October 28, 2009

Playoffs on the mind

Palestine tries for postseason berth at Athens

By SCOTT TYLER

Sports Editor

What a difference a year makes for the Palestine Wildcats.

At this time last year, Palestine was hanging on by a thread to its postseason hopes only to watch them get snapped by a loss to Athens.

A year later and the Wildcats face Athens again, but this time, Palestine is in control of the district and its playoff hopes.

“The big key this year is that the kids are more focused and have worked harder,” Palestine head coach Booker Bowie said. “This is a different ball club with a different attitude.”

Palestine travels to Athens Friday night with a chance to clinch a postseason berth. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Bruce Field in Athens.

“We have put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs and we know one more win will get us there,” Bowie said. “The kids know how big of a game it is.”

While Palestine tries to break a two-year playoff drought, the Wildcats (3-0, 5-3) also are continuing the trek to win the District 20-3A title.

“The district title is important to us,” Bowie said. “Winning district title outright is something that has not been done here for a while and it would be big for our school and community.”

Palestine will not be the only team on Bruce Field trying to tighten its grip a playoff spot Friday night. After starting the season 1-5, the Hornets (2-1, 3-5) have put themselves in a position to make the playoffs after winning two straight district games over Westwood and Fairfield.

“They are a real good ball club that keeps improving each week,” Bowie said. “They are getting all the pieces together.”

Athens’ strength the last two weeks has been on defense. After allowing almost 32 points a game in the first six games, the Hornets have allowed only 23 points combined to their last two opponents.

Athens put the clamps on a high-powered Westwood offense, holding the Panthers to a season-low 10 points and 194 yards. It was only the second time Westwood did not gain over 300 yards in a game.

Last week, the Athens defense held Fairfield to 13 points and 188 yards. The Hornets also scored twice on a safety and then an interception return for a touchdown with two minutes left in the game to seal the win.

“They run to the ball and play good, sound defense,” Bowie said.

Athens also has put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks the last two weeks. The Hornets sacked Westwood nine times and Fairfield four times.

“It is going to be a big job for our offensive line to pick up the stunts and blitzes,” Bowie said. “But it also will be important for our running backs to block well in the passing game.”

The Athens defense may be facing its toughest backfield of the season with Palestine’s Olin Terry and Terrance Simon. The Wildcat quarterback and running back both have rushed for over 1,000 yards this season, which has accounted for 60 percent of the Wildcats’ offense.

“They are a double-edged sword in the backfield,” Bowie said of Terry and Simon. “It is a pick your poison for defenses.”

Terry has rushed for 1,173 yards on 129 carries and scored 16 touchdowns. The Palestine quarterback, who is averaging 9.09 yards a carry, has rushed for over 100 yards in seven of the eight Wildcat games.

Simon leads the Wildcats with 153 carries. He has rushed for 1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Terrance has been able to get the tough yards, but he also has the speed, like Olin, to go the distance,” Bowie said.

Notes: Palestine and Athens have a long history from their days in Class 4A football. Palestine leads the overall series 44-33-1. Athens defeated Palestine 17-7 last year in the Hornets’ first season at the Class 3A level. ...Palestine has only turned the ball over 12 times this season, including just three turnovers in three district games. ...Palestine has outscored its opponents in every quarter except the second quarter. ...Palestine wide receiver E.J. Spurlock has matched his receptions total from a year ago with 32.

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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com

WILDCAT STATISTICS

Team

Offense

First Downs: 172

Rushes-Yards-Avg: 350-2,541-7.26

Passing Yards: 1,106

Total Yards: 3,647

Comp-Att-Int: 76-141-8

Fumbles: 5

Penalties-Yards: 45-382

Opponents

First Downs: 112

Rushing-Yards-Avg: 449-1,537-3.4

Passing Yards: 785

Total Yards: 2,322

Comp-Att-Int: 46-108-10

Fumbles-Lost: 5

Penalties-Yards: 40-301

Individual Stats

Offense

Rushing

Att-Yards-Avg-TD

Olin Terry, 129-1,173-9.09-16; Terrance Simon, 153-1,047-6.84-10; DeCory Chivers, 53-284-5.36-2; Sam Wren, 4-15-3.75-0; Kenneth Green, 4-14-3.5-1; Kyle Cargill, 4-11-2.75-2; Joe Anthony, 2-3-1.5-0.

Passing

Comp-Att-Yards-Yards/Att-TD

Olin Terry, 76-141-8-1,106-7.84-9.

Receiving

Catches-Yards-Avg.-TD

E.J. Spurlock, 32-460-14.38-3; Kenneth Green, 20-321-16.05-2; Eric Robertson, 12-226-18.83-2; Kyle Cargill, 4-42-10.5-1; Terrance Simon, 4-15-3.75-0; Sam Wren, 2-17-8.50-0; Meschach Willliams, 1-32-32.0-1; Devin Venoy, 1-4-4-0; DeCory Chivers, 1-2-2.0-0.

Scoring

Olin Terry, 96 (16 rushing TDs); Terrance Simon, 64 (10 rushing TD, 2 conversion); Travis Atkinson, 27 (1 field goal, 24 PAT); E.J. Spurlock, 18 (3 receiving TDs); Kenneth Green, 18 (2 receiving TDs, 1 rushing TD); Kyle Cargill, 18 (2 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD); DeCory Chivers, 12 (2 rushing TDs); Eric Robertson 12 (2 receiving TD); Meshach Williams, 6 (1 receiving TD); Eric Martinez, 6 (1 field goal, 3 PAT); Deon Davis, 2 (1 conversion).

Defense

Tackles (Solo-Assist)

Ryan Pardue, 49 (24-25); Sam Wren, 42 (29-13); Bobby Walker, 32 (19-13); Kenneth Green, 25 (28-7); Colin Turner, 23 (15-8); E.J. Spurlock, 23 (17-6); Michael Smith, 27 (17-10); Carlos Bryant, 24 (17-7); Kyle Cargill, 19 (11-8); Jatavian Powell, 20 (6-14); Sammy Calhoun, 12 (7-5); Olin Terry, 15 (9-6); Randle Johnson, 7 (4-3); Deon Davis, 6 (4-2); Alex Owens, 8 (5-3); Michael Walker, 11 (8-3); Meshach Williams, 3 (3-0); Dave Simpson, 3 (2-1); Terrance Simon, 2 (0-2); Booker Winn, 2 (2-0); Wesley Bennett, 2 (1-1); Devin Venoy, 1 (1-0); Derek Chapman, 1 (0-1); Issac Moya, 1 (1-0); Eric Martinez, 1 (1-0).

Interceptions

Bobby Walker, 3; Olin Terry, 2; E.J. Spurlock, 2; Sam Wren, 1; Kyle Cargill, 1; Carlos Bryant, 1.

Sacks

Sam Wren, 3; Kyle Cargill, 2; Ryan Pardue, 1; Bobby Walker, 1; Colin Turner, .5; Michael Smith, .5.

Fumble Recoveries

Sammy Calhoun, 2; Colin Turner, 1; E.J. Spurlock, 1; Michael Smith, 1; Olin Terry, 1; Ryan Pardue, 1.

Forced Fumbles

Ryan Pardue, 2; Sammy Calhoun, 2; Olin Terry, 1.