field.” “We didn’t play good and it showed,” said Coach Hammock of Klein Forest.
The Mustangs drove 69 yards to recapture the lead on the strength of a 26 yard field goal from Diaz, going up by two points, 26-24 with 11:51 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles used their best drive of the day to reclaim the lead. Driving 80 yards in 14 plays capped by Davis 21 yard keeper and a two point conversion. That gave Klein Forest a 6 point lead at 32-26 with 6:47 to play.
Westfield turned the ball over on downs when Morning fell a yard short of the first down marker.
Penalties and poor field position led to a safety that the Golden Eagles purposely gave up attempting to run the clock down but it backfired.
” I’m so proud of our kids and coaching staff, it’s been a hard week.” “We didn’t get the results we wanted last week (referring to a 47-39 lost to Dekaney).” “I knew this was going to be a turning point right here, how we responded, I can’t be more proud of them (Westfield Mustangs),” said Coach Meekins.
